Frequently asked questions
You can also find out about the scheme, including your rights
and responsibilities as a badge holder, on the Directgov
'Blue Badge Scheme' web pages.
Why is the Blue Badge scheme being changed?
From 1 January 2012 the scheme is being changed to:
- help ensure that people with severe mobility difficulties are
treated fairly and consistently 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, including the
Armed Forces;
- reduce the current high levels of abuse and misuse by
introducing a new style badge that is harder to copy, forge or
alter; and
- introduce a national database which maintains the details of
Blue Badge holders and provides the opportunity for greater levels
of enforcement.
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Who automatically qualifies for a Blue Badge?
Anyone over two years old automatically qualifies for a Blue
Badge if they:
- are registered severely sight impaired (blind);
- receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability
Living Allowance;
- receive a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement; or
- have received a lump sum benefit from the Armed Forces and
Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme within tariff levels 1-8
(inclusive) and have been assessed and certified by the Service
Personnel and Veterans Agency as having a permanent and substantial
disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable
difficulty in walking.
What other eligibility
criteria qualifies for a Blue Badge?
Anyone who is over two years old would be eligible if they:
- have a severe disability in both upper limbs, regularly drive a
motor vehicle but are unable to operate, or have considerable
difficulty in operating, parking meters, and/or
- have a permanent and substantial disability which means they
are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in
walking.
In these cases people will be required to answer a series of
questions as part of the application process and may be required to
attend an Independent Mobility Assessment. This will help the local
authority determine whether they are eligible for a badge.
If you are a parent or guardian of a child who is younger than
three years old, you may also apply for a Blue Badge. Your child
must have a specific medical condition which means that they:
- must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which
cannot be carried around without great difficult; or
- need to be kept near a vehicle at all times to get treatment
for a condition when necessary.
I already have a Blue Badge.
What will happen when it is time to renew it?
You will be sent an application pack, approximately eight
weeks before the expiry date. The pack will contain a covering
letter, an application form and a set of guidance notes to help you
complete the application form correctly. For current badge holders
this will be a change from previous years. All applications for a
Blue Badge will follow the same process. If you have any questions
about the new process please call the West Sussex County Council
(WSCC) Contact Centre on 01243 777653.
How long will it take to process my
application?
This depends on the information provided by the applicant and
whether, as part of the assessment process, you are required to
attend an Independent Mobility Assessment.
Will there be changes to the Blue Badge
fee?
Yes. The fee is increasing from £2.00 to £10.00. This increase
is for the costs associated with the new style badge, which is
harder to copy, forge or alter, and the local costs for linking to
the national database.
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How long is a Blue Badge allocated
for?
Generally a badge is issued for a three-year period although in
some circumstances this can be less. The expiry date will be
clearly stated on the badge.
Why is a GP medical report no longer used as
part of the application process?
The County Council has stopped using
GP medical reports for the following reasons:
- From April 2011 the Government transferred funding from the NHS
to all councils that issue Blue Badges to use the money to fund
Independent Mobility Assessments. Previously 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 WSCC,
are often best placed to assess if someone should be issued with a
Blue Badge because of their professional knowledge of mobility.
They also have a greater degree of independence, which is necessary
for fair and impartial decisions on whether someone should be
issued with a Blue Badge.
Can I request a GP medical report of my own and include it in
my application?
Whilst WSCC cannot prevent you from approaching your GP for a
report, it is worth noting that:
- your GP can refuse your request, and if they do agree you
will have to pay for it; and
- you may still be required to attend an Independent Mobility
Assessment so that your mobility can be objectively assessed.
Will I have to pay for the Independent Mobility
Assessment?
No. The assessment is free of charge.
Do I need to bring anything to the
Independent Mobility Assessment?
Yes. You will need to bring some form of identification and a
list of medication that you are taking, as this could be useful
(you do not need to bring the medication itself).
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I have lost my Blue Badge. How can I get it replaced and
will it cost me anything?
You should advise the Police that your badge has been lost and
obtain a crime number. If the badge was issued before 1 January
2012 you will need to complete an application form under the new
arrangements. You will need to satisfy the new eligibility criteria
to be issued with a new style badge and a £10.00 fee will be
payable.
If the badge was issued after 1 January 2012 you will need to
contact us to let us know the crime number so we can update the
national database to prevent fraudulent use. You will be issued
with a replacement and a £10.00 fee will be payable.
I have changed my address
recently/my badge has been damaged and needs replacing. What should
I do?
Please notify, in writting, the authority that issued your Blue
Badge and the Contact Centre address.
I am new to the area and my Blue Badge is
due for renewal. What should I do?
You will need to follow the WSCC
application process.
A relative/friend has died and I have their
Blue Badge. Can I keep it?
No. You need to return the Blue Badge to WSCC so we can
update the national database and cancel the badge.
The address is:
West Sussex County Council – Blue Badge
Durban House
Durban Road
Bognor Regis
West Sussex
PO22 9RE
I have found a Blue Badge. What should I do
with it?
Please follow the instructions for previous question.
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Can my relative/friend use my Blue
Badge when I am not in the car?
No. The person who is identified on the Blue Badge must be
either the driver or a passenger in the car when it is being
used.
What will you do about
people using a Blue Badge who don’t appear to be
disabled?
The Government’s reform programme is designed to address this
matter by:
- ensuring councils issue Blue Badges only where there is clear
evidence that the applicant has met the eligibility criteria - this
is why WSCC is funding health professionals to carry out the
Independent Mobility Assessments;
- developing a new style badge that is harder to copy, forge or
alter; and
- introducing a national database and giving greater powers to
enforcement officers.
I believe someone is fraudulently using a Blue Badge. How can I
report them?
You need to summarise this in writing to enable us to undertake
an investigation. It would help if you can provide the Blue Badge
serial number. You should send this to the postal address above or
you can send an email to blue.badges@westsussex.gov.uk.
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