A common theme among some authorities that have had success in this area is involving other departments and other agencies. You can use your Blue Badge to park in certain restricted areas for free, including: at on-street parking meters. If your Blue Badge has been lost or stolen, is faded or damaged then you will need to contact us for a new badge. Good practice has been established whereby a badge is issued if their application is supported by MacMillan, Tenovus or relevant health specialist (such as a hospice worker, occupational therapist or welfare benefit advisor) that support people in these circumstances. Local authorities should consider developing a range of tools and techniques to deal with different types of offenders and different types of offences. All relevant evidence presented as part of an application for a Blue Badge, must be considered fully and as part of the Blue Badge assessment process. If you already have a Blue Badge and its nearly expired, or if you want to check if you're eligibleyou can apply or re-applyonlineon GOV.UK. Policy and background Includes When you are eligible for a Blue Badge. Welsh Government recommends local authorities take full advantage of the BBDS to check the national database for key information about the status of individual badges. First published: 1 May 2017. (Footnote 15). WebThe Blue Badge is linked to you rather than a vehicle, so you can use it with any car. any questions or problems you have after you get your badge. Applications or renewals for Blue Badges must be made through the online system on the gov.uk website. You can change your cookie settings at any time. in disabled parking spaces. When you apply you will need to provide a driving license coded with 40 (adapted steering) or 79 (vehicles with specifications). Apply online now on the gov.uk website. When you apply you will need to provide one of the following an appointment for a memory clinic; registration on the local authority learning disabilities register; a letter from a healthcare professional involved in the treatment. Please do not provide any personal information, All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except for graphic assets and where otherwise stated, Report a lost, stolen or misused Blue Badge, which need face to face appointments or assessments, getting all the support you need to get around. This criteria is intended to cover disabled drivers who, because of impairments in both of their arms, are unable, or find it very difficult, to use parking equipment. Local authorities may not wish to charge for replacement badges if there is evidence that the badge has been stolen, for instance where the badge holder has reported the theft to the police and provides the authority with a police incident number. It is recommended that local authorities provide applicants or carers on behalf of an applicant with information on the scheme, in particular eligibility criteria, the application process and assessments. The Equality Act 2010 allows for the better or more favourable treatment of people with impairments based on evidence, in order to provide equality of opportunity. Find out if you qualify for a Blue Badge. This consent should be asked for in the Declaration section of the Blue Badge application form. The maximum fine is 1,000. In all circumstances, badges must be issued to the organisation and not to individual employees. Changing or handing back a Blue Badge. See regulation 9(1)(b) of the 2000 regulations. WebThe Blue Badge is recognised in some European countries and allows you to make use of the same parking concessions as the countrys own citizens with disability. Depending on the circumstances and local policies, the vehicle may also be removed to a pound. A medical assessment should not be necessary. This carries a penalty of a fine of up to 5,000 and/or up to 12 months imprisonment on summary conviction. If you suspect a blue badge is being misused you can report it to us. They are also issued with an annual uprating letter, stating their entitlement. Where this is a problem, and local authorities wish to take action, it is important that authorities are sure that misuse is taking place and have obtained sufficient evidence, especially if a prosecution is to be pursued. Local authorities may wish to consider having a fast-track application process for people who have a terminal illness that seriously limits their mobility, in order to make the final weeks of their life easier. You need to reapply for it every 3 years. Eligibility for a Blue Badge does not depend on diagnosis, but on how an individuals mobility is impaired, which is outside of the specialism of the majority of GPs, Has a temporary and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking. Examples of cognitive impairments are given below: The application will need to show evidence that because of their cognitive impairment the person is unable to plan and follow any journey, in the form of the following: In those cases where an applicant cannot provide this evidence but can provide evidence of an award of Higher Rate Care Component of Disability Living Allowance, the case should be sent to the Independent Advisory Service established by Welsh Government for advice on eligibility. You will need to re-apply for a Blue Provided that the applicant can evidence one of the criteria listed and can satisfy identity and residency checks, a badge should be issued. The Welsh Government advises people visiting the UK from non-EU countries that they should bring their parking badges with them and notify the local authority in the areas they intend to visit to see if their badge would be recognised, but emphasise that this is entirely at the discretion of the local authority. You can also contact your local authority to apply for a Blue Badge. Regulations require the immediate return of expired badges. If no such evidence is provided, the local authority will need to decide whether to refer the application to the IAS. extremely slow pace and / or their manner of walking). By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. A shorter model application form has been provided for use in this type of case and the requirement for a photograph can be lifted. Tackling Blue Badge fraud can be complicated and resource intensive. It allows public sector workers to share good practices, ideas and practical tips: bbds-uk-gov.slack.com. Local authorities may not wish to charge for replacement badges if there is evidence that the badge has been stolen, for instance where the badge holder has reported the theft to the police and provides the local authority with a police incident number. There is a role however, for all enforcement officers in identifying, lost, stolen and fraudulent badges as part of their day to day activities. If there is a further challenge this should be considered by an independent person within the local authority such as the Monitoring Officer. This new evidence should then be considered by the Blue Badge Team or case officer and if the application is rejected again, a further explanation of the decision should be provided. In order to streamline administration when verifying an applicants proof of entitlement, local authorities should consider using electronic records held about the applicant by other council departments and agencies, where such records are accessible and up to date. The Welsh Government aims to use appropriate language in line with the social model. These conditions, such as multiple sclerosis may improve temporarily but the prognosis for the condition is permanent and degenerative. Medical conditions such as asthma, Crohns disease, conditions leading to incontinence and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) The badge holder has to re-apply every time their badge expires. You can still apply for a Blue Badge but coronavirus is affecting council services. In those circumstances, it is recommended that the photograph is certified by a person, other than a partner or family member of the applicant, who has known them for a minimum of two years and is 18 years or over. It is recommended that a badge is awarded once an applicants mobility starts to be affected in a way that meets the eligibility criteria. See regulation 8(2) of the 2000 regulations. If you don't have a drive, garage or other place to park your car in the boundary of your property then we may consider creating a disabled persons parking space. a person recovering from complex leg fractures sometimes managed with external fixators for periods well over a year; a person recovering from stroke or head injury that has impacted on their mobility; a person recovering from spinal trauma which impacts their mobility. A script for civil enforcement officers when dealing with suspected misuse can be found at Annex I. Where you cannot park. Good practice: local authorities should process all applications through the BBDS. This includes full pocket book notes (or electronic equivalent), such as descriptions of any persons seen, who parks the vehicle, gets out of the vehicle and where they go upon leaving. because it was reported lost or stolen, should have been returned to the issuing authority (e.g. If a badge has been issued, the local authority can require its return under Regulation 9(2)(b) of the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles)(Wales) Regulations 2000. The applicants posture, rhythm, coordination, balance and stride should be considered in terms of the degree of effect they have on their ability to walk. 17. Blue badge disabled parking permits BBC Shared Data Unit made this Freedom of Information request to Swansea Council as part of a batch sent to 216 If the local authority is using a specialist in functional mobility they need to determine whether the application meets the criteria found in Appendix B. Most local authorities have an internal fraud investigation team to consider council tax / benefit fraud etc. Accordingly, their name and personal details will have changed. This will help the authority to provide greater transparency to applicants and to demonstrate that correct procedures have been followed in event of a complaint. We follow guidance set by the Welsh Government but they do not have the power to intervene in the assessment of individual cases. Proof of both award of a lump sum benefit at tariffs 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces; Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and certification of having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking; or is in receipt of Armed Forces Compensation Scheme at tariff 6 for a permanent mental disorder, causing severe functional limitation or restriction. WebThe City and County of Swansea is a Council in Wales Here are some links which you may find useful. You can apply for a Blue Badge yourself, for someone else, or for an organisation (such as a care home). It is for the local authority to determine for how long they withdraw or refuse to issue a badge to an applicant in such cases. The badge holder will also be given the booklet Blue Badge rights and responsibilities so that they are aware of how to use the badge and avoid inadvertent misuse. a person with a serious illness where the treatment may be debilitating, for example treatment for cancer; a person with severe functional leg impairments who is awaiting or who has undergone joint replacement (e.g. This group may also need to stop to perform an urgent medical procedure e.g. The leaflet explains clearly their rights and responsibilities as a badge holder along with other useful information about where badge holders can park. The 2000 regulations now make it explicit that a valid badge retained because it is being misused must be returned as soon as reasonably practicable to the holder (provided that the authority does not have pre-existing grounds, under the regulations, for withdrawing the badge). This model is recognised by disabled groups and was formally adopted by the Welsh Government in 2002. The scheme as it currently stands is governed by the following Regulations: All of the above Statutory Instruments (and the Acts) can also be viewed on Legislation.gov.uk website. If you do not agree with the decision not to award a Blue Badge to you and have information or evidence that was not given with your original application, you should send it to us within one calendar month of the date of the decision letter we sent you. If an applicant can walk 40 metres (44 yards) in less than a minute (a pace of 0.67 metres/second or more), including any stops to rest, then the speed at which they walk is not likely to make walking very difficult when considered in isolation. This part of the criteria is intended to identify people with serious chest, lung or heart conditions who may be physically able to walk normally. . Youll need a recent digital photo showing your head and shoulders. It is important to consider the persons ability to negotiate the types of pavement or road one would normally expect to find in the course of walking outdoors. Photos should be in the style of passport photos, but as there are no biometric scanners involved in the use of Blue Badges the photos do not need to meet all of strict requirements for passport photos (such as no smiling and no glasses). Your local council decides on the charge for a Blue Badge and you pay the money Youll need a recent digital photo showing your head and shoulders. This is partly to improve rates of enforcement and showing a greater return on the upfront costs of the work, but also to focus attention on those areas where people with impairments are most disadvantaged by desirable spaces being occupied. unilateral or bilateral hip, knee, etc.). The applicantmaybedeemedeligible ifthey canwalk50-80 metres (approximately 55 to 87.5 yards) without pain or breathlessness, but demonstrate very considerable difficulty in walking through a combination of other factors(e.g. Your local council processes your application and decides if you can get a Blue Badge. Local authorities are allowed to charge a fee of up to 10.00 for an organisational or replacement badge. In these cases, the applicant may not have been made aware that they are terminally ill. Children under the age of three are eligible for a badge if they fall under either or both of the following criteria: Examples of children under the age of three likely to fall into the criterion mentioned in the first bullet point may be those who need to be accompanied at all times by any of the following types of equipment: Examples of children with highly unstable medical conditions who need quick access to transport to hospital or home and are likely to qualify under the criterion are set out below. The Disabled Persons Parking Badges Act 2013 allows civil enforcement officers to retain a badge which is suspected of being abused or misused. Blue Badge charge The charge for a Blue Badge can be up to 20. People with epilepsy will need to show (by providing healthcare professional evidence) that any fits were brought about by the effort required to walk. The local authority will require additional information to support this claim. Welsh Government understands that some local authorities may offer further assessment of the applicant by an occupational therapist or other health professionals. A local authority may refuse to issue a Blue Badge (Footnote 6)if: In these cases the refusal letter must clearly state the reasons the application has been turned down. This can be uploaded to the BBDS system and included on the badge. You can follow the link provided here to tailor your experience, or accept all and continue on this page. Offenders can be prosecuted and face a fine of up to 1,000 on conviction. Applicants who can walk more than 80 metres (87.5 yards) and do not demonstrate very considerable difficulty in walking through any other factors would not be deemed as eligible. You have a child under the age of three who has a medical condition which requires bulky medical equipment or needs to always be near a vehicle. In these cases the application is supported by the form DS 1500. In the case of stolen badges, it is recommended that the authority ask badge holders to provide a police crime reference number for the local authorities to include in their records. An organisation is defined as meaning an organisation concerned with the care of disabled persons to which a Blue Badge may be issued in accordance with section 21(4) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (Footnote 2).. It's worth doing this if you can't walk more than 80 metres - about the length of 7 double decker buses, or if you can't use a parking meter because of problems with your arms. An applicant can only appeal to the Welsh Ministers against the local authoritys decision not to award a Blue Badge or to request the return of a badge where the grounds for refusal / return are: The appeal must be made within 28 days beginning with the date of the local authoritys determination. Under no circumstances should anyone who does not satisfy at least one of the criteria receive a badge. Using your Blue Badge. The Slack Workspace is dedicated to Blue Badge Digital Service and wider Blue Badge Scheme. The photo should be recent and show the applicants face clearly. WebIf you've been refused a Blue Badge This advice applies to England If youve been refused a Blue Badge, you can ask for the decision to be reviewed by the council. We use cookies on this site to enhance the user experience. In order to make the final weeks of life easier for the person local authorities could consider issuing a Blue Badge. Furthermore, the enforcement officer does not need to be in uniform but they do need to be authorised in writing by the authority to carry out badge inspections and retentions. For example civil enforcement officers may use hand held Personal Digital Assistance type devices, or use the Global System for Mobile Communication network to check the national database for key information about the status of individual badges. In all cases, entitlement depends on the applicants difficulty in walking. They are responsible for determining and implementing administrative, assessment and enforcement procedures in accordance with the governing legislation. The discretionary criteria relating to mobility and cognitive impairments enable applicants who are unable, or choose not, to apply for DLA or PIP to have an opportunity to apply for a Blue Badge. Your local council decides on the charge for a Blue Badge and you pay the money to them. The speed at which they are able to walk. are not in themselves a qualification for a badge. WebBlue badge holders are being reminded to check their badge is still valid and to get it renewed if it's within a month of expiring. This can assist with enforcement if such action were to become necessary. They will still be expected to sign the declaration form. anything to do with the badge. The formal notification required to register as severely sight impaired is a Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI(W)) signed by a Consultant Ophthalmologist. Such training will help staff to understand the importance of the scheme to those who may rely upon it to access goods and services. On the GOV.UK website the Blue Badge is included in a list of items about which a deceased individuals family may need to contact their local authority, as part of the process of registering the death. Local authorities are responsible for the day-to-day administration and enforcement of the scheme. Support may be available from Citizens Advice, British Red Cross, Age UK, Shaw Trust or you can contact SCVS for details of other support organisations. Apply for a disabled parking space on the public highway, Find disabled parking in Swansea car parks. Protected characteristics consist of: race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership and gender reassignment. Targeted operations are often the most effective ways of tackling abuse. An example of such a letter can be found at Annex C. The Welsh Government recommends that local authorities consult their own legal teams before taking any action. Use our checker to find out if you are eligible for a Blue Badge. Therefore this discretionary criteria ensures that there is equitable access to the Blue Badge scheme for children aged between 3 and 16 and people over 65 years old. WebThe Blue Badge scheme provides a national range of parking concessions to help people who are severely sight impaired, or permanently physically impaired, travel Local authorities procedures for administering the Blue Badge Scheme need to incorporate the Blue Badge Digital Service (BBDS). Impairment is the thing about the individual that is different, affecting their appearance or how they function and possibly causing difficulties such as pain or fatigue. Disability, by contrast is the disadvantage experienced by people with impairments as a result of the way the environment is constructed, the way in which a service is delivered or the attitudes of those providing services. See regulation 4(2) of the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (Wales) Regulations 2000 (S.I. This may include people with, for example: a limb reduction deficiency of both arms; bilateral upper limb amputation; muscular dystrophy; spinal cord injury; motor neurone disease; or a condition of comparable severity. They will give you a decision in around 12 weeks. Other professionals with knowledge who may be able to provide evidence are: It is important to ensure that the evidence gathered allows the local authority to assess using case-by-case evidence relevant to that individual. When making an application, organisations could be asked to provide the same type of information required by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for licensing a vehicle under the Disabled Passenger Vehicle (DPV) taxation class for exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)). For an organisational badge the mandatory fields for applications through BBDS are: Local authority officers will need to set up an account to gain access and will need to consider how they integrate the BBDS into their daily working procedures. in pay and display bays. It is also important to gather photographic evidence, including people in or getting out of the vehicle. This is considered to be good practice because a badge holder is less likely to falsely claim that a badge has been stolen if required to formally report this to the police. Local authorities will need to ensure that they check the BBDS for any applications received through GOV.UK. Local authorities should also keep a record of the procedures used and the outcome of applications. The badge holder does not need to be issued with a replacement badge with the new local authority name. The detailed requirements of the photograph are provided in the guidance accompanying the application form. You are Registered blind or have a severe sight impairment. Eligibility should be carefully considered to maximise the fairness and consistency of decision making on eligibility for a badge before it is issued. We use cookies to collect anonymous data to help us improve your site browsing It is for local authorities to decide which delivery system to use and whether the delivery address should be to the applicants home address or to a local authority office where it can be collected. 2000 regulations among some authorities that have had success in this area is involving other departments and other.! Often the most effective ways of tackling abuse use our checker to find if... 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