The Blue Badge (Disabled Persons) Parking Scheme is a national scheme that allows disabled people in England to maintain their independence by enabling them to park as close as possible to their destination.

A Blue Badge is not linked to a specific vehicle, – it can be used in any car you’re travelling in, whether you’re the driver or passenger.

If you’re a parent or carer of a child with disabilities you can apply for a Blue Badge on their behalf.

Remember, never pay someone to apply for you. Please ignore any websites or companies which offer to apply for a Blue Badge on your behalf, especially for a fee. If you've been affected by a scam like this please contact Citizens Advice.

Coronavirus update

In response to COVID-19, we were advised by the Department for Transport and local government representative bodies to allow you to continue using your badge if it had an expiry date between 1 January 2020 and 30 September 2020.

You are no longer permitted to use your expired badge. If your badge has expired or is due to expire, you will need to reapply for a Blue Badge as soon as you can if you haven't already done so.

If you use an expired badge, you may receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) or other enforcement action.

Apply for or renew a Blue Badge

Step 1 - check if you're eligible

People more than two years old

You could be automatically eligible for a Blue Badge if you:

  • receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (HRMCDLA)
  • receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and score eight points or more in the 'moving around' part of your assessment
  • receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and score 10 points specifically for Descriptor E under the “planning and following journeys” activity, on the grounds you can’t undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress
  • receive a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
  • have been awarded a lump sum from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (tariffs 1-8) and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which means you can’t walk or you find walking very difficult
  • are registered blind or severely sight impaired

You may be able to have a badge after a further assessment if you are:

  • A person who 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; or

  • A person who has been certified as having an enduring and substantial disability which causes them, during the course of a journey, to:

    • Be unable to walk;

    • Experience very considerable difficulty whilst walking, which may include very considerable psychological distress; or

    • Be at risk of serious harm when walking; or pose, when walking, a risk of serious harm to any other person

  • Any of the above three types of difficulty whilst walking could potentially be caused by a physical disability, or by a ‘non-physical’ disability. In either case, the disability experienced by the applicant must endure for at least three years.

Having a certain condition or disability does not automatically entitle somebody to a Blue Badge.

Children under the age three

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
Organisations

Some organisations like to apply for a Blue Badge but if you’re transporting someone who has one, their badge can be used - even if you’re driving a minibus with other people on, for example. So it may be better to encourage people who are eligible to apply for their own badge, which can then be used in any vehicle they travel in.

Step 2 - make sure you’ve got all the documents you need

Make sure you’ve got:

  • the first 6 digits of your current Blue Badge number (if you're reapplying)
  • a passport-style photograph of yourself taken within the last month
  • your National Insurance number
  • proof of address - such as your driving licence, benefit award letter, or we can check our council tax records (we don’t accept utility bills, bank statements or tenancy agreements)
  • proof of identity - such as your birth certificate, passport or driving licence
  • Proof of relevant medical evidence or qualifying disability benefits:
    • if you’re in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment, you may not need to provide your award letter, we’ll check your Blue Badge eligibility with the Department for Works and Pensions on your behalf.
    • If you are in receipt of War Pension Mobility Supplement or have been awarded a lump sum from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (tariffs 1-8) and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which means you can’t walk or you find walking very difficult, please contact Veterans UK if you need a copy of your award letter.

You’ll need to have a photo of each of these, or have them scanned onto your computer, phone or tablet, so that you can upload them on to the application form. If you can’t upload them, please email them to bluebadge@warrington.gov.uk or post them to: Blue Badge Team, East Annexe, Town Hall, Sankey Street, Warrington WA1 1UH.

Step 3 - apply and pay

A Blue Badge costs £10. You’ll be asked to pay when you submit your application; please make sure you have a debit or credit card ready to make the payment. Card payments will appear on your bank statement as ‘WBC MV Internet’ followed by the amount paid.

If your application is unsuccessful, your payment will be refunded.

Apply for a Blue Badge

Renew a Blue Badge

After you apply

We’ll look at what you’ve told us to see whether you’re eligible for a Blue Badge. We’ll write to you and let you know our decision. We deal with applications as quickly as we can but can take up to 12 weeks.

If we approve your application

We’ll send the badge to you in the post, and it’s now yours to use.

If we need more information

We may ask you for more information or evidence, or we may ask you to meet with an independent assessor.

If we refuse your application

We’ll refund the £10 payment back to the card you paid with.Y

You can ask us to review the decision if you contact us within 28 days, you will need your original case reference number. Please include any more relevant information which you think we need to know. 

Appeal a decision for a Blue Badge

If you haven’t already had an independent assessment, we may ask you to have one. Or, if you have, you may need to have an assessment with a different independent assessor.

If we still can’t give you a Blue Badge, we'll contact you to explain why; this decision is final.

If we approve your application, we’ll ask you to pay £10 to enable us to order your badge.

Replace a lost, stolen or damaged Blue Badge

If your Blue Badge is lost, stolen or damaged, you can apply for a replacement.

A Blue Badge costs £10; if your request is approved, you’ll be asked to pay £10 for the replacement badge to enable us to order it for you.

Replace a Blue Badge

Cancel a Blue Badge

If you would like to cancel a Blue Badge, please report it below, you’ll be asked the reason why you would like to cancel. If you have the badge, please return this to us as soon as possible.

Cancel a Blue Badge

You may want to cancel because you don’t need a badge anymore, including expired badges. The badge may be damaged or too worn to use or belongs to someone who has died or you’ve found somewhere.

Please post to Blue Badge Team, Warrington Borough Council, East Annexe, Town Hall, Sankey Street, Warrington WA1 1UH

Where you can park

Check guidance from the Department for Transport (DfT). It will explain your rights and responsibilities when using the badge and provides information about where you can park.

Remember to make sure you put your badge, with the photo facing down, on your dashboard so it can be clearly seen from outside the car, and set the time where necessary. 

Blue Badge misuse

If you misuse your Blue Badge you could be fined up to £1,000, which is on top of any parking offences, fines or tickets.

Report someone who is using a Blue Badge illegally

Let us know if:

  • someone has a Blue Badge who shouldn’t have one 
  • someone is using someone else’s Blue Badge
  • someone has a Blue Badge but is parking unlawfully or dangerously

Please tell us as much information as possible such as: 

  • about the person - like their name, address or a description of them
  • their vehicle registration number
  • a description of their vehicle
  • where they usually park and when

Other information

The Department for Transport (DfT) is responsible for the legislation that sets out the framework for the Blue Badge Scheme. Local authorities are responsible for the day-to-day administration and enforcement of the scheme. We follow the guidance which applies to England. If you visit Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland the rules will be different and you will need to look at their guidelines.
It is the responsibility of each local authority to ensure that badges are only issued to residents who satisfy one or more of the eligibility criteria. Under no circumstances should anyone who does not satisfy at least one of the criteria receive a badge. Having a certain condition or disability does not automatically entitle somebody to a Blue Badge.

Remember, never pay someone to apply for you! Please ignore any websites or companies which offer to apply for a Blue Badge on your behalf, especially for a fee. If you've been affected by a scam like this please contact Citizens Advice. 

Problems applying?

If you have any problems applying for your Blue Badge please contact us so that we can help.