Blue Badge Scheme

What is the Blue Badge Scheme?

The Blue Badge Scheme provides a national arrangement of parking concessions for people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers. The Scheme also applies to people who are registered blind, and people with very severe upper limb disabilities.

The scheme allows badge holders to park close to their destination. Concessions apply to on-street parking and include free use of parking meters and pay-and-display bays. Badge holders may also be exempt from limits on parking times imposed on other users, and may usually park on single or double lines, for restricted time periods.

The scheme does not apply on private roads or in off-street car parks. However, some may provide spaces for disabled people. You should always check signs to see what concessions are available, and whether Blue Badge holders have to pay. Blue badges will always need to be displayed when occupying one of these spaces.

Who can have a Blue Badge?

If you meet one of the following criteria (for applicants aged 4 and above) you will AUTOMATICALLY qualify:

• You receive War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• You receive the higher rate of the Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (Not Attendance Allowance or Care Component of Disability Living Allowance)
• You have been awarded a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1-8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (ACFS) and are certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk, or very considerable difficulty in walking
• You are registered blind
• You use a vehicle supplied for disabled people by a Motability Scheme

If you do not meet any of the above criteria, you may also qualify based on the following DISCRETIONARY criteria, providing that supporting evidence can be provided:

• You have a severe disability in both upper limbs, regularly drive a motor vehicle but cannot turn the steering wheel of a motor vehicle by hand even if it is fitted with a turning knob
• You have a permanent and substantial disability which means that you cannot walk or have considerable difficulty in walking

Children under the age of 3

A parent or guardian may apply on behalf of a Child under the age of 3 who, due to a specific medical condition, needs to travel with bulky medical equipment or be close to a vehicle for emergency treatment

Organisational Badges

Organisational badges are also available when two or more eligible service users are being transported by staff.

Please note: application is subject to the submission of the relevant supporting evidence.

What information will I need to provide?

If you qualify under the AUTOMATIC criteria, you need to:

• Provide proof of identity (which may include one of the following)
  • Passport
  • Marriage/Divorce certificate
  • Valid driving licence
  • Civil partnership/dissolution certificate
  • Birth certificate/adoption certificate
  • (Identification documents that include a photograph are preferable)
• Provide proof of your address, dated within the last 12 months
  • Utility Bill
  • TV Licence
  • Benefit Letter
  • Council Tax Letter
• Provide your National Insurance Number
• Provide the appropriate supporting evidence i.e. an up to date copy of your Disability Living Allowance entitlement letter from the Department of Work and Pensions
• Provide 1 passport size photo – with your name printed on the back

If you do not qualify under the automatic criteria, you can be considered under the DISCRETIONARY criteria and will need to:

• Provide proof of identity (which may include one of the following)
  • Passport
  • Marriage/Divorce certificate
  • Valid driving licence
  • Civil partnership/dissolution certificate
  • Birth certificate/adoption certificate
  • (Identification documents that include a photograph are preferable)
• Provide proof of your address, dated within the last 12 months
  • Utility Bill
  • TV Licence
  • Benefit Letter
  • Council Tax Letter
• Provide proof of the nature of your permanent and substantial disability/medical condition and evidence how this affect your mobility 
• Provide 1 passport size photo – with your name printed on the back

Please note: Copies of documentary evidence are acceptable. We would not recommend sending originals in the post as we cannot be responsible for documents sent in this way. Documents can be photographed and emailed to socialcarecalltorfaen@torfaen.gov.uk or uploaded to the Torfaen mobile app.

How can I apply for a Badge?

You can Apply for a blue badge here, or alternatively, you can contact us via the telephone on 01495 762200, or by visiting us in person, at one of our Customer Care Centres.

Renewing your Blue Car Badge

Badges are valid for 3 years, after this period, you will need to re-apply using the Apply for a blue badge form. The date the badge expires is printed on the front of the card.

Please note: Renewal requests should not be submitted any earlier than 4 weeks prior to expiry.

Lost/Stolen Badges

If your badge has been lost or stolen, you will need to contact us to arrange a replacement. Complete the Report a lost or stolen blue badge form.

Stolen badges are replaced free of charge, providing that a crime number is supplied by the Police. Please note that in the case of a misplaced/lost badge, an administration charge of £10.00 will be applied, which is payable on receipt. This fee is non refundable.

In both cases, you will need to provide a further signed passport photo.

Last Modified: 06/05/2022 Back to top