Who can get a Blue Badge?

In this section

Find out what evidence you need to be able to apply for a Blue Badge.

People who automatically get a Blue Badge

You will automatically receive a Blue Badge if:

you receive the ‘higher rate mobility component’ of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) (example DLA letter)
you receive 8 points or more for the 'moving around' part of the mobility section of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
you receive exactly 10 points under the “planning and following a journey” activity of PIP and it states ‘you cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress’ or ‘significant mental distress’ on your award letter (download an example PIP letter)
you are registered as severely sight impaired (blind) under the National Assistance Act 1948 (partially sighted people do not automatically qualify)
you have a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) proving you are severely sight impaired
you receive a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
you receive Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) award, tariffs 1 to 8 and have been assessed by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) as having a permanent and significant disability that makes it impossible or very difficult to walk

You have a physical or non-physical disability including those with hidden disabilities that can affect a journey.

Below is a list of criteria we use to assess:

are unable to walk
experience considerable difficulty whilst walking, which may include considerable psychological distress
you have a child under 3 years old and need to transport bulky medical equipment for urgent treatment, or always be near a vehicle so they can be treated or driven to a place for treatment for a permanent illness
you drive a vehicle regularly and have a severe disability in both arms and have considerable difficulty using parking meters
you are constantly a significant risk to yourself or others when walking and near vehicles in traffic or car parks
severely struggle to plan or follow a journey
find it difficult or impossible to control your actions and lack awareness of the impact you could have on others
regularly have intense and overwhelming responses to situations causing temporary loss of behavioural control
frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public or open spaces

It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide the relevant evidence to support their application and demonstrate eligibility for a Blue Badge.

Types of evidence could include (but is not limited to):

letter of diagnosis
Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP), which may provide insight into the needs, experiences and coping strategies devised for younger people with complex needs, learning disabilities and or behavioural difficulties
social housing letters or assessment reports from the local authority
care plans from social care teams
the applicant’s Patient Summary or Summary Care Records
evidence of the progression or advancement of the condition over time (this may be especially relevant if someone is re-applying having been previously rejected because the condition was previously not judged to be severe enough)
letters from professionals involved in the care of the applicant

Other evidence that may support an application with items from the above list:

confirmation of ongoing treatments, clinic attendances or referrals
evidence of prescribed medication relevant to the applicant’s disability/ symptoms may support other submitted evidence
evidence of specialist consultations, or referrals
evidence of other benefits relating to a disability received by the applicant