You can apply for a Blue Badge on the Direct Gov website. You will be asked a few questions to see if you may be eligible before applying. You will need to have your National Insurance Number, Driving Licence Number, a Passport Photo and the details on your current badge (if you have one), so you can answer the questions on the form. These questions will only take 2-3 minutes. Once you have applied, your form will automatically be sent to us in East Sussex County Council for a decision.
How long does it take?
New applications can take six to eight weeks to process, but may be quicker if you qualify automatically.
Those receiving palliative care will take priority if they are referred by a named specialist palliative care nurse or hospice.
Who qualifies for a blue badge?
You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are over three years old and:
- are registered blind
- get a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
- get the mobility component (higher rate) of the Disability Living Allowance, or
- receive a lump sum benefit under the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces scheme within tariff levels 1 to 8 and have been certified by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty walking.
Other people may also qualify, but need to have a therapy assessment first. You will be required to attend an occupational therapy assessment to confirm these details.
The use of a walking aid, such as a walking stick or artificial limb, does not automatically make you eligible for a Blue Badge.
Please do not assume that because you have previously been issued a Blue Badge, that you will once again qualify for one.
Who does not qualify?
- People with temporary disabilities, such as a broken leg, waiting for surgery or a condition lasting less than three years.
- People whose only issue is getting in and out of the car.
Applying for an organisation badge
An organisational badge may be issued to organisations whose responsibility includes the care and transportation of disabled people who would themselves meet the eligibility criteria above for a badge should they apply individually.
There also needs to be a clear requirement for an organisational badge rather than using the personal Blue Badges of people it is transporting.
In all circumstances, badges will be supplied to organisations or departments rather than to individual staff members. Organisation badges will only be issued for vehicles adapted to carry disabled persons or are registered as a Disabled passenger vehicle, evidence of this will be required.
The registration number of each vehicle will be held on record and will be supplied to parking services for enforcing the scheme and to check the validity of the badge being displayed
All employees of the organisation who will be using the badge should be reminded that they must only use the badge for the purposes of transporting disabled people in their care who meet one or more of the eligibility criteria for a badge. Badges issued are recorded together with the corresponding vehicle registration number. Employees should be reminded that if they use the badge to take advantage of the concession when there are no disabled passengers in the vehicle or for their own private use, they will face criminal proceedings and a fine of up to £1000.
It is unlikely that taxi or private hire operators and community transport operators would be eligible for an organisational badge as they are not usually concerned with the care of disabled people who would meet one or more of the eligibility criteria for a badge. Such operators are, of course, able to use an individual's Blue Badge when carrying that person as a passenger.
Badge misuse
East Sussex County Council takes seriously the misuse of Blue Badges and we will investigate all allegations of misuse.
Where there is evidence of misuse, East Sussex County Council will prosecute under Section 117 of the Road Traffic Act 1980, and under Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2000, which creates an offence of obtaining services dishonestly.
It is not acceptable:
- to use a badge that is no longer valid
- for a friend or relative to use a badge for their own personal use without the badge holder present (this is a criminal offence)
- to use a badge that has been reported lost or stolen
- to use a stolen or copied badge, or
- to continue to use your badge without notifying the Blue Badge Team if your disability changes in any way that affects your eligibility for a badge.
Contact us
If you have any questions or want more information please
Please do not request an update until after three weeks from submission of your application.
East Sussex County Council