Disabled parking permit (blue badges)

You will automatically qualify if:

• you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance
• you receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment and have eight points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity
• you receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment and have 10 points specifically for ‘Descriptor E’ under the ‘planning and following journeys’ activity on the grounds you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress
• you receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• you’ve been 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
• you use a vehicle for disabled people supplied by a government health department
• you are registered blind (or severely sight impaired)

You may qualify if:

• you have a severe disability in both upper limbs, regularly drive a motor vehicle but cannot operate, or have considerable difficulty in operating, all, or some types of parking meter
• you have been certified by an expert assessor as having an enduring and substantial disability which during a journey, causes you to:
  • be unable to walk
  • experience considerable difficulty whilst walking, which may include considerable psychological distress
• be at risk of serious harm when walking or pose a risk of serious harm to any other person when walking
• you use a vehicle for disabled people supplied by a government health department.

You can apply online for a blue badge on the GOV.UK website. There is a £10 charge for all disabled parking permit applications.

Where possible ensure any evidence or proof of identity/ address is from within the last 12 months but do not send original copies as we are unable to guarantee their return.

When applying under certain conditions such as PIP, your blue badge will be awarded in line with the end date of the PIP award to a maximum of 3 years.

You can find more information about applying for a blue badge on the Citizens Advice website.

Blue badges are not automatically renewed, and your eligibility may have changed since your last blue badge. Therefore, if you wish to continue as a blue badge holder and your current one is due to expire in the next twelve weeks, you will need to reapply for a new one. You will need to provide all relevant up to date documentation and evidence.

Expired badges can be returned by post to: 

North Somerset Council Blue Badges Town Hall Weston-super-Mare BS23 1ZX

It is your responsibility to ensure you use the permit legally and we cannot accept responsibility for fines incurred by permit holders who park their vehicles illegally.

It is a criminal offence for you to misuse the badge and you must not lend your parking permit to friends or family members or allow them to abuse the scheme. Doing so could lead to a £1,000 fine and confiscation of the badge.

You may use your blue badge as a passenger providing, you’re leaving the vehicle at the destination, but you will be liable for any misuse of the badge.

We strongly advise that you make yourself aware of your responsibilities by following the link below.

An organisational blue badge may be issued to an organisation to use when a vehicle or vehicles are used to carry disabled people who themselves would be eligible for a badge.

An ‘organisation’ is defined as meaning an organisation concerned with the care of disabled persons to which a disabled person’s badge may be issued in accordance with section 21(4) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

We have to examine applications from organisations for badges to ensure that they are genuine and necessary. Examples of organisations that may be eligible include residential care homes, hospices or social services departments that transport groups of people who would meet the eligibility criteria for an individual blue badge.

If your organisation does not qualify for a blue badge but you do on occasion carry passenger/s who have their own blue badge then, with their agreement, you may use their blue badge to the benefit of the badge owner. This must be returned to the owner and not used when they are not using the transport.

You can apply for an organisation blue badge on the GOV.UK website. It will cost you £10 to apply.