People who experience one of five issues when trying to walk could be eligible for a disabled parking permit. Better known as a Blue Badge, the permit is intended to help people with severe mobility or mental impairments, allowing them to park closer to their destination.
Statistics from 2024 reveal that there were 2.84 million Blue Badge holders in England. This indicates that more than one in 22 people possess a disabled parking badge.
There are a number of circumstances that can make you eligible for a badge. However, the criteria can seem a little confusing.
Your ability to walk is one criterion that is considered when applying for a permit. There are five instances affecting your walking in which you could be eligible for a Blue Badge.
On the Government website it explains you may be eligible for a badge if one or more of the following applies:
However, these do not mean that you automatically qualify for a badge – you will need to apply through your local council. GOV.UK says: “Your local council 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.”
To apply for a Blue Badge you will need to provide:
To prove your identity, you can provide a copy of either birth or adoption certificate, passport, driving licence, marriage or civil partnership certificate, or divorce or dissolution certificate.
To prove your address, you can provide a copy of either a recent council tax bill, a recent letter from a government department such as Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ), a driving licence, or a recent letter from a school (if you are under 16).
Certain people automatically qualify for a Blue Badge. The criteria for this is if you are aged three or over and at least one of the following applies:
Other conditions also qualify you for a badge but not automatically. These are if:
For more information and to apply visit gov.uk/apply-blue-badge.
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