A Blue Badge helps you park closer to your destination if you have a disability or health condition that affects how you get around. With the Blue Badge you can park in marked disabled parking bays in town centres and car parks. 

A parent or carer for a child aged 3 or over can apply for a Blue Badge on the child’s behalf. Some children aged 2 and under are eligible for a Blue Badge. You may also be able to get a Blue Badge if you have hidden disabilities that impact your movement.

People who automatically qualify

You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you:

• are registered blind (severely visually impaired)
• receive the higher rate of the mobility part of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and have a 8 or more under the “moving around” activity of the mobility part
• receive PIP and have 10 points in the mobility part with the description “you cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress.”
• receive the War Pensioners Mobility supplement
• have received a lump sum within tariff levels 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme, and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability that makes walking very difficult

Make sure you check your benefit award letters for the breakdown to be sure you can automatically qualify. If your benefit award for PIP or DLA expires in under 3 months you will not automatically qualify and must apply following an assessment.

You must still complete the application form even if you automatically qualify. If you complete the wrong form, we will ask you to complete a new application with the correct criteria. 

People who may qualify following an assessment

You can also qualify for a Blue Badge with other disabilities or health conditions.

If you:

• are unable to walk
• have a disability or long term health condition that affects your mobility, such as arthritis or a breathing condition
• drive and have a severe disability in both arms that makes it hard to use parking meters
• have a terminal illness that limits your mobility. Providing a DS1500 or SR1 form will fast-track your application
• receive a permanent award of the higher rate of attendance allowance
• have a hidden disability that makes it very hard for you to travel between a vehicle and your destination

If you care for a child aged 2 or under, they may be eligible for a Blue Badge if:

• the child must be always accompanied by bulky medical equipment which is hard to carry around
• the child must always be near a vehicle so they can receive treatment in the vehicle or be taken to a place to receive treatment

For any of the conditions above, you must provide evidence of your difficulties yourself. We cannot contact health professionals, even if you give us permission to. 

In some cases, you may need to have an assessment by an independent mobility service. We will let you know if this is the case when we review your application.

View further Government guidance on the conditions that are eligible for a Blue Badge.

People who may qualify with a hidden disability or condition

If you have a hidden condition you can be eligible for a Blue Badge. We will assess each individual applicant’s needs when making a decision. 

We will award a Blue Badge if your condition causes you to have lots of difficulties with journeys between a vehicle and the destination. This can mean you are a risk to yourself or others in vehicles, traffic or a car park. We will also consider if you become very anxious in public spaces or have trouble following a journey. 

Check if you are eligible for an Organisational Blue Badge

You can apply for an Organisational Blue Badge if:

• your organisation cares for and transports disabled people who qualify for a Blue Badge in their own right
• you use a specifically adapted vehicle for disabled passengers

You must have a need for an organisational badge rather than using individual Blue Badges of people who you transport. 

Check you’re eligible for an Organisational Blue Badge on the gov.uk website.