Showing loving care for vulnerable groups reflects the progress of civilization. People with disabilities can enjoy special benefits and public assistance in the UK. The blue badge scheme is a good example. In this passage, we are going to talk about what the scheme is, blue badge application, renewal, replacement, and other concerning issues.
What is Blue Badge
The blue badge is a parking sticker issued to people with mobility disabilities or poor health conditions, helping them to park closer to their destination. Disabled blue badge holders must display the sticker in a place where it can be easily recognized from outside the vehicle, such as the dashboard or facia panel. Make sure the details on the parking permit are legible. If it fades, wears out, or tears, please return it to your local council to get a new one.
You can have the badge whether as a driver or passenger. Please note that the badge only applies to on-street parking while off-street parking lots, such as those provided by shopping malls, supermarkets, hospitals, or private roads, are otherwise specified.
Who Is Eligible for Blue Badge
Depending on your health conditions, you might be granted the eligibility to apply for blue badge automatically, otherwise, you have to provide extra evidence.
Automatically Qualified for Blue Badge
Individuals aged at least 3 years old can automatically qualify for the parking sticker under at least one of these conditions.
- A beneficiary of the Higher Rate of Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
- A beneficiary of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for the reason that you are unable to walk over 50 meters (rated at least 8 points for “moving around” under the Mobility Component)
- A person registered blind or severely sight impaired.
- A beneficiary of War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement.
- A beneficiary of a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1-8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and certified with incapability to walk or difficulty in walking caused by permanent and substantial disability.
- A beneficiary of the mobility component of PIP and scored 10 points for descriptor E under the “planning and following journeys” activity because of overwhelming psychological distress caused by any journey.
Possibly Qualified for Blue Badge
Your local council needs sufficient documents and extra time to review your application and decide whether you are eligible for a badge in the following cases.
- You are unable to walk at all.
- You are unable to walk unless assisted by other persons or mobility aids.
- You have difficulty walking due to pain, breathlessness, or long time consumption.
- Walking is very likely to hurt you.
- You have a terminal disease that makes you unable or difficult to walk and have an SR1 medical report form.
- Your arms are severely disabled and drive regularly, but unable to use pay-and-display parking machines.
- You have a sick child under 3 years old who always needs to carry bulky medical equipment due to disease.
- You have a sick child under 3 years old who must always stay close to a vehicle in case he/she needs emergency medical treatment.
- You are likely to harm yourself or someone near vehicles, in traffic, or in car parks.
- You suffer from planning or following a journey.
- You have difficulty controlling your movements and are not aware of the impact you could have on others.
- You regularly respond intensely to situations causing temporary loss of behavioural control
- You easily get extremely anxious or fearful in public or open spaces.
Required Documents for Blue Badge
Before starting the blue badge application, applicants must present:
- Proof of identity
It could be a birth certificate, adoption certificate, passport, driving licence, marriage or civil partnership certificate, or divorce or dissolution certificate.
📣Read Also: How to Order Birth, Death, Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate
- Proof of address
It could be a recent council tax bill, a recent letter from a government department such as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), or driving licence. If you are under 16, a recent letter from a school is also acceptable. The proof should be dated within the last 12 months.
- A recent head-and-shoulder photo with a plain and light background.
- Proof of benefits (if applicable)
If you receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or award, you should provide a letter from DWP showing your entitlement, assessment scores, and mobility scores.
If you receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) award, you should provide a letter from DWP showing your mobility rating, certificate of entitlement, and the date of the letter.
If you are involved in Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, you should present the most recent letter from the Ministry of Defence certifying your time of being injured in service, compensation, and permanent, substantial mobility disability.
If you are involved in War Pensioners’ Mobility Scheme, you should present the most recent letter from the Ministry of Defence verifying your time of injury and your status of receiving a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement.
- Your national insurance number (if any)
- Proof of eligibility’
It is required when you are not automatically qualified for blue badge. The local council will ask for details of your health conditions and how it affects your ability to walk.
How to Apply for Blue Badge
The blue badge can be obtained either online or by post. You can apply for yourself, someone else, or an organisation.
Blue Badge Application Online
It is the most efficient way to apply for a parking permit. In this case, you don’t need to leave your home and mail applications. Here is the process of online services.
- Check eligibility
Applicants should visit GOV.UK and answer the questions one by one, such as who you are applying for, where you apply from, date of birth, health conditions, etc. When applying from Northern Ireland, please visit Ni Direct. When applying from Northern Ireland, please visit indirect GOV.UK.
- Prepare application
After answering all questions, you will be directed to a page saying whether you are eligible for blue badge and what you should prepare. Click on the “Start application” button and complete the 6 parts under “Prepare application”, including “Enter personal details”, “Prove identity”, “Prove address”, “Add a photo for the badge”, “Describe conditions”, and “Upload SR1 form”.
- Apply
Check all the information you provide. If there is nothing wrong, agree to the declaration and apply.
- Wait for application results
After submitting applications, your local council will contact you for payment or mobility assessment. Just do as the officer requires.
Blue Badge Application by Post
If you don’t want to request the badge online, you can mail supporting documents to the local council. To prevent losing your original documents, copies are acceptable, but you should certify them by writing “Certified to be a true copy of the original seen by me” on the document, signing, dating, and leaving your occupation, address as well as telephone number. In any case, it is suggested to visit GOV.UK to check what you should prepare for the application through a few questions.
How Long Does It Take to Get Blue Badge
The processing time depends on your local council and whether further assessment is needed. Generally speaking, it takes about 12 weeks (about 3 months). All you need is to complete your application accurately, include all necessary documents, and wait patiently.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Blue Badge
Blue badge application fees are subject to where you apply from. It costs up to £10 in England, £20 in Scotland, and free of charge in Wales. It is allowed to pay through cheques or postal orders payable to the Department for Infrastructure for mail applications and with a credit or debit card for online applications.
What If My Blue Badge Application Is Refused
As we stated before, you are not guaranteed to gain approval in some cases. Once your council turns down your request, they should specify the reasons. Supposing that you think the rejection is unreasonable or they miss some important information, you can ask them to reconsider your application. If you have no objection to the results, just set it aside or reapply when your mobility problems are getting serious.
How To Renew Blue Badge
The beneficial parking permit is usually valid for 3 years. It is required to be renewed about 3 months before expiration.
If you choose to renew on GOV.UK or Ni Direct, the process is generally the same as first-time blue badge application. Make sure you have the existing badge number. Some councils allow renewal by paper. You can find your local council and ask for help.
How to Change Details on Blue Badge
To change name, address, or vehicle details, you should contact your local council that issues the permit, which can be found by checking the “Issued by” on the front of your badge. A replacement is required for name change and we will introduce it later. Here is guidance on address and vehicle change.
Change of Address Details
What documents you need to submit depends on the issuing council of your current parking sticker and where your new address is.
If your badge is issued by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and you are moving within the county, you should provide proof of your new address, such as a council tax bill or utility bill within the last 12 months.
If your badge is issued by WSCC and you are moving outside the county, you should provide proof of identity, such as your passport or driving licence; and details of the new address.
If your badge is issued by the local council except for West Sussex, you should contact the issuing authority and ask them to transfer your details to where you are moving to.
Change of Vehicle Details
Although it is not mandatory to inform the authorities of the change, it is suggested to write or email to specify the change in the manufacturer, model, registration number, and other details of your new vehicle because leaving correct information helps with enforcement checks.
How to Replace A Lost, Damaged or Stolen Blue Badge
Replacement is necessary when your blue badge is lost, stolen, or damaged, or when you want to change the name on it. The new one will have the same expiry date as the old one. The badge replacement could be done online with the following information.
- personal details
- National Insurance number (if applicable)
- existing badge number (if you know it)
- crime reference number (in the case of a stolen badge)
FAQ
Q: Can blue badge holders park in pay and display?
A: Yes, and they are usually exempted from charges and time limits.
Q: Can a blue badge park on double yellow lines?
A: Yes, and you can park for a maximum of 3 hours. Remember to show the badge and the time of arrival.
Q: What are the benefits of a Blue Badge in the UK?
A: Disabled blue badge holders can park for free for unlimited time in disabled parking spaces, at pay-and-display parking meters on the street, and on yellow lines for no up to 3 hours unless there is a ban on loading.
Summary
Blue badge is necessary for those who have mobility disabilities and get around with a car. Disabled blue badge holders can enjoy free on-street parking lots close to their destination.
Participants of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and War Pensioners’ Mobility Scheme are automatically qualified for the badge while others with difficulty in walking might be eligible. You can apply for blue badge online or by post. It must be renewed every 3 years or be replaced when it is lost, stolen, or damaged.
Erin Lo