Some people can get a blue badge automatically. This is called being eligible without further assessment. You fit into this group if one or more of the following applies to you:

• you are registered as blind/severely sight impaired
• you receive the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• you receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and you scored at least 8 points
• in relation to the ‘moving around’ activity in the PIP assessment, or least 12 points in the mobility activity for planning and following journeys
• you have been awarded a lump sum benefit from the Armed Forces Compensation scheme (tariffs 1 to 8). You have also been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which means you can’t walk or find walking very difficult
• you receive a government grant towards your own vehicle.
• If you were on higher rate mobility component of DLA, but you had to claim PIP instead and didn’t get enough points to be eligible for a blue badge, you can continue to use your badge until it expires.

If none of these apply to you, you may still be eligible. This is called being eligible subject to further assessment, and will apply to you if you meet one of these criteria:

• you have a permanent or substantial disability which means you can’t walk or find walking very difficult
• you are a driver and have severe upper limb disabilities
• you are applying on behalf of a child over two with a permanent or substantial disability which means they can’t walk or find walking very difficult
• you are applying on behalf of a child under three with a medical condition that requires them to be close to a vehicle for emergency medical treatment or transporting bulky medical equipment.

How are you assessed?

If you are eligible subject to further assessment, your local authority will look at the evidence of your disability to decide whether you can have a blue badge.

You may need to have an independent mobility assessment. If you have applied for or held a blue badge previously, your GP may have carried this out. Assessments may now be carried out by an independent mobility assessor. This is usually a medical professional such as occupational therapist or physiotherapist, who has never treated you before.

If your local authority wants you to have a mobility assessment, it will refer you to the assessor. You will not be charged for the assessment.

You may not be required to undergo an assessment if your council says it is very obvious that you are eligible or ineligible.

How is walking ability assessed?

You will generally only be able to get a blue badge if you can walk only with great difficulty, and at an extremely slow pace or with excessive pain. No other factors, such as how difficult you find it to carry objects, will be taken into account.

Your difficulties must be permanent and not temporary. For example, if you have a broken leg, you can’t apply for a blue badge.

How are upper limb abilities assessed?

If you have severe upper limb disabilities, you are eligible for a blue badge if you:

• drive a vehicle regularly
• you have a severe disability in both arms
• you are unable or would find it very difficult to use a parking meter

You are not eligible for a blue badge if you have severe upper limb disabilities and only travel as a passenger.

Local authorities treat applications from people with severe upper limb disabilities as a special case. This means that before making a decision, they might:

• interview you
• inspect your vehicle
• check your insurance documents which state that you drive an adapted vehicle.