The Blue Badge scheme is a national arrangement of parking concessions for people with severe mobility problems. This helps access goods and services, by allowing parking closer to a destination. The scheme is open to eligible disabled people. this is irrespective of whether they are travelling as a driver or as a passenger.

For more about the scheme, see:

• Applying for a blue badge.
• Qualifying criteria.
• When your application has been received.
• Lost or stolen badges.
• Fraud or misuse.

Applying for a blue badge

To apply, visit: Apply for or renew a blue badge (Gov.uk).

When applying, it will be useful to have to hand your:

• National Insurance number.
• Vehicle Registration number (if applicable).
• Drivers Licence number (if applicable).

If you do not have anyone to help you complete your application online please contact us on 01422 288011. One of our advisors will be able to assist you.

Qualifying criteria

You may qualify if you meet one of the these:

• You get Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance.
• You are registered blind.
• You get a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement.
• You have been both awarded a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1-8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. Also, certified as having a permanent and substantial disability that causes inability to walk or considerable difficulty in walking.
• You get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) under the ‘Moving Around’ category. Also, have been awarded eight points or more and your condition is likely to last for 12 months.

Note: Documentary evidence is required.

You may also qualify if you:

• Have a permanent and substantial disability that causes an inability to walk, or very considerable difficulty in walking.
• Drive a motor vehicle regularly and have a severe disability in both arms. Also, are unable to operate all or some types of parking meter (or find it difficult to operate them).

You will not qualify if you have a:

• Psychological disorder, learning or behavioural problems. These do not normally qualify you, unless your impairment causes considerable and not intermittent, difficulty in walking.
• Disabling condition that is only temporary, like a broken leg.

Organisations

Organisations that care for and transport a significant number of disabled people, may be eligible for a Blue Badge. This is providing that those disabled people meet the Blue Badge criteria.

Child under three years of age

A parent may apply for a badge for a child under three with specific medical conditions, if they:

• must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around with the child without great difficulty;
• need to be kept near a motor vehicle at all times. This is so they can, if necessary, be treated for their condition in the vehicle. Otherwise, can quickly be driven to a place where they can be treated, such as a hospital.

An assessment by the Council’s Mobility Assessor may be required if you do not automatically qualify for a badge.

When your application has been received

When your application has been received the Council’s Blue Badge team will contact you to advise what will happen next.

If the Council is unable to validate your eligibility for a Blue Badge through its own records. The record we check are the Electoral Register, Housing Benefit or Council Tax systems. If we cannot validate your eligibility, we will contact you and ask you to supply appropriate evidence. For example:

• proof of address (such as a letter from the Pensions Service or valid Driving Licence);
• proof of identity (such as a birth certificate or Passport);
• additional information, like:
  • an award letter for Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance;
  • or a Certificate of Vision Impairment signed by a consultant ophthalmologist.

Organisations applying for a Blue Badge will be required to provide the following evidence:

• V5 document showing vehicles licensed under the DPV (disability) taxation class;
• a signed declaration on the organisation’s letter-headed paper. This must state that they are concerned with the care of disabled people. Also, that they will be using the vehicle solely for the purpose of transporting those people. This should be signed by a Board Member or Trustee of the organisation.

A £10 application fee is payable for all successful applications. If you are unsuccessful, you will receive a letter explaining why and outlining your right to appeal.

Note: Applications can take between four and six weeks to be assessed.

Lost or stolen badges

To report this online and request a replacement badge, visit: Apply for or renew a blue badge (Gov.uk).

Replacement badges will be issued from Halifax Customer First within 14 days of your request. A £5 fee is payable.

Fraud or misuse

A Blue Badge, can only be used in a vehicle when it is used to transport the badge holder. Under no circumstances should someone other than the badge holder be claiming the Blue Badge concessions. The badge must never be given to anyone to use, if the badge holder is not travelling with them. Important note: This includes friends and family members.

Misuse of the badge by someone who is not disabled is an offence under Section 117 of the Road Traffic Act . The maximum fine on conviction is £1,000. This applies in addition to whatever penalty may be imposed for any parking offence.

For more on this policy, please read: Blue badge enforcement policy [PDF 166KB].

Blue Badge fraud is on the increase and undermines the integrity of the scheme. In 2016, this Council approved a policy that details how we will deal with Fraud and Misuse. Since its introduction, the Council have successfully prosecuted 12 people for misusing a Blue Badge. A further seven people have accepted an official caution (figures up to 31st March 2020).

If you suspect a Blue Badge is being used illegally, we encourage you to report it. Please use this form: Report misuse of a blue badge [PDF 147KB]. (All personal information will be dealt with in strictest confidence).

Below are details of some of the cases that have been successfully prosecuted for misusing a Blue Badge:

• A Bradford man was prosecuted for displaying the Blue Badge of a relative who had died. This was while he parked on Trinity Road in Halifax. A Penalty Charge notice was issued for the parking offence. The case was also referred to Court for the offence of misusing the Blue Badge. The man pleaded guilty to the offence which was contrary to Section 117 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. He was fined £485 and ordered to pay £450 costs.
• A Halifax man who parked in a designated disabled parking bay on Thomas Street, Halifax. He used his wife’s Blue Badge Permit, even though she was not with him. He pleaded guilty at Bradford Magistrates Court to the offence under Section 117 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. He was fined £80 with £150 costs.
• A woman parked in Halifax Town centre and displayed her mothers Blue Badge. She pleaded guilty at Bradford Magistrates Court to misusing the badge. She was fined £440 and ordered to pay £400 costs. The woman had dropped her mum off at a different location before parking near her place of work. When interviewed, the woman admitted the main reason for parking and displaying the badge was to go to work.

A Blue Badge can be used if:

• the badge holder is travelling in the vehicle as a driver or passenger;
• and is personally making use of a parking concession.

Important note: It is a criminal offence to use it to avoid paying the parking charge.

• In a similar case, a Halifax man who failed to attend Court was found guilty of misusing a Blue Badge. He was fined £440 and ordered to pay a further £400 in costs. The offence took place when he displayed his wife’s Blue Badge when parked on Goal Lane (Halifax). In an interview, he admitted that his wife the had not been with him when he parked. Also, that he had displayed the badge while he went shopping.