Blue Badge Scheme UK

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What is it and how can it help?

A Blue Badge is a parking permit which helps people with disabilities or health conditions park closer to their destination. The badge allows you to park in places other drivers can’t, such as in disabled parking spaces in a car park or on a street.

It is important to note that not autistic people want or need a Blue Badge. However, for many families, it can make a huge difference to their quality of life. For example, an autistic person may currently be unable to leave the house if they have a poor sense of danger or are prone to unpredictable meltdowns. Some autistic people will bolt and run away, causing danger to themselves and road users alike. Some people with autism may also be prone to destructive behaviour. Having the Blue Badge can relieve a lot of pressure and stress from autistic people and their families/carers when making journeys.

Who can get a Blue Badge?

Specifically, an autistic person can apply for a Blue Badge if they:

cannot take a journey without risk of serious harm or psychological distress to themselves and/or others
have 10 points on the PIP mobility component if planning and making a journey causes significant distress

Additionally, a person with a disability will automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if they are aged 3 or over and at least one of the following applies:

they receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
they receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because you can’t walk more than 50 metres (a score of 8 points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component.

How to apply

You can apply for a blue badge online. You can apply for a badge for yourself, on behalf of somebody else or an organisation that transports people that need a Blue Badge. A Blue Badge is free in Wales, £10 in England and £20 in Scotland. It last up to 3 years, at which time you will need to renew it (be sure to renew it at least 8 weeks before your current one expires). You can also renew online (please note that you will need to provide the details of your current Blue Badge).

Follow this link to apply:

https://www.gov.uk/apply-blue-badge (for people in Wales, Scotland and England).

Additional information

Parking – your Blue Badge usually lets you park for free (or at a discounted rate):

on streets with parking metres or pay-and-display machines for as long as you need to (unless a sign says there is an exemption or restriction)
in disabled parking bays on streets for as long as you need to (unless a sign says there is a time limit)
on single or double yellow lines (if it is safe to do so) for up to 3 hours (unless there’s a ‘no loading’ sign or yellow kerb dashes)

The time you can park in a certain place will vary depending on where you have parked. There are also some places that do not allow you to park there even with a Blue Badge. It is always best to check if there are any parking restrictions in the place that you have parked.

Who can use it?

How to display the badge

Power to inspect the badge

Loss, theft or damage

The Blue Badge is linked to you rather than a vehicle, so you can use it with any car. This includes taxis and hire cars that you’re driving or travelling in as a passenger. The badge is for your use and benefit only. It must only be displayed if you are travelling in the vehicle as a driver or passenger, or if someone is collecting you or dropping you off and needs to park at the place where you are being collected or dropped. Don’t allow other people to use the badge to do something on your behalf, such as shopping or collecting something for you.

When using the parking concessions you must display the badge on the dashboard of your vehicle or attach it to your bike where it can be clearly seen and read from outside the vehicle. The front of the badge should face upwards, showing the wheelchair symbol. The side showing the photograph should not be visible through the windscreen. Incorrect display of the badge may result in a parking fine. When you park on yellow lines or in other places where there is a time restriction, you need to display the blue parking clock to show your time of arrival.You must display it on the vehicle’s dashboard or facia panel, so that the time can be seen clearly through the front windscreen. The clock should be set to show the quarter hour period during which you arrived.

Police officers, traffic wardens, parking attendants and civil enforcement officers have the power to inspect and seize the badge (if they suspect it is being illegally used) and if asked you must show it to them. If you do not, you will be breaking the law and you could be fined. These people should produce an identity card with their photograph on it to prove they are who they say they are. You can ask to see this before you give them your badge to look at.

You can apply for a new badge if yours gets lost, stolen or damaged. A replacement badge is valid until the expiry date of the original badge. Some councils may charge for replacing a badge. If your badge is due to expire in less than 3 months, you need to reapply instead of replacing it.

Evidence

When applying for a Blue Badge, you will need to provide:

proof of identity e.g. birth or adoption certificate/ passport/ driving licence/ marriage or civil partnership certificate/ divorce or dissolution certificate
proof of address e.g. a recent council tax bill/ a recent letter from a government department such as Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)/ driving licence/ a recent letter from a school (if you are under 16)
a recent head and shoulders digital photo
your national insurance number (if you have one)
contact details (phone number, email and postal address
You will also need to provide proof of benefits (if you get any)

For Personal Independence Payment (PIP) you’ll need to know the scores from the mobility assessment and the award end date (if applicable). You’ll also be asked to provide proof of the PIP award. This would be the 3 pages from the letter from DWP, which clearly shows entitlement to PIP, assessment scores, and mobility scores.

For Disability Living Allowance (DLA) you’ll need to know which rate of the mobility component you receive and the award end date (if applicable). You’ll also be asked to provide proof of the DLA award. This should be the most recent letter from DWP, which clearly shows mobility rating, certificate of entitlement to DLA, and the date of the letter.

The Blue Badge is issued to you by your local council, so they are the people who will decide if you are eligible for a badge. They cannot start the assessment process until they have all the necessary evidence. It may take 12 weeks or longer to assess your application. If they decide that you are not eligible and you think that they did not take account of all the facts, you can ask them to consider your application again.

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