When can I apply for a blue badge

What Is A Blue Badge?

A blue-coloured badge is issued to disabled drivers to display on their windscreens, indicating entitlement to specific parking privileges. If you have a Blue Badge you can park in places other drivers can’t. The badge will then be 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.

Eligibility

Your local council will decide if you are eligible for a badge so that’s where you will need to apply. However, this process can take up to 12 weeks or longer to assess your application.

To apply for a blue badge you need to be eligible so make sure one of these applies to you:

• you cannot walk at all or without the help from mobility aids of another person
• you find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes
• walking is dangerous to your health and safety
• you have a terminal illness, which means you cannot walk or find walking very difficult and have a DS1500 form
• you have a severe disability in both arms and drive regularly, but cannot operate pay-and-display parking machines
• you 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 find it difficult or impossible to control your actions and lack awareness of the impact you could have on others
• you regularly have intense and overwhelming responses to situations causing a temporary loss of behavioural control
• you frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public/open spaces

What you need to apply for a Blue Badge

If you feel you are eligible to apply you will need a few documents as proof some of the following includes

• Proof of identity & address – this can be found on a driver’s license or passport
• A recent head and shoulders digital photo – this can be found on a driver’s license or council tax bill
• Your national insurance number
• Contact details – phone number, email and postal address

Where You Can Park With A Blue Badge

Blue Bage Parking On Yellow lines – Badge holders may park on single or double yellow lines for up to 3 hours, but in general not where there are restrictions on loading or unloading. However, always check for any signage nearby to indicate where you can and can’t park. Once you have parked up you must display your Blue Badge and the blue parking clock showing the quarter hour period during which you arrived.

Blue Bage Parking On Carparks  – Badge holders may park for free and for as long as they need, whilst they display their badge for the most cases but it always depends on the individual car park so always check before leaving your car.

‘On-street’ disabled parking bays – If you see a sign with a blue wheelchair symbol this means you can park there for free whilst displaying your badge. ( Always try to use these bays instead of parking on yellow lines.)

If you have any further queries a great information point is the GOV. website.

This article was written by Lucy Pendlebury Author at Tiacare, health care specalists in the UK .