Health and social care

About the blue badge

The blue badge (previously called the Orange Badge) is the common name for the 'Parking card for Disabled People'.  It offers particular parking concessions to those who fall within certain categories of physical and sensory disability. It operates across the European Union and is regulated in this country by the Department for Transport (DfT), which stipulates the qualifying categories. There are currently seven qualifying categories.

The holder of a blue badge is able to park on-street (subject to certain conditions) without charge in areas where others would have to pay a parking fee or could incur a parking fine. The blue badge can be used in any vehicle in which the holder is being conveyed; the holder does not have to be the driver. For more information about the Blue Badge scheme, please visit the DfT website.

The legislation which specifies the qualifying categories is the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 and the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) (Amendment No.2) Regulations 2007. This legislation comes into force on 15th October 2007.

Eligibility

A person is eligible for a blue badge if they

• have a permanent and substantial disability that means they are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking;
• receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA);
• are registered blind;
• receive a War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement;
• are a  person who 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 metre;
• are a child under the age of two years who, on account of a condition, must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment *which cannot be carried around with the child without great difficulty;
• are a child under the age of two years who, on account of a 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 in the vehicle to a place where such treatment can be given.

*bulky medical equipment includes in particular any of the following -

i.    Ventilators;
ii.    Suction machines;
iii.   Feed pumps;
iv.   Parenteral equipment;
v.   Syringe drivers;
vi.   Oxygen administration equipment;
vii.  Continual oxygen saturation monitoring equipment; and
viii.  Casts and associated medical equipment for the correction of hip dysplasia.

If you live in Croydon and wish to apply for a blue badge, please telephone 020 8726 7100 and ask one of our customer service advisors to send you an application form. We do not yet have the facility to take applications electronically.

Contact Details

Contact name

Travel Services

Telephone

020 8726 7100

Email

travel.service@croydon.gov.uk

Address

Travel Services Team
Integrated Service Centre
Taberner House,
Park Lane,
Croydon, CR9 3JS