We treat all applications for a Blue Badge as new, even if you have held a Blue Badge before.
Automatic eligibility
You will automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are aged 3 or over and at least one of the following applies:
- You receive the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- You receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP)* with the following:
- 8 points or more for the 'Moving around' part of the mobility section that indicates you cannot walk further than 50 metres
- 10 points in the 'Planning and following a journey' part of the mobility section on the grounds that you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress.
- You receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
- You receive a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
- You are registered blind (severely sight impaired).
*You must provide a full copy of your PIP document including points breakdown.
Physical disabilities
You may be eligible for a Blue Badge if one or more of the following applies:
- You cannot walk at all, without help from someone else or using mobility aids
- You find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes
- Walking is dangerous to your health and safety
- You have a life limiting illness, which means you cannot walk or find walking very difficult and have a SR1 form
- You have a severe disability in both arms and drive regularly, but cannot operate pay-and-display parking machines.
Invisible (hidden) disabilities
You may be eligible for a Blue Badge if one or more of the following applies:
- You are constantly a significant risk to yourself or others near vehicles, in traffic or car parks
- You struggle severely to plan or follow a journey
- You find it difficult or impossible to control your actions and lack awareness of the impact you could have on others
- You regularly have intense and overwhelming responses to situations causing temporary loss of behavioural control
- You frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public/open spaces.
Children under 3 years of age
You may be eligible for a Blue Badge if your child is under the age of three and has a medical condition that means they:
- Always need to be accompanied by bulky medical equipment
- Must always be kept near a vehicle in case they need emergency medical treatment
You will also need to provide a letter from the child’s consultant to support this application.
A child between 2 and 3 years old can also be assessed under the Walking Ability criteria if they do not meet the general criteria for those under 3 years of age.
Further assessment
For applications made under a physical disability, we may decide you need a further assessment with our independent Occupational Therapist if you:
- Have a permanent and substantial disability which means you cannot walk, or have considerable difficulty walking
- Drive a motor vehicle regularly, have a severe disability in both arms, and are unable to or would find it difficult to operate all or some types of parking meter.
Further information is available on the Department for Transport website(external link).
Blue Badges for organisations
A Blue Badge can be issued to an organisation that transports disabled people who, if they applied for a Blue Badge as individuals, would qualify in their own right.
It can only be used when transporting disabled people and must not be used for any other business. A senior representative may apply on behalf of their organisation.
Taxi firms are not eligible to apply. We would recommend that their clients apply for an individual badge.