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How we assess your Blue Badge application

When you apply for a Blue Badge, it is important that you send us everything we need. Our team is trained to check all kinds of disabilities, even those you can’t see. We call these hidden disabilities.

When you first apply, send us all the documents we need. We may not be able to accept incomplete applications.

Renewals

The government does not have a renewal process in place. We look at each application as new and review it using the latest criteria set by the government.

We do not check previous applications. It is your responsibility to make sure you send us everything we need or you want us to consider. If you do not, we can't complete your application request.

If you sent us everything we need and we declined your application, you can request a review of your application.

Reasons for refusal

We follow the latest criteria set by the government. We look at each application at the time of submission and check whether you have:

  • a physical disability
  • a hidden disability
  • had a Blue Badge before
  • an urgent need for a Blue Badge due to a terminal illness.

To get a Blue Badge, you must have an enduring disability. This means your disability must make it hard for you to get around for a long time. You can’t go to shops or use the services you need for at least 3 years without difficulty.

You must show proof of this in your application. We cannot issue a Blue Badge if the problem is for a short time.

Here are the main reasons why we cannot issue your Blue Badge.

Physical disability

We will refuse your application if you have not shown that you either:

  • cannot walk
  • have a very difficult time walking.

Hidden disability

The Blue Badge criteria changed in 2019. This change took place at the same time as the change in legislation. Not everyone with a hidden disability can get a Blue Badge.

We will refuse your application if you have not shown that you:

  • experience very considerable psychological distress when walking
  • are at risk or pose a serious risk of harm when walking
  • are a risk of causing serious harm to others.

Children under 3 years

You have not shown in your application that your child:

  • always has bulky medical equipment with them
  • needs to be near a vehicle to have urgent medical treatment
  • needs to be taken for urgent medical treatment.

Disability in both arms

You must meet all the following 3 requirements:

  • you often drive a vehicle
  • you have a severe disability in both arms
  • the inability to drive or have considerable difficulty using all or some types of on-street parking equipment.

Cannot go out alone

The government asks you to provide us with proof your difficulties cannot be managed using reasonable coping strategies. For example, a Blue Badge will not help you if you have ‘very considerable’ difficulty and you are always accompanied by another person.

As part of our assessment, we will assess if you can go out alone. Or whether you must have someone with you because:

  • you are a clear risk to your own safety
  • it reduces psychological stress.

If you do not meet the above, we cannot issue a Blue Badge.

Extra space to get out of a car

We cannot issue a Blue Badge if you need more space to open your car door. We look at your application based on how your disability makes walking risky or hard. This does not include your parking needs.

Urgent access to a public toilet

We can only issue a Blue Badge if it affects your walking to or from your car or destination. Having a Blue Badge does not guarantee you will be able to park near a public toilet.

If you need urgent access to a toilet, the 'Just Can't Wait Card' can help you. Visit the Bladder or Bowel website to learn more.

To access some disabled toilets in Kent, you may need a RADAR key. Buy a key online via the Disability Rights UK website or your local pharmacy.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

To get a Blue Badge automatically using the planning and following journey section, you must:

  • get your PIP because of your mobility, and
  • score 10 points for description E. This description is under the planning and following a journey section. Description E says that you: "cannot make any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress ".

No other reasons in this section will qualify you automatically.

If you don’t meet these automatic criteria, we will decide based on the information in your application. Learn more about the PIP scoring eligibility.

Appeal the decision

If you believe that we should issue a Blue Badge, you can request a review of your Blue Badge application decision.