Eligibility for a Blue Badge

Find out below if you may be eligible for a Blue Badge.

'Eligible without further assessment' criteria

People who may be issued with a badge without further assessment are those who are more than two years old in age and fall within one or more of the following descriptions

• Receives the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance
  (HRMCDLA); or
• Receives 8 points or more under the "moving around" activity of the mobility component of
  Personal Independence Payment (PIP); or
• Is registered blind (severely sight impaired); or
• Receives a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement (WPMS); or
• Has been both awarded a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1-8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.

Please see the Gov.uk webiste about Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and eligibility for a Blue Badge.

If you are an existing Disability Living Allowance claimant, you can quickly identify how and when you might be affected by PIP by entering your date of birth and postcode in the online PIP checker at www.gov.uk/pip-checker

'Eligible subject to further assessment' criteria

People who may be issued with a badge after further assessment are those who are more than two years old in age and fall within one or more of the following descriptions:

• Drives a vehicle regularly, has a severe disability in both arms and is unable to operate, or has considerable difficulty in operating, all or some types of parking meter.
• Has a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.

In addition, children under the age of three may be eligible for a badge if they fall within either or both of the following descriptions:  

• A child who, on account of a condition, must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around with the child without great difficulty.
• A child who, on account of a condition, must always be kept near a motor vehicle so that, if necessary, treatment for that condition can be given in the vehicle or the child can be taken quickly in the vehicle to a place where such treatment can be given.

From 1 April 2012, legislation prescribes that the eligibility of those applying 'subject to further assessment' be confirmed by an independent mobility assessor. Southend Borough Council is therefore now working in partnership with ABLE2 Occupational Therapy Services to provide this service. If you are claiming under the above criteria, you will be contacted direct by ABLE2 in order to confirm your eligibility. Please note: Whilst ABLE2 will confirm eligibility, Southend Borough Council will at all times remain responsible for the issuing of the Blue Badge.

Appealing

If you are not eligible for a Blue Badge under the above criteria, ABLE2 will notify you of this in writing. If you wish to appeal the decision you must complete the 'appeal form' enclosed with the decision letter and return it to ABLE2.

Please note that you have 4 weeks from the date of the decision letter to appeal.

When completing the appeal form, you will need to provide new information about the severity of the conditions you told us about in the original application and the "additional information form" that you were sent by ABLE2. If you do not provide new information unfortunately your appeal will be declined.

The following types of information can be accepted;

• Consultant or Physiotherapists Reports
• Receipt of Meals on Wheels
• Proof of Disabled Living Allowance
• Attendance at a Day Centre
• Assistance of a Social Services carer
• Psychiatric Reports

You may send more than one piece of information to assist ABLE2 in considering your appeal.