Blue Badge Parking Scheme

The Blue Badge Scheme gives parking concessions for people with disabilities.

What is the Blue Badge Scheme?

The Blue Badge Scheme provides parking concessions for people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers. The scheme also applies to registered blind people, and people with very severe upper limb disabilities who regularly drive a vehicle but cannot turn the steering wheel by hand.

The scheme is meant to help only those people with very severe, permanent disabilities. People with temporary or intermittent difficulties such as a broken leg, will not qualify for the scheme.

Who can have a Blue Badge?

You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if:

you receive the higher rate of mobility component of the disability living allowance. You would need to provide an official letter confirming an award of the allowance
you receive War Pensioners Mobility Supplement (WMPS)
are registered blind
you have been awarded a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1 - 8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and are certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk.

Some children under the age of three may also be eligible for a Blue Badge if, on account of their condition they must be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around with the child without great difficulty; or a child who, on account of their condition, must always be kept near a motor vehicle so that, if necessary, treatment for that condition can be given in the vehicle or the child can be taken quickly to receive treatment.

You may be eligible for a badge if:

you have a permanent or substantial disability which means you are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking. If this is the case, your doctor will be asked a series of questions to help determine whether or not you are eligible. He/she will have to assess whether you can walk a reasonable distance without stopping, without severe discomfort or need the help of another person to do so. If you cannot, then you will qualify for a blue badge.

How to apply for a Blue Badge

Please telephone Sandwell Council ASSIST on 0845 352 2266, between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday. When you call, we will complete an assessment with you over the telephone to help identify whether you may be eligible for a blue badge. Phonecalls can take up to 25 minutes depending on your circumstances.

You will need to tell us the following information.

The name and address of doctor or other health professional to contact about your condition.
The car registration number of the two cars you will be most likely to use the badge in (although you can use the badge in any car).
Your national insurance number.

After the call we will write to you to give you details of the further information and evidence we need from you to process your application.

For deaf users, we can email or send to you an application form in the post, for you to complete and return to us.

There is a £2 fee which you will have to pay when you send the information back to us. Do not send cash through the post. Cheques or Postal Orders should be made payable to Sandwell MBC.

Misuse of a Blue Badge

A Blue Badge must only be used by the badge holder and only when the badge holder is present in the vehicle. It is an offence for anyone other than the badge holder to use a blue badge. This council takes the misuse of Blue Badges extremely seriously and can fine you and/or withdraw blue badges if they are misused.

If you have a Blue Badge and are unsure about to use it correctly and responsibly, please contact Sandwell Council ASSIST and ask for a rights and responsibilities booklet or you can download the rights and responsibilities booklet from the DirectGov website Blue Badge page.

How to appeal if your blue badge application has been refused

If your application for a badge has been refused you can appeal by sending in evidence to Sandwell Council ASSIST to show that you do have a permanent disability and are unable to walk. Evidence would usually be required from an independent health or other professional who can confirm your level of disability or difficulty walking.

Appeal evidence should be sent in writing either by email, fax or post to:
Email: sandwell_assist@sandwell.gov.uk (sandwell_assist@sandwell.gov.uk)
Fax: 0121 569 5789
Post: Sandwell Council ASSIST, PO Box 15825, Oldbury, B69 9EL

Forthcoming changes to Blue Badges

From January 2012, the design of Blue Badges will change. The new badge will be made of PVC material and will include a digital photograph with holographic features, a barcode, raised features and braille. The new design will mean that the badge itself is harder to copy, forge or alter. The badge clock will also change, to improve its durability.

All new and renewal badges issued after 1 January 2012 will be issued using the new design.

If you have questions about the new Blue Badge design and the reasons for it, you may wish to read the Blue Badge Scheme frequently asked questions on the Dept of Health website.

Your comments on our Blue Badge Service

We would welcome any comments that you have about the service. Please email sandwell_assist@sandwell.gov.uk