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Blue badges

Blue badge holders can park close to their destination. National concessions apply only to on-street parking. 

A new blue badge is being launched from 1st January 2012 in England and Scotland and later in Wales.  It is part of the UK Government’s reform programme and will make it easier to crack down on fraud.  It will make it easier for the severely disabled people who rely on the Blue Badge scheme to find a parking space. From 1st January 2012 badges will cost £10.00, this is to cover the costs of administration, production and postage.  The Blue Badge fee has been set at £2.00 since 1983 and this is the first time the fee has been increased.

From 1st January 2012 Blue Badges will be individually printed and will be made of a combination of PVC and PET instead of cardboard and will be more robust.

Badges that are currently on issue will still be valid until their end date.  If you are successful in your renewal application you will then be issued a new style badge. 

How to apply

You can apply at any One Stop Shop.

• You will need to provide two passport standard photographs along with your most recent qualifying benefit award letter dated within the last 12 months, for example, disability living allowance.
• You will also need to pay the Blue Badge fee.
• You need to apply in person for your blue badge, if this causes you difficulty please contact us for advice.
• You will need to provide two forms of identification.  If possible, one should be a photographic form of identification for example, a passport, bus pass or new style driving licence and one must show your current address and be dated within the last 12 months.
• If you apply but do not have a qualifying benefit, you will have to undergo an independent medical examination.  Please contact us for a medical application pack if you need to arrange an assessment.
• We aim to process your badge request on the day of application, but you will not receive your badge during your visit.  Badges are now produced nationally and despatched by 2nd class post within 5 working days of us placing the order.

If you are applying for a renewal of your current badge and need a medical assessment we recommend that you apply at least 6 weeks before your badge runs out so that we can process your new badge in time.  The One Stop Shop staff are not responsible for the timings of medical assessments.  You must fill in the application form and provide the documents requested.  We will tell you if you qualify for a blue badge. If you do, we will ask you to pay a £10.00 administration fee.

Read more detailed information about the Blue Badge scheme (Microsoft Word).

Download the application form (Microsoft Word/ RTF, 1MB)

Criteria

You can only apply for a blue badge if you meet any of the following criteria:

• You receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance
• You are registered as blind
• You receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• You have received a payment within tariff 1 to 8 of Armed Forces compensation scheme and certified as having permanent and substantial disability likely to last duration of life
• You have a permanent and substantial disability which means you are unable to or have difficulty walking (and travel either as a driver or passenger)
• You have a severe upper limb disability and regularly drive a vehicle but cannot turn a steering wheel by hand even if the wheel is fitted with a turning handle
• Children under 3 may qualify for a badge if they have a medical condition that requires they be accompanied by bulky medical equipment and/or need to be near a motor vehicle for speedy treatment or transportation for treatment
• You belong to an organisation that uses a vehicle to transport disabled people
  

For further information about the blue badge scheme, call general enquiries on 0151 489 6000 or email blue.badge@knowsley.gov.uk.

More information

These changes are following a major programme of reforms to the blue badge scheme completed by the Government.  The reforms will deliver the most comprehensive changes to the blue badge scheme for 40 years.

Read the Department of Transport's information on Blue Badges.