Who is eligible for a Blue Badge in the UK?

Full answer

The Blue Badge scheme lets disabled people, or those who care for them, park closer to their destination -- including in disabled bays, and often on yellow lines for a limited time. Eligibility falls into two routes: 'automatic' (eligible without further assessment) and 'discretionary' (assessed by your local authority). You usually qualify automatically if you are registered blind (severely sight impaired), receive the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, receive certain War Pensioners' or Armed Forces payments, or score the required number of points in the 'moving around' or, since the 2019 rules, the 'planning and following a journey' activity of PIP. The latter extended the scheme to people with non-visible disabilities such as autism or severe anxiety. Discretionary eligibility covers people who cannot walk, or who find walking very difficult, due to a permanent and substantial disability, or who have a severe condition affecting their ability to manage journeys safely. Your council assesses these cases, sometimes with a mobility assessment by a healthcare professional. Who it affects: the scheme is administered by local councils in England, Wales and Scotland (Northern Ireland runs its own equivalent), so the exact application process and any small administration fee vary by area. It is not means-tested -- your income, savings, and National Insurance record are irrelevant -- and the badge is tied to the person, not a specific vehicle. The application fee is set locally and capped, but the precise cap is not in our verified figures, so check your local council's page and gov.uk for the current amount rather than relying on a quoted number. Badges typically last up to three years and must be renewed. There are no tax or take-home-pay calculations involved in a Blue Badge, but if you receive PIP it may, separately, passport you to other support -- check the relevant benefit guidance on gov.uk.