3.1 The Blue Badge Scheme has two types of eligibility criteria: ‘without further assessment’ (previously known as ‘Automatic’) and ‘subject to further assessment’ (previously known as ‘Discretionary’).
3.2 Without further assessment’ (previously known as ‘Automatic’)
In order to qualify for a Blue Badge automatically, an application must meet one or more of the following criteria, where the applicant is more than two years old:
- Receives the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance (HRMCDLA).
- Receives the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and has obtained 8 points or more under the “moving around” activity.
- Receives the mobility component of PIP and has obtained 10 points specifically for Descriptor E under the “planning and following journeys” activity, on the grounds that they are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause them overwhelming psychological distress
- Is registered blind (severely sight impaired).
- Receives a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement (WPMS).
- Has been both awarded a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1-8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.
3.3 Subject to further assessment’ (previously known as ‘Discretionary’)An applicant may qualify for a badge after further assessment where the applicant is more than two years old and may be described as one or more of the following:
- A person who drives a vehicle regularly, has severe disability of both arms and is unable to operate, or has considerable difficulty in operation, all or some types of parking meter;
or
- A person who has been certified by an expert assessor as having an enduring and substantial disability and one of the following:
- Are unable to walk or experience very considerable difficulty whilst walking, which may include very considerable psychological distress.
- At risk of serious harm when walking; or pose, when walking, a risk of serious harm to any other person.
3.4 In all cases, entitlement depends on the applicant’s difficulty when walking as part of a journey, and considerations such as difficulty in carrying parcels, opening car doors and width of parking spaces are not considered.
3.5 Applicants will need to demonstrate that their ability to walk is affected to the extent that they would be unable to access goods and services unless allowed to park close to shops, public buildings and other facilities.
3.6 The disability experienced by the applicant must endure for at least three years and therefore excludes temporary limitations of mobility, such as a broken leg.
3.7 In addition, children under the age of three may be eligible for a badge if they fall within one or both of the following descriptions:
- A child who, on account of a condition, must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around with the child without great difficulty.
- A child who, on account of a condition, must always be kept near a motor vehicle so that, if necessary, treatment for that condition can be given in the vehicle or the child can be taken quickly in the vehicle to a place where such treatment can be given.
3.8 Non-visible (hidden) disabilityThe blue badge criteria changed on 30 August 2019 and was extended to include people who have a non-visible disability and who meets one or more of the following criteria:
- cannot undertake a journey without there being a risk of serious harm to their health or safety or that of any other person.
- cannot undertake a journey without it causing them very considerable psychological distress.
- have very considerable difficulty when walking (both the physical act and experience of walking).