Apply for a Blue Badge

Terminal illness

If you are someone who has been given a medical prognosis of less than a year to live, please speak to your MacMillan Nurse, hospice worker, specialist nurse, GP or Health Professional who will complete a form on your behalf. You do not have to complete an application.

Disability Living Allowance mobility component

You qualify if you are:

• In receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Component – this will be confirmed in the letter from the DWP.

You do not qualify if you are in receipt of:

• Low or Middle Rate Mobility Component
• the Care Component at any rate (unless they are also in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Component)
• Attendance Allowance at any rate
• Pension Credit

8 points or more of the mobility component of PIP

You qualify if you are:

• In receipt of a score of 8 points or more in the ‘moving around’ activity of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment. 

You do not qualify if you:

• are in receipt of a score of 7 or less under the ‘moving around’ activity of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment.
• Score on the ‘planning and following a journey’ activity of the Mobility Component (unless they are also in receipt a score of 8 points or more of the Mobility Component).
• Are in receipt of the Daily Living Component of Personal Independence Payment (unless they are also in receipt a score of 8 points or more of the Mobility Component).

Lump sum at tariff 1-8 from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

You qualify if you are:

• have been awarded a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1-8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and certification of having a permanent and substantial difficulty which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.

You do not qualify if you:

• have been awarded a lump sum benefit at tariff 9 – 15 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme.
• are in receipt of a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1-8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme without certification of having a permanent and substantial difficulty which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.

War pensioners mobility supplement

You qualify if you are:

• In receipt of the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement. This is confirmed on the award letter from Veterans UK.

You do not qualify if you are:

• In receipt of a War Disablement Pension without a mobility component.

Registered blind or severely sight impaired

You qualify if you are either:

• registered blind/severely sight impaired with your local authority.

• have a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI – previously known as the BD8 form) signed by a consultant ophthalmologist.

You do not qualify if you are partially sighted.

Can’t walk or find walking difficult

You qualify if you have a permanent and substantial difficulty that causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.

Please note that no single factor determines eligibility but these factors are considered together.

• Being unable to walk means that you can't take a single step.
• Considerable difficulty in walking is determined by considering the following:
• excessive pain when walking or as a consequence of walking
• breathlessness when walking or as a consequence of the effort of walking
• the speed at which you can walk
• the length of time you are able to walk for
• the manner in which you walk
• whether walking aids are used
• your outdoor walking ability.

You do not qualify if:

• you have a temporary disability or intermittent mobility issues.
• you have a behavioural or psychological disorder unless your impairment also causes considerable difficulty walking due to a physical condition.
• you have a medical condition such as asthma, autism, psychological/behavioural problems, Crohn’s disease/incontinent conditions and myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.). If you have these conditions you will only qualify if in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance, or cannot walk, or have severe difficulty walking in addition to your condition.
• you are frail due to old age unless they also have a permanent and substantial physical disability.
• you are under 2 years old.
• you require a wide parking bay to open the car door unless you are also unable to walk, or have severe difficulty walking in addition to your condition.
• you struggle to get in or out of a vehicle unless you are also unable to walk, or have severe difficulty walking in addition to your condition.
• you need access to facilities to manage bowel or bladder incontinence unless you are also unable to walk, or have severe difficulty walking in addition to your condition.
• you struggle to carry shopping unless they are also unable to walk, or have severe difficulty walking in addition to your condition.

Driver with disability in both arms

You qualify if you drive a vehicle regularly and have a permanent and severe disability in both arms and are unable to operate all or some types of parking meter.

You do not qualify if you have:

• a permanent and severe disability in both arms but don't drive a vehicle regularly
• a permanent and severe disability in only one arm
• a severe disability in both arms which is not permanent.

Child under 3 who needs to be kept near to a vehicle

You qualify if your child has a specific medical condition which means that they need to be kept near a vehicle at all times, so that they can, if necessary, be treated in the vehicle or quickly driven to a place where they can be treated such as a hospital.

Child under 3 who needs bulky medical equipment

You qualify if your child has a specific medical condition which means that they must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around without great difficulty.

Proof of identity

Proof of identity for an adult

• Valid driving licence
• Valid passport
• Birth/adoption certificate
• Marriage/divorce certificate

Proof of identity for a child

• Valid passport
• Birth/adoption certificate

Proof of address

• A Council Tax document for the current tax year
• A utility bill or financial statement dated within the last three months
• A fully signed, termed tenancy agreement - we only require the pages that show the tenant names, property address, tenancy term dates and the signatures
• An official letter from an organisation such as HRMC, NHS, benefits agency, local council – dated within the last three months
• A payslip dated within the last three months
• A valid driving licence

Passport photo of the badge-holder

Acceptable photograph - the photograph must be:

• a close-up photo of the head and shoulders of the badge holder
• in colour
• taken within the last six months
• with no one else visible.

View photo guidance.

Terminal illness

You do not have to complete an application.

Disability Living Allowance mobility component

You need to provide a photo or scanned image of your most recent Disability Living Allowance uprating letter which shows you receive the highest rate for the mobility component - letters are usually sent out in March confirming your payments from April. This is the letter we need to see, even if you have been awarded DLA for life.  

Or a letter of entitlement dated within the last year that shows you are entitled to the high rate of the mobility component of DLA.

The Blue Badge will only be issued up to the end date of the award.

8 points or more of the mobility component of PIP

You need to provide a photo or scanned image of your most recent letter from the Department for Work and Pensions - letters are usually sent out in March confirming your payments from April. This is the letter we need to see, even if you have been awarded PIP for life. If you have only recently been awarded this benefit, then you should provide the award letter.

The Blue Badge will only be issued up to the end date of the award.

Lump sum at tariff 1-8 from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Your award letter from Veterans UK which should confirm that you have been awarded a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1-8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and have a certification of having a permanent and substantial difficulty which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.

War pensioners mobility supplement

Your letter from Veterans UK - letters are usually sent out in March confirming your payments from April. This is the letter we need to see unless it has recently been awarded in which case please send us the award letter. 

Registered blind or severely sight impaired

If you are registered as blind / severely sight impaired with Oxfordshire County Council then, if you give us permission, we can check this. Otherwise, you will need to provide your CVI. 

Can’t walk or find walking difficult

• A medical summary from your doctor or specialist that shows your name and address, and confirms your conditions.
• A repeat prescription that shows your name and address, and confirms the medication you are taking.

Driver with disability in both arms

• Your valid driving licence.
• A medical summary from your doctor or specialist that shows your name and address, and confirms your conditions.
• A repeat prescription that shows your name and address, and confirms the medication you are taking.

Child under 3 who needs to be kept near to a vehicle

You need to provide a letter from a medical professional involved in your child's treatment which confirms their medical conditions and any equipment required for their care.

Child under 3 who needs bulky medical equipment

You need to provide a letter from a medical professional involved in your child's treatment which confirms their medical conditions and any equipment required for their care.