Eligibility and FAQs

Am I eligible?

You can get a Blue Badge if you:

• are severely sight impaired or blind
• are terminally ill and have a DS1500 medical condition report
• receive the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and scored 8 points or more under the 'Moving Around' area of your assessment
• receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and scored 10 points specifically for descriptor E under the 'planning and following journeys' area of your assessment. Descriptor E states that the applicant is unable to undertake any journey because it would cause them overwhelming psychological distress
• receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• have been awarded a lump sum benefit from the Armed Forces Compensation scheme
• are at risk of serious harm when walking; or pose, when walking, a risk of serious harm to any other person
• have a child under the age of 3 with a medical condition that means the child must always be kept near a vehicle in case they need emergency medical treatment
• have a child under the age of 3 with a medical condition that means the child always needs to be accompanied by bulky medical equipment

You can also get a Blue Badge if you:

• are a regular driver and have severe upper limb disabilities in both arms and you are unable to operate or have some difficulty operating, all or some types of parking meter
• have a permanent and substantial disability which means you can’t walk or find walking very difficult which may include very considerable psychological distress 

In these cases you may need to be assessed for eligibility.  

How do I apply for a Blue Badge for the first time?

Please see our how do I apply for a Blue Badge page for guidance.

We will prioritise new applications that are submitted alongside a DS1500 form. All other applications will be reviewed as soon as we are able to however this can take up to 8 weeks. 

How do I renew a Blue Badge?

The easiest way is to renew on the GOV.UK website 6 to 8 weeks before your badge expires. We will aim to deliver your new Blue Badge before your old one expires.

Renewing online

You will need the following: 

• the serial number on the current badge.
• if you do not have a bus pass you will need to upload a digital passport-style photo (not a printed paper photo). This can be one from your computer, tablet or phone.
• a credit or debit card to pay the £10 fee.
  
  

How do I renew my badge if I don't have access to a computer?

If you don't have access to a computer or the internet you can renew your Blue badge by visiting your local Staffordshire County Council Library.

What if my application is refused?

Applicants have the right to request a review of the decision not to issue them with a badge, within 28 days of the date of the decision letter. All requests will normally be dealt with within 28 days of receipt. The request must be made in writing to the Blue Badge Team and must detail why the applicant feels that the decision is wrong and provide further relevant evidence to support a review of the decision.

What if my Blue Badge has been lost or stolen?

You will need to apply for a replacement. Please apply on the GOV.UK website. 

Please note 

• you will need a debit or credit card to pay the £10 charge to replace the lost or stolen badge
• to prevent fraud we can only post replacement badges to the address on the original badge record. If you have moved address we will need to see proof of new address before we can issue a replacement badge.

How do I display my Blue Badge?

Displaying your badge

Place your Blue Badge on the dashboard of your vehicle where it can be clearly read through the front windscreen and visible to the enforcement officers. If there is no dashboard or facia panel in your vehicle, you must still display the badge in a place where it can be clearly read from outside the vehicle.

The side containing the expiry date, issuing authority and wheelchair symbol should be showing.

Make sure that the details on the front of the badge are readable. If they become unreadable through fading or wear and tear, you must return the badge to your local authority so they can issue you with a new one. Displaying a badge that is illegible may result in a parking fine.

How to use the badge time clock

The associated time clock only needs to be displayed when you are parking on yellow lines or in a Blue Badge parking bay that has a time limit.

In both cases, you should set the time of arrival on the clock and display it next to your badge on the dashboard.

Where can I park using my Blue Badge?

Before you park

• ensure that you check signage carefully
• check that your Blue Badge has not expired
• park in a marked bay

Please note: motorists parked in disabled bays who do not clearly display a valid Blue Badge in accordance with the instructions provided will be liable for a parking fine.

Where can I park?

Eligible Blue Badge holders, carrying and displaying a valid badge correctly, may park:

• or up to 3 hours on roads where waiting is prohibited, such as single or double yellow lines, unless the signs say 'no loading or unloading'
• all day on roads where parking is free but restricted by time
• on most council-run car parks. Please check signage for prices and time restrictions

Please note: do not park in a pedestrian zone unless there is a sign showing that vehicles displaying a Blue Badge are exempt.

Where can I not park?

The Blue Badge is not a licence to park anywhere. You must not park:

• in places where a ban on loading or unloading is in force, as indicated by kerb markings
• in parking places reserved for specific users such as residents' bays or loading bays
• on pedestrian crossings (zebra, pelican, toucan and puffin crossings), including areas marked by zig-zag lines
• on clearways (roads with no stopping in force)
• on bus, tram or cycle lanes or cycle tracks
• where there are double white lines in the centre of the road (even if one of the lines is broken)
• by suspended parking meter bays or when the use of the meter is not allowed
• where temporary parking restrictions are in force, e.g. by no-waiting cones

Further information

Please see the rights and responsibilities in England leaflet on the GOV.UK website.

What should I do if my Blue Badge has expired, or I no longer need it?

Please cut it in half and return it to: