About the changes
The government announced a major programme of reforms to the
Blue Badge scheme - the most comprehensive changes to the disabled
parking scheme for 40 years.
The reform programme has been developed in consultation with
disabled people, local authorities and other stakeholders and
focuses on making the scheme more sustainable in the future.
This includes taking measures to reduce the number
of drivers who abuse the scheme.
Full details about the Blue Badge reform and a selection of
supporting documents are available on the Department for
Transport website.
Frequently asked questions
Here are the responses to a selection of common
questions about the Blue Badge reform.
Q1: Why is the Blue Badge scheme being
changed?
A: The scheme is being changed
to:
- help ensure that people with severe mobility
difficulties are treated fairly when they are being assessed for a
Blue Badge
- respond to increasing demand for Blue Badges and
pressures to extend the scheme to other groups of disabled
people
- reduce the current high levels of abuse and misuse
by designing a new badge that is harder to copy, forge or
alter.
Q2: I currently have a
Blue Badge. What will happen when it is time to renew
it?
A: You will need to reapply in the usual way by completing an
application form and returning it to the Blue Badge team for
consideration.
You will qualify automatically if you are:
- registered blind under the National Assistance
Act 1948
- receiving the Higher Rate Mobility Component of
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- receiving a War Pensioner’s Mobility
Supplement
If you do not qualify automatically, we will use
the information you have provided to determine if we need you to
attend an Independent Mobility Assessment, to help us decide if you
should be reissued with a Blue Badge.
Q3: Why can’t you ask my GP for a
medical report as you did the last time I applied for a Blue
Badge?
A: There are two reasons
why we have ceased requesting GP reports:
- From April 2011 the government transferred
funding from the NHS to all councils that issue Blue Badges,
requiring them to use the money to fund Independent Mobility
Assessments. Before April, this money was used to fund medical
reports from GPs.
- Health professionals such as physiotherapists
and occupational therapists, who are carrying out the assessments
on behalf of us, are often best placed to assess if someone should
be issued with a Blue Badge because of their professional knowledge
of mobility. In addition, they have a greater degree of
independence which is necessary for fair and impartial decisions on
whether someone should be issued with a Blue Badge.
Q4: Are GPs aware that KCC will no
longer be requesting medical reports from them?
A: Yes, we have informed
all GPs about the changes that are being made to the Blue Badge
scheme and that the council has ceased requesting medical
reports.
Q5: As you are no longer requesting GP
medical reports, can I request one of my own?
A: While we
cannot prevent you from approaching your GP for a report, please
note the following:
- Your GP can refuse your request
- In the event that you succeed in obtaining a
report you will have to pay for it
- You may still be required to attend an
Independent Mobility Assessment so that your mobility can be
objectively assessed.
Q6: Will I have to pay for the
Independent Mobility Assessment?
A: No. The assessment is
free of charge.
Q7: Do I need to bring anything to the
assessment?
A: Yes, bring some means
of identification (for example: passport, driving licence, birth
certificate or concessionary bus pass) and also a list of
medication (not the medication itself) that you are taking as this
could be useful.
Q8: Will there be changes to the Blue Badge
fee?
A: Yes, the charge for
issuing them will increase from £2 to £10 from 1 January 2012. In
contrast with the present system, which charges people to make an
application, the £10 charge will only apply to those whose
applications are successful.
Q9: I see many people using a Blue Badge
who do not appear to be disabled. What will you do about
that?
A: The government’s
reform programme is designed to address this matter by:
- getting councils to issue Blue Badges only
where there is clear evidence that someone has met the eligibility
criteria. This is why we are funding medical practitioners to carry
out the Independent Mobility Assessments
- developing a new badge that is harder to copy,
forge or alter
- giving greater powers to District and Borough
councils to enforce the law.
Further questions
If you have any further queries about the Blue Badge reform,
please email the Blue Badge team - bluebadgeteam@kent.gov.uk.