The Blue Badge is a concession which helps severely disabled persons with permanent and substantial mobility problems to park close to where they need to go.
The eligibility criteria is decided by Welsh Government, however, each local authority is responsible for administering the scheme and determining eligibility for applicants who permanently reside in their area.
Blue Badge eligibility has been extended to enable applicants with cognitive impairments to be considered against the criteria.
From 1.10.16 the scheme has been further extended to include those with a Temporary but substantial impairment which impacts on mobility and is expected to last for at least 12 months. If it is clear that the applicant’s impairment will improve within 12 months the application will be rejected without further assessment.
All applicants must be the driver or passenger in a vehicle when using the blue badge
How do I know if I am eligible for a Blue Badge?
- Automatic
- Discretionary
- Cognitive Impairment
- Temporary
PLEASE NOTE: if you are under the age of 65 years, you may be entitled to claim a mobility related benefit from the Department of Work and Pensions.
We recommend that Blue Badge applicants who are under the age of 65 years should firstly apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
If awarded, this will help you financially, and also serve as the relevant medical evidence required when applying for a Blue Badge
If eligible, what evidence do I need to provide?
| Category of Evidence |
Examples |
|
Supporting Letter
|
Payment (PIP) letter.
NOTE: This must be the full award letter which clearly shows you have the following points:
Either:
Minimum of 12 points – in the ‘Planning and Following a Journey’ category
OR
Minimum of 8 points – in the ‘Moving Around’ category
Plus the annual advice letter if you have been receiving this benefit for over a year (to confirm you are still in receipt of PIP). |
|
Supporting Medical Evidence
(Discretionary, Cognitive Impairment &Temporary eligibility)
|
Evidence already in your possession from an independent medical practitioner and not from a GP that clearly states what your permanent medical condition is and how it affects your mobility.
Evidence already in your possession that clearly states what your cognitive impairment is, and how it supports your application for a Blue Badge
or
Evidence already in your possession from an independent medical practitioner and not from a GP that clearly states what your temporary substantial impairment is which impacts on your mobility. The condition is expected to last for at least 12 months. If it is clear that the applicant’s impairment will improve within 12 months then the application will be rejected without further assessment.
|
|
Proof of Identification
(Discretionary, Cognitive Impairment &Temporary eligibility)
|
Passport, Driving Licence, Marriage/ Divorce Certificate, Birth/ Adoption Certificate, Certificate of British Nationality, Bus Pass |
| Proof of Residency
(Discretionary, Cognitive Impairment &Temporary eligibility)
|
Council Tax bill, Utility bill, Driving Licence, Payslip, P60 - must show your home address |
| National Insurance Number
(Discretionary, Cognitive Impairment &Temporary eligibility)
|
This can be found on a Payslip/ P60/ Letter from the DWP/ National Insurance Card |
You will also need a standard Passport photograph of yourself to support your application. If you do not have an up-to-date photo, then one can be taken and provided for you at your interview, for a charge of £5.
How to apply?
Interviews
All applicants should attend in person with their relevant supporting information which meets the Welsh Government criteria (as mentioned previously).
Opening times for Blue Badges are:
- Monday to Thursday: 9am – 12 noon, and 2pm to 4.30pm
- Friday: 9am – 12 noon, and 2pm to 3.30pm.
Please do not attend between 12 noon and 2pm.
Private interviews
If you require a private interview room please contact us in advance so that arrangements can be made to book an interview room. As we are not always able to offer this facility on demand.
Re-applying before your badge expires
If you attend to re-apply for your badge BEFORE the old one has expired you do not need to bring the unexpired badge into the Civic Centre with you when you attend for your interview.
You can display the unexpired badge on your car if parked in a disabled space whilst you are in the Civic Centre.
NPTCBC cannot take responsibility for any Penalty Charge Notice which you may receive if you park in a disabled space without using a valid blue badge.
In accordance with the responsibilities of the badge holder, whether your re-application is successful or unsuccessful you have a duty to ensure the return of an expired badge to the Authority. Failure to do so may result in your badge being cancelled.
Special rules for children
If you’re a parent of a child who is younger than three years old, you may also apply for a Blue Badge. Your child must have a specific medical condition which means that they either:
- must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which is very difficult to carry around
- need to be kept near a vehicle at all times to get emergency treatment for a condition when necessary
If your application is turned down
If your application is turned down we will explain why you have not met the eligibility criteria supplied by Welsh Government. There is no statutory appeals process against a decision made by a Local Authority.
If your mobility problems worsen significantly then we will consider a new application but not usually within 6 months of your last application.
Lost, stolen, or damaged Blue Badges
Badges can be replaced for a charge of £10 (you may need to prove you are still eligible to receive one). In order we can cancel the badge we will require details about how it was lost/stolen/damaged.
If you find a Blue Badge please return it stating where found to the Customer Services Team, One Stop Shop Civic Centre, Port Talbot SA13 1PJ
Where can I park?
The Blue Badge scheme is not a licence to park anywhere. It is the applicant’s responsibility to read the information booklet which accompanies the blue badge and if in doubt to make relevant enquiries with the local parking office.
Parking charges also vary therefore please check all notices to ensure the relevant requirements are met.
Misuse/abuse of the scheme
The badge and its concessions are for the named person on the badge only . It is a criminal offence for the holder, or anyone else, to misuse the badge, and doing so could lead to a £1000.00 fine and result in the confiscation of the blue badge.
Unofficial websites offering Blue Badge application assistance
Please be aware that some websites offer assistance to persons applying for a Blue Badge in exchange for a fee. These sites are not associated with the Blue Badge scheme in any way.
Organisational Blue Badge
A Blue Badge may be issued to an organisation for a vehicle that is to be used to transport disabled people who have a PERMANENT and SUBSTANTIAL disability and who would themselves be eligible for a Blue Badge.
A badge can be issued to an organisation if they have vehicles licensed under Disabled Passenger Vehicle (DPV) taxation class.The application must be made in person by the Manager/Deputy Manager of the Organisation In all circumstances, badges will be issued to the organisation and not the named individuals.
If only a few people within the organisation meet the eligibility criteria for a Blue Badge, it is advisable for the disabled people themselves to apply for individual badges, rather than have one issued to the organisation. This then allows the holder to use their badge in any vehicle in which they are travelling.
In order to process the application for an organisational Blue Badge, the organisation we will need to provide the following:
- Copy of Tax exemption re DPV or letter of confirmation from DVLA (if applicable)
- £10 fee per badge