Blue badge applications, renewals, and replacements
2. Eligibility criteria
You can automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you:
- receive the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance, which is not attendance allowance or the care component of disability living allowance
- receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
- and score 12 points for planning and following a journey
- or score 8 points for moving around
- are registered blind (Severely Sight Impaired)
- receive a war pensioner’s mobility supplement
- have received a lump sum benefit from the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme (within tariff levels 1 to 8)
- and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability preventing walking or making it very difficult
- are awarded tariff 6 of the Permanent Mental Disorder of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
If someone does not automatically qualify, they may still be entitled to a Blue Badge if they are over two years of age, and they:
- have a permanent and substantial disability which means they cannot walk or walking is very difficult
- have a terminal illness which limits mobility
- cannot plan or follow any journey without someone else’s help, which may include people with:
- autism
- Alzheimer’s or dementia
- stroke survivors
- learning difficulties
- head injuries
- have a severe disability in both arms making it very difficult or impossible to operate parking equipment like parking meters, and they drive regularly
This is not an exhaustive list of applicable conditions.
Also, a child under three will qualify if they have a medical condition that means they must always be:
- accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around with the child without difficulty
- near a vehicle to access life-saving medical treatment, or that they can be taken quickly in the vehicle to where such treatment can be given
You are ineligible if:
- you do not meet the above criteria
- you have a temporary disability unlikely to last at least 12 months which is not substantial such as a broken leg
- you only experience walking problems when carrying objects, such as shopping
- your condition does not continuously and severely limit your ability to walk
Temporary blue badges
You may be eligible for a temporary 12 month blue badge if you are recovering from, or awaiting treatment for serious illnesses or injuries. Your disability will be temporary but substantial and likely to last at least 12 months.
Find more information about temporary badges in the ‘Who is eligible for a blue badge?’ on the Welsh Government website.