What is the Blue Badge Scheme?
The Blue Badge Scheme is a national scheme which gives parking concessions for the people mentioned below.
Who is it for?
- People (aged over 2) who have a severe permanent walking disability.
- People who are registered blind.
- People who get the Higher Rate of Mobility part of Disability Living Allowance.
- People who get a War Pensioners Mobility Supplement.
- People who have received a lump sum benefit under the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (compensation) scheme within tariff levels 1-8 (inclusive) and the Secretary of State certifies that they have a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.
- People, who have a severe disability in both arms, regularly drive a vehicle and are unable to operate or have considerable difficulty operating all, or some, types of parking meter.
- Children under the age of 3 with specific medical conditions (see the guidance notes for more details).
Is there a charge?
There is a charge of £10.00. If your application is successful the team will contact you asking for payment.
How do I apply?
Before you apply make sure you read the Who is it for information before completing the application.
You can apply online on the GOV.UK website . Please be aware that you will still need to provide Bradford Council's Transport Concessions Team with any relevant documentation requested.
You will need to complete a Blue Badge application form. You can download an application form below.
Apply for a Blue Badge now (pdf, 355kb)
If you fill in our form, you can return it to the address below:
Transport Concessions Team
Revenue and Benefits Service
Britannia House
Hall Ings
Bradford
BD1 1HX
Please make sure you put the correct postage on the envelope, or we may not get your application.
Please complete your application form in black ink/biro.
You must enclose 1 passport size photograph of the person applying for the badge, with your application. This photograph must be of passport standard and taken within the last 6 months. Also, make sure that the applicant’s name is printed on the back of the photograph.
If you do not provide a photograph, this will delay your application.
Help completing the application form
More information and help for completing the application form can be found in the Blue Badge Application Form Guidance Notes.
If you cannot give sufficient medical evidence of your disability we may ask you to have an Independent Medical Assessment.
Where can I use a Blue Badge?
- The scheme allows parking concessions such as parking on yellow lines for up to 3 hours or in special disabled person's parking bays.
- All Councils and many private companies have parking concessions in their car parks for Blue Badge holders.
- The scheme also allows concessionary parking in several European countries - check with the country first. There are no arrangements with any country outside the European Union.
I’d like to find out more, who can I talk to?
You can contact the Transport Concessions Team on 01274 438723
Blue Badge Fraud
Find out about Blue Badge Misuse and Fraud and how to report it.
Changes to the Blue Badge Scheme from January 2012
The Government introduced changes to the Blue Badge Scheme from 1st January 2012:
- Blue Badges will be made and issued centrally for the whole country, but assessing who qualifies for a badge will still be done locally.
- customers will be able to apply for a Blue Badge online on the direct.gov website,
- whilst this is an online facility, more information will have to be requested by Bradford Council to verify eligibility,
- they will have improved security features,
- they will be registered on a national database, and
- in the Bradford District, the amount charged for a Badge is £10.00. Applicants will only be asked for this payment if the application is successful.
The changes are designed to tackle fraud and misuse of Blue Badges, making the scheme fairer for the disabled people who rely on it.
The Department for Transport is the organisation that is responsible for the Blue Badge Scheme nationally.
