Eligibility for a blue badge

Blue badges are issued for people who have a disability. They are available for people who are impacted severely in their mobility and therefore are not automatically suitable for a person who has dementia, or any other disability. You will be definitely able to apply for a blue badge, if the dementia patient has serious difficulty with their mobility. They may have a motor function impairment, or be particularly unsteady on their feet and require either a walking frame and help to walk, or a wheelchair. The badge will enable you to park closer to where you need to go and as a carer you can apply for one, if you are using it to take the dementia patient to and from places, hospital appointments or other. 

In 2018, a consultation highlighted that blue badges should be made available for people who have a “hidden disability”, to include dementia patients. A hidden disability is a disability that is not immediately obvious, or apparent but they are a disability that can have a significant impact on a person’s life. Therefore, it should be possible to apply for a blue badge for a dementia patient in any case. However, without any clear guidance or law to support the consultation’s finding, it really depends on each local council as to whether they grant a blue badge, or not, to a person with dementia. 

How do I apply?

Applications for a blue badge are carried out direct with your local council, although there is now an easy online application through the Gov.uk site. This enables you to carry out the application online, which will then be forwarded to your local council. You can use this online route to apply for a new blue badge or to renew a current one. You, or the dementia patient will need a passport and recent photo in order to carry out the online application, as well as ample information about their condition and why you are requested a blue badge for them. The more information or evidence you can supply, the better. Once completed, the application is sent on to the local council for them to process and make a decision. According to the gov.uk site, this can take up to 12 weeks, so if you are looking to renew a blue badge, you need to get your application sent off with plenty of time before the renewal is up.

What if I have been rejected?

Your council has the final say as to whether you are eligible or not. However, if they do reject your application, they need to state the reasons why it has been rejected. You can appeal the decision, if you don’t think that they have considered all of the information around the dementia patient’s disability. Remember when you are completing the forms to give as much information as possible. So if you always have to support the dementia patient when they are walking from the car because they cannot walk unaided for some reason then make sure you provide this information. 

If the application was denied but the dementia patient’s mobility reduces, you can reapply for a blue badge, stating why and with examples of the patient’s recent impairment. 

How much does it cost? 

A blue badge costs £10 in England and £20 in Scotland for an annual blue badge. You will only be asked to pay for the badge if you have been successful in your application.

How long do they last?

They are usually issued with a 3 year time limit, although some blue badges may be issued with a shorter time span, it all depends on the individual circumstances.