Applying for a Blue Badge
Blue Badges are for drivers, passengers or children with severe mobility problems and for those who are registered blind. The scheme allows badge holders to access goods, services and facilities, which they would otherwise be unable to, by allowing them to park closer to their destination. The scheme applies only to on-street parking.
Having a certain condition or disability does not mean you will be awarded a Blue Badge. Each application will be considered on an individual case-by-case basis.
In all cases, the purpose of issuing a Badge is to enable the applicant to undertake journeys that would not otherwise be possible, or which are only possible with very considerable difficulty.
Who can apply
A person is automatically eligible for a badge if they are over two years old and meet at least one of the following criteria. Proof that they meet the criteria must be provided.
Automatic criteria
High Rate of the Mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
If you receive the High Rate of the Mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
You will need to provide your DLA award letter dated within the last 12 months.
If your letter is over 12 months old, you will need to call and ask for an up to date letter to be sent to you.
- If you were born before 8 April 1948, the number to call is 0800 731 0122
- If you were born after 8 April 1948, the number to call is 0800 121 4600
If your letter states Attendance Allowance, you should not apply under this criteria.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- If you receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and have been awarded 8 points or more for the 'moving around' activity of the mobility component;
OR
- If you receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and have been awarded 10 points specifically because you cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant.
You will need to provide your full PIP award letter dated within the last 12 months. If your letter is over 12 months old, you will need to call and ask for an up to date letter to be sent to you.
- The number to call is 0800 121 4433
If your letter states Attendance Allowance, you should not apply under this criteria.
If you are registered as severely sight impaired (blind)
You will need to provide your Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) or BD8 form or your visually impaired ID card (if registered blind with Wakefield Council).
If you are registered sight impaired (partially sighted), you should not apply under this criteria.
War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
If you receive War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
You will need to provide your War Pensioner's entitlement letter stating that you receive the Mobility Supplement. If you do not have a letter, you will need to call Veterans UK and ask for a letter to be sent to you.
- The number to call is 0808 1914 218
Registered severely sight impaired (blind)
If you are registered as severely sight impaired (blind)
You will need to provide your Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) or BD8 form or your visually impaired ID card (if registered blind with Wakefield Council).
If you are registered sight impaired (partially sighted), you should not apply under this criteria.
Lump sum benefit armed forces and reserved forces compensation scheme
If you have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1-8 of the armed forces and reserved forces compensation scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.
You will need to provide your full award letter which confirms this. If you do not have a letter, you will need to call Veterans UK and ask for a letter to be sent to you.
- The number to call is 0808 1914 218
Terminal Illness and not expected to live more than 6 months
You will need to provide your DS1500 confirming your diagnosis. If you do not have a DS1500 you will need to provide the details of the medical professional who can confirm your diagnosis and that your life expectancy is less than 6 months.
Assessed criteria
A person who doesn't meet the above criteria may still qualify if one of the following apply:
Enduring and substantial disability which means you are unable to walk or have considerable difficulty in walking from a vehicle to your destination
You need to complete a full application giving details of your illness or disability and how your mobility is affected. You should upload any evidence you already have from medical professionals. The types of evidence you could provide include (but are not limited to):
- A letter of diagnosis (from a specialist), as up-to-date as possible
- Evidence of the progression of the condition over time
- Confirmation of ongoing treatments/clinic attendances, or referral
- Evidence of prescribed medication relevant to your condition
- Evidence of specialist consultations, or referral
- Your Patient Summary or Summary Care Records
- Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
- Care Plans from social care teams
- Social housing letters or assessment reports from a local authority
- Letters from other professionals involved in your care
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decision letters
- Evidence of other benefits received
- Contact details of professionals involved in your care
If you are unable to provide any of the evidence above then you must ask the medical professional involved in your care to complete the
Request for Further Information Form. Please do not submit an application until you are able to provide this completed form.
IMPORTANT - you should not ask your GP to write a letter Please Note: some organisations or specialists may charge a fee for providing documentary evidence on request, the council cannot help with these costs.
If the evidence you provide is not enough to make a decision on your eligibility, you will be required to attend an independent mobility assessment to determine if you meet the criteria, you will not be charged for this.
Enduring and substantial disability which causes you to experience very considerable psychological distress, or be at risk of serious harm, or pose a risk of serious harm to any other person when walking from a vehicle to your destination (you have a hidden disability)
You need to complete a full application giving details of your illness or disability and the difficulties you experience during the course of a journey, when walking from a vehicle to your destination.
You should upload any evidence you already have from medical professionals.
The types of evidence you could provide include (but are not limited to):
- A letter of diagnosis (from a specialist), as up-to-date as possible
- Evidence of the progression of the condition over time
- Confirmation of ongoing treatments/clinic attendances, or referral
- Evidence of prescribed medication relevant to your condition
- Evidence of specialist consultations, or referral
- Your Patient Summary or Summary Care Records
- Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
- Care Plans from social care teams
- Social housing letters or assessment reports from a local authority
- Letters from other professionals involved in your care
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decision letters
- Evidence of other benefits received
- Contact details of professionals involved in your care
IMPORTANT - you should not ask your GP to write a letter.Please Note: some organisations or specialists may charge a fee for providing documentary evidence on request, the council cannot help with these costs.
If the evidence you provide is not enough to make a decision on your eligibility, your application will be passed to an expert assessor to determine if you meet the criteria, you will not be charged for this.
Regularly drives a vehicle and has a severe disability in both arms and is unable to operate or has considerable difficulty in operating all or some types of on-street parking equipment.
Only drivers with the most severe disabilities in both their arms will qualify under this criteria. Medical evidence or an assessment may be needed to determine eligibility.
Child under 3 years old who must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment
Examples of bulky medical equipment may include (but is not limited to):
- Ventilators
- Suction machines
- Feed pumps
- Parenteral equipment
- Syringe drivers
- Oxygen administration equipment
- Continuous oxygen saturation monitoring equipment
- Casts and associated medical equipment for the correction of hip dysplasia
Child under 3 years old who needs to be kept near a vehicle at all times
Proof of address and identity
We will accept the following as proof of address and identity:
Proof of address
- A recent Council Tax bill bearing your name and address dated within the last 12 months
- UK Driving Licence (photo-card or paper part)
- P60 certificate, this must be dated within the last 12 months
- A letter dated within the last 12 months from a government department such as the Department for Works and Pensions or HM Revenues & Customs or National Health Service.
Proof of identity
- Passport
- Driving license (photo-card part)
- Birth/Adoption certificate
Photographs
You will need to upload a recent digital photo to be printed on the back of your Blue Badge. Make sure it:
- Has a plain light background
- Shows your face clearly
- Includes your shoulders
Please note we cannot accept a photo card Driving Licence for both Identity and Residency proof.
What would delay your application?
Your application could be delayed if you do not provide the required evidence or supporting documents.
There may be a requirement to attend an independent assessment as part of your application. Appointments are undertaken on behalf of the Council by Ascenti Healhcare Ltd and this additional assessment can extend the time it takes to process your application.
Badges for organisations
Organisations concerned with the care of disabled people can apply for a Blue Badge for vehicles like minibuses or specially adapted vehicles if they:
- Care for and transport disabled people who would meet the eligibility criteria for an individual Blue Badge; and
- Have a clear need for an organisational badge rather than using the individual Blue Badges of people it transports.
How to apply
The fastest way to apply is on-line for both new and renewal applications.
You will need to provide up to date evidence as part of your application and may need to attend an assessment to determine if you qualify.
We aim to process your application in 6 weeks once we have received your application and supporting evidence although it can take up to 12 weeks if you are required to attend an assessment.
Before you apply please ensure you have read the information above and have all the required evidence and supporting documents.
Once you have applied please be assured that your application will be reviewed and there is no need to contact us, we will be in touch to inform you of the next stage.
Lost and Stolen Badge
If your badge has been lost or stolen please call Customer Services on 03458 506 506.