Blue Badge Scheme

What is the Blue Badge Scheme?

The Blue Badge (Disabled Persons’ Parking) Scheme was introduced in 1971 under Section 21 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (‘the 1970 Act’).

The aim of the scheme is to help people with severe mobility problems caused by visible and non-visible (hidden) disabilities to access goods and services, by allowing them to park close to their destination. The scheme is open to eligible people regardless of whether they are travelling as a driver or as a passenger.

Who can apply for a Blue Badge?

Residents who may be issued with a blue badge are those who fall within one or more of the eligibility criteria:

• Receives the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Receives the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and has obtained 8 points or more under the “moving around” activity
• Receives the mobility component of PIP and has obtained 10 points specifically for Descriptor E under the “planning and following journeys” activity, on the grounds that they are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause them overwhelming psychological distress
• Is registered blind (severely sight impaired) - confirmed by Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) form or LBTH registration letter
• Receives a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement (WPMS)
• Has been both awarded a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1-8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking. 

Evidence for the above must be dated within the last 12 months or current period.

You may also qualify for a blue badge with 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 by an expert assessor 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
• A person who may be at risk of serious harm when walking - or pose, when walking, a risk of serious harm to any other person.

For further assessment you must provide supporting evidence of enduring (lasting for at least 3 years) and substantial disability, behaviour difficulties and coping strategy.

Children with medical conditions

Children under the age of three may be eligible for a Blue Badge 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
• Near a motor vehicle so they can be treated in the vehicle or taken to a place where they can be treated.

Evidence that will be accepted

• Evidence of specialist consultant - Clinical Psychologist, Educational Psychologist, Neurologist, Psychiatrist & Gastroenterologist - must be dated in the last 12 months.
• Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) - applicants aged 16 and over will not be accepted.
• Department for work and pension (DWP) - must be dated within 12 months or current period.
• A letter of diagnosis and undergoing treatment within the last 12 months.

General Practitioner (GP) and appointment letter (including discharge summary, summary history or medicine list) will not be accepted.

If you are unable to provide the above documents, then we will not be able to process your application.

Assessments for Blue Badges

In some cases you may be required to attend an assessment. You will be placed on the waiting list for an assessment to be carried out by our independent expert assessor, who will arrange an appointment for you with a qualified assessor.

Due to the large number of applications being submitted, the current the waiting time for assessments is within 12 weeks.

Once the assessment has been completed the mobility support team will review the expert assessors report and provide a decision on the application submitted. To be eligible for a blue badge you must score 24 points or more in the assessment for mobility or 3 points for the non-visible (hidden) disability.

Parking with a Blue Badge

There are several places a blue badge holder can and cannot park across the borough. For more information on parking with a blue badge and responsibilities web page.

Application and renewal application process

You can apply or renew using the online service. Once an application has been submitted, the mobility support team will process the application.

Proof of residency for your renewal application must be dated within the last 3 months or your application will not be processed.

Due to the increasing number of applications the process can take up to 12 weeks provided the correct information and documents have been submitted. 

Please make sure you apply to renew your blue badge at least 12 weeks before your current blue badge expires.

Once the application has been processed you will receive an update on your application outcome.

Apply for a blue badge

If you are unable to complete a form online, you can request a paper application by visiting the mobility contact form. Please note that postal applications may take longer than 12 weeks to process. 

Appeals process

If you're unhappy with the decision on your application, you can appeal. You must submit your appeal within 28 days of the decision date.

A senior officer will investigate your appeal. The officer will decide within 8 weeks. If further assessment is needed, an expert will be appointed. Once the assessment is done, a final decision will be given to you.

If your appeal is unsuccessful, you cannot reapply for 9 months from the final decision outcome. You can reapply sooner only if there is a significant change in your mobility. In that case, you must submit new evidence that meets the eligibility criteria.

An appeal will not be considered if you do not meet the eligibility criteria or your application has not been processed. If you do not meet the PIP or DLA criteria, you must contact Department for Work & Pension (DWP) and inform them of your change in circumstance.

Submit an appeal

Replacing a lost, stolen or damaged blue badge

If your Blue Badge has been lost, stolen or damaged you can request a replacement blue badge, this maybe for yourself or someone else.

The council may conduct random checks on lost or stolen badges displayed in the borough. 

A replacement badge is valid until the expiry date of the original badge.

If your badge is due to expire in less than three months, you need to re-apply instead.

Changes to your blue badge

If you have any changes to your blue badge please contact us straight away (this includes address or contact details) or change in circumstance.

If you have moved from another borough to London Borough of Tower Hamlets (LBTH), the current badge needs to be transferred to LBTH. You must contact the authority that gave you the badge.