Frequently asked questions

1. How do I apply for a Blue Badge?
Download an application form (PDF, 89k) or telephone the Blue Badge service on 01622 605020 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Alternatively, you can apply for a disabled parking badge online using Department for Transport's national online form.
 
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email confirmation with a reference number on it. Please send a copy of this email to us, together with all relevant documentation and payment as outlined in the email.

2. What proof of identity do I need to send with my application?
You need to send a copy of one of the following documents:

• Birth Certificate,
• Passport,
• Driving Licence (if not used for proof of address).
• Marriage/Divorce certificate
• Civil Partnership/Dissolution certificate.
  

Please do not send original documents.

3. What proof of address do I need to send with my application?
You need to send a copy of one of the following documents dated within the last 12 months and showing your name and full address:

• Bank/Building Society statement
• Gas/Electricity/Water/Telephone bill
• Benefit letter with address
• Driving Licence (if not used as proof of identity)
• Payslip (with address)
• Pension/HMRC/Tax Credit letter
• Council Tax bill
  

If you do not have any of these, please call the Blue Badge team to discuss on 01622 605020 before submitting your application.

4. I am in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance, do I still qualify for a Blue Badge?
Yes, you automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you currently receive one of the following benefits:

• Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance
• War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
• Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) award, tariffs 1-8 and have been assessed by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) as having a permanent and substantial disability that causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.
• or registered as blind under the National Assistance Act 1948 (partially sighted people do not automatically qualify)
  

Full details of the evidence we will need to see can be found on the application form.

5. I currently have a Blue Badge, have the rules changed on eligibility?
No. Apart for some minor changes in the case of children under 3 and severely disabled service personnel, the eligibility criteria is the same as before. However, someone applying to renew their badge may be referred for a mobility assessment. This could result in some people not being reissued with a badge.

6. What form does the mobility assessment take?
Initially all applications will be considered by a registered practitioner who is skilled in assessing a person’s mobility. A badge may be awarded at this stage but some applicants may need to attend a face to face assessment to enable us to decide whether they are eligible for a badge.

7. If I am required to have a face to face assessment, where would I need to go?
We have several assessment venues throughout Kent and will try to book you in at a venue that is close to your place of residence.

8. How much does the new badge cost and how can I pay for it?
From 1 January 2012, the new badge costs £10. We do not accept cash. Please send a cheque payable to Kent County Council. Postal Orders can be accepted. Please speak to the Post Office regarding arranging a refund before purchasing the postal order, in the event of your application being declined.

Kent County Council takes no responsibility for applicants being unable to obtain a refund on Postal Orders.