Blue Badge Service

We assess applications to make sure individuals comply with the eligibility criteria which qualifies a person to receive a badge We issue badges when people qualify. We are responsible for making sure that Blue Badge holders act responsibly when using their Blue Badge because any form of misuse or fraudulent use of a badge is illegal.

People who may be issued with a blue badge without further assessment are those who are more than two years old and:

• Receive Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance

• Are Severely sight impaired

• Receive War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement

• Awarded a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1-8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and certified as having a permanent and substantial disability and severe walking difficulty.

• Receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component that states you cannot walk further than 50 metres

People who may be issued with a badge after further assessment are those who are more than two years old and fall within one or more of the following descriptions:

• 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

• Has a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.

In addition, children under the age of three may be eligible for a badge if:• On account of a condition, is accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around with the child without great difficulty; • On account of a condition, must always be kept near a motor vehicle for emergencies.

You can apply for a blue badge by using the application form on our website. If we are able to process your application immediately based on the information you have given us you should receive your badge within 4 weeks of us receiving your application. If we need to ask you to attend an independent mobility assessment for further confirmation of your walking difficulty, it is likely to add a few more weeks on to the process.

It is operated out of the contact centre and it serves the whole of Hampshire. If face to face assessments are necessary then they are carried out by Adult Services Occupational Therapists stationed at 8 locations across Hampshire.

Government legislation is the foundation of all decisions. There is Department for Transport guidance which informs us where a person qualifies without the need for further assessment and it also guides us where we do need to apply discretion when we do need to further assess an application. Please see '''Who Does Your Service Provide For''' above for more information.

Blue Badge service is statutory and there is legislation underpinning it. For example - If we need to change the cost of a Blue Badge or make a similar change, we will consult a significant portion of the Blue Badge community and also people who are outside of that community.

We do not provide a face to face service. If help is required a person can either use our web site of they can phone our contact centre (Hantsdirect).

The only training provided on Blue Badge is carried out at the contact centre at present.

Not applicable.

Call us on 0300 555 1376.