Adult Social Care
Blue Badge Team
Blue Badge Guidance Notes
In these guidance notes you will find information on:
Completing the application form
Section 1: Personal details
Section 2: Eligibility without further assessment (automatically qualifying)
Section 3: Eligibility with further assessment for applicants with walking difficulties
Section 4: Eligibility with further assessment for applicants with a disability in both arms
Section 5: Declaration, Signatures, Mandatory documentation
What happens next?
Other useful information
Driving licences
Car insurance
Return of badges
Lost or stolen badges
Misuse of badges
How to contact us
What to do if you are unhappy with our service
Data protection
National Fraud Initiative
Please keep these guidance notes in a safe place. They contain important information
about eligibility for a Blue Badge and you may need to refer to them again later.
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COMPLETEING THE APPLICATION FORM
Please use black ink to fill in the application form and use BLOCK CAPITALS to ensure the
application is as clear as possible.
Incomplete application forms will be returned to you and delay your application.
Answer Yes or No questions by putting a tick (√) in the relevant box.
Where the question requires a handwritten answer please write in the white spaces provided. If
more space is required please use a separate piece of plain white paper clearly marked with the
applicant’s name and date of birth and mark which part of the form you are writing about.
If, at any stage, you are unsure of how to answer a question please refer back to these
guidance notes or contact us for help.
Completing Section 1: Information about you
Personal information
All fields in this section must be completed to ensure there is no delay in processing the
application.
We require the applicant’s National Insurance number to process the application. This can be
found on the applicants National Insurance Card, their P60 End of Year Certificate or any letter
from the Tax Credit Office or the Department of Work and Pensions.
For children under the age of 16, please supply their Child Registration number which can be
found on Child Benefit documentation.
Your name at birth and your place of birth are required.
The driving licence number is only required if the applicant is still actively driving.
You should also provide the Vehicle Registration Number of the vehicle in which you are most
likely to use a Blue Badge if your application is successful. This information aids local
authorities with their enforcement of the Blue Badge scheme rules, but please note that you can
use a Blue Badge in any vehicle in which you are travelling.
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Completing Section 2: Eligibility without further assessment
All fields in this section must be completed. Please tick either Yes or No for each question.
You will automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are more than three years old, can satisfy
residency and identity checks and meet at least one of the eligibility criteria in Section 2.
You will need to provide the appropriate documentation to prove eligibility under one of the
criteria.
Applicants registered as blind
For those applicants registered as severely sight impaired (blind), you are asked to state the
name of the local authority or borough with which you are registered. You should state the
county, metropolitan district or London borough council.
In many cases you will be registered with the same authority to which the application for a
badge is being issued. If this is not the case, please enclose a photocopy of your Certificate of
Visual Impairment or a BD* form signed by a consultant ophthalmologist.
The formal notification to register as severely sight impaired (blind) is a certificate of Vision
Impairment (CVI), signed by a Consultant Ophthalmologist. However, registration is voluntary.
Applicants in receipt of the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of Disability Living
Allowance (HRMCDLA)
For those applicants who receive HRMCDLA, you will have an award notice letter from the
Pension, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS). In addition, you are sent an annual uprating
letter, stating your entitlement and this can be used as proof of receipt of HRMCDLA this must
be no more than 12 months old and clearly state the period of entitlement. If you have lost
your HRMCDLA award letter or uprating letter, then please contact PDCS for a current award
letter:
- Telephone: 08457 123 456
- Text phone: 08457 22 44 33
- Email: DCPU.Customer-Services@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
- The helpline is open from 7:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday.
War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
For those applicants who receive a War Pensioner’s Mobility supplement (WPMS), you will
need to send a photocopy of an official letter from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency
demonstrating receipt of this grant. If you have lost this letter, the agency can be contacted on:
0800 169 22 77.
Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme
This section is for applicants who receive a lump sum benefit under 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.
You will have been issued with a letter from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency
confirming the level of your award and also confirming your difficulty with walking. You must
enclose a photocopy of this letter as proof of entitlement. If you have lost this letter, then the
agency can be contacted on: 0800 169 22 77.
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Completing Section 3: Eligibility with further assessment for applicants with walking
difficulties
Section 3 should only be filled out by applicants who have answered No to all of the questions
in Section 2 AND consider themselves to have a permanent and substantial disability.
Please note:
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Only people with permanent disabilities (lasting at least three years) will qualify for a
badge. People with temporary disabilities, such as a broken leg, waiting for surgery or a
condition lasting less than 3 years will not qualify for a badge.
People with a behavioural or psychological disorder will not normally qualify for a badge
unless their impairment causes very considerable difficulty walking all the time due to a
physical condition.
Medical conditions such as asthma, autism, Crohn’s disease, incontinent conditions and
myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) do not in themselves qualify an applicant for a badge.
Applicants with these conditions will only qualify if they are in receipt of the higher rate
mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, or cannot walk or have severe
difficulty walking in addition to their condition.
The use of a walking aid (for example a walking stick or artificial limb) does not
automatically determine eligibility for a Blue Badge.
A badge will not be issued if the only problem is getting in and out of the car.
Badges will not be issued to people who have a severe disability in both arms but who
travel solely as a passenger or if the disability only causes difficulty when carrying
objects such as shopping and luggage.
The list above is indicative only and not intended to be exhaustive.
It is important that all fields are completed and that you supply as much information as you can
in this section. Please specify exactly what your medical conditions are. For example, writing
“arthritis” would not be as helpful as writing “arthritis in the right hip since 2006”. This extra
information would help us process your application more effectively.
It is vital that you attach a copy of your most recent prescription. Failure to do this may result in
your application being delayed.
Please ensure that the contact details of your GP are provided.
You can give us information about any other health professional that you have seen in
connection with your disability. Please note that we may contact this health professional, but if
you would like to supply a letter from them in support of your application we will be happy to
accept it. Please note; if you choose to supply this evidence yourself we are unable to pay any
costs incurred.
Please describe, in as much detail as possible, how your medical conditions affect your ability
to walk. For example, write about any pain or shortness of breath you experience and how this
affects your ability to access the community.
It is likely that you will be asked to attend a mobility assessment with a qualified Occupational or
Physiotherapist in order to determine whether you meet the eligibility criteria. These are held at
various venues around East Sussex as close to your postcode as is possible.
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Completing Section 4: Eligibility with further assessment for applicants with a disability
in both arms
Before completing Section Four of the application form it is important to read the information
under ‘Who can apply for a Blue Badge’ on page 2 of these guidance notes. If the applicant
does not meet any of the criteria in these notes it is very unlikely they will qualify for a Blue
Badge.
Section 4 should only be filled out by applicants who answered No to all the questions in
Section Two AND consider themselves to have a permanent and substantial disability. You will
need to show that you drive a vehicle regularly, that you have a severe disability in both arms
and that you are unable to operate, or have considerable difficulty operating all or some types of
on-street parking equipment. You will need to satisfy all three of the conditions in order to
obtain a badge under this criterion.
It is important that all fields are completed and that you supply as much information as you can
in this section. Please specify exactly what your medical conditions are.
If your vehicle has been adapted, the information your insurance company holds will help us to
process your application fairly so please enclose a copy of this with your application.
You may be asked to attend an assessment with a therapist in order to determine whether you
meet the eligibility criteria. These are held at various venues around East Sussex.
Section 5: Further information, declaration, signature, mandatory
documentation
All fields in this section are mandatory
Declaration
Please read all of the declarations carefully and tick each box to indicate that you have read
and understand the statements.
If you are unsure of any of the statements written in the declaration please refer to the Data
Protection Act and National Fraud Initiative sections on page 13 of these guidance notes or
contact us for more information.
We cannot process any application forms if the declaration boxes are incomplete.
Signature
The signature of either the applicant or a person to whom the applicant has granted power of
attorney must be inserted in the white box.
The form can be signed on behalf of an applicant by:
 a parent or guardian, if the applicant is under 16 years of age, or
 the person to whom they have granted power of attorney.
If you have power of attorney for the applicant you must supply evidence of your status along
with the application form. Please send a photocopy of your Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) that
has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian. Only registered LPAs will be
accepted as evidence.
We will also accept a registered Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA).
The LPA replaced the EPA on 1 October 2007. A person granted an EPA before 1 October
2007 can still use it and apply to have it registered. For more information on power of attorney
please go to the Government website www.direct.gov.uk .
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MANDATORY DOCUMENTATION
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED MUST BE A
PHOTOCOPY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
Proof of your address
You need to provide proof of your address that shows your name and address and is dated
within the last 3 months.
This needs to be a photocopy of a utility bill or hospital letter. Mobile telephone bills are not
accepted.
Proof of your identity
You are required to provide proof of identity, this is mandatory and your application will not be
processed without it.
Proof of identity will be in the form of a certified photocopy of either your:
 birth/adoption certificate
 marriage/divorce certificate
 valid driving licence
 valid passport
A photocopy of one form of identity is required to be submitted with your application.
Certified copies
A certified copy is a photocopy of a document that has been verified as being true by a person
who holds a certain position of responsibility (not retired from their profession)
What we mean by a person who holds a certain position of responsibility
A person who holds a formal qualification relevant to their profession and/or are a member of a
registered body
Examples of suitable counter signatories:
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accountant
bank/building society official
chiropodist
dentist
member of parliament
minister of a recognised religion
nurse
optician
pharmacist
post office official
social worker
solicitor
teacher
This list is given as examples and is not exhaustive
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Certified Copies …continued
The individual certifying the documents should include the text:
‘This copy is a True likeness of the original document’ alongside their signature. They
should print their name and occupation alongside this information.
Your counter signatory should:
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live in the UK
Currently hold a position of responsibility
Your counter signatory should not:
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be retired from their profession
be related to you by birth or marriage
be in a personal relationship with you
live at the same address as you
work for the Blue Badge service
We will not continue to process the application without certified identification
Photographs
Before we can process the application form for a Blue Badge we must receive two passportsized photos of the applicant. The photos are necessary in order to ensure that the scheme
works properly. Photos do not need to have been taken in a photo-booth but they must:
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be passport size 3.5cm x 4.5 cm
be in colour
have been taken within the last 6 months
clearly show the applicant’s face, facing forward and looking at the camera
be on a plain light grey or cream background
have no distractions or other people in the background
free from redeye, shadows, reflection or glare from spectacles
be in sharp focus and clear
Badges will only be issued without a photo in extremely exceptional circumstances, such as if
the applicant has severe facial disfigurement or is terminally ill.
Badge Issue Fee
There is a £10 issue fee for each badge.
We are unable to process cash payments and ask that you send a cheque or postal order made
payable to East Sussex County Council.
This will be returned to you if your application is not successful.
Ethnicity
The ethnicity question is entirely optional. However, if the applicant would rather not give us this
information it would be helpful if the ‘prefer not to say’ box is ticked.
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What happens next?
A new application for a Blue Badge takes approximately 6-8 weeks to process.
Review of eligibility for existing Blue Badge holders takes approximately 3-4 weeks.
If you would like to know how the application is progressing, you can contact us for an update
after three weeks. Please do not contact us before three whole weeks have passed as we
will not be able to give you any information.
If the application is successful, we will then request a badge be issued and details of how to
use it from the central issue office. We do not issue the badges in East Sussex
If the application is unsuccessful, we will write to the applicant to inform them of why their
application was refused.
Other useful information
Driving licences
By law, The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority must be told about the onset or worsening of
any health conditions likely to cause the driver to be a source of danger when driving, either
now or in the future. This must be done in writing and without delay.
If the applicant is unsure about whether or not their health condition should be reported, they
should speak to their GP.
Car insurance
The applicants who drive should tell their insurance company that they are applying for a Blue
Badge and about their disability. Failure to do so may invalidate their insurance.
Return of badges
It is important that a Blue Badge is returned to the County Council if:
 a renewal badge is issued
 the badge has expired
 the badge holder no longer needs it
 the badge holder dies
 the badge holder stops being eligible for the badge according to the criteria outlined, or
 a duplicate badge has been issued in place of a lost or stolen badge and the original
badge is subsequently recovered.
When a badge is returned to us it is securely destroyed in accordance with the County Council’s
Safe Disposal Policy. An applicant may remove their photograph before sending the badge
back to us.
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Lost or stolen badges
If a badge has been lost, stolen, or damaged so that it is no longer legible, we will replace it.
Please tell us about the loss as soon as possible so that the serial number on the badge can be
cancelled.
We require lost and stolen badges to be reported to the police in order to gain a reference
number. We cannot issue a replacement badge without this. Please note there is a £10 fee for
processing replacement badges.
If the badge has become damaged please send it to us in the post, along with new photos and
the £10 fee, and state that a replacement badge is required. We will then send a replacement
badge out as soon as possible.
If at any time the lost or stolen badge is located please return it to our office immediately so that
it can be securely destroyed.
The parking authorities and police will be informed of all badges reported lost or stolen.
Misuse of badges
Misuse of the Blue Badge Scheme is a criminal offence that is taken extremely seriously. Action
will be taken to ensure perpetrators are dealt with accordingly.
The maximum penalty for the misuse of a badge is £1,000 and under regulation 9(2) of the
2000 Regulations, East Sussex County Council reserves the right to permanently confiscate
any badges that they believe are being used inappropriately.
It is not acceptable:
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to use a badge that is no longer valid
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for a friend or relative to use a badge for their own personal use without the badge
holder present ( this is a criminal offence)
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to use a badge that has been reported lost or stolen
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to use a stolen or copied badge, or
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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.
For further information on the correct use of a Blue Badge please refer to the Department for
Transport’s guidance, The Blue Badge Scheme: rights and responsibilities in England.
This booklet will be enclosed with your new badge.
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How to contact us
The Blue Badge Team is located at:
St Mary’s House
52 St Leonard’s Road
Eastbourne
East Sussex
BN21 3UU
You can:
 write to us at this address
 telephone us on 01323 464244 (from 09.00am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and from
09.00am to 4.30pm on Fridays.), or
 email us at bluecarbadge@eastsussex.gov.uk
You can also find information on Blue Badges and disabled parking on the East Sussex County
Council website by visiting eastsussex.gov.uk/socialcare/adults/disabledparking/
You may also find information on the Department for Transport website or by e mailing
blue.badge@dft.gsi.gov.uk
What to do if you are unhappy with our service
If you are unhappy with the service you have received you should contact us first. Or, if you
would prefer, you can contact the Adult Social Care Complaints Unit:
Complaints Officers
Adult Social Care
County Hall
PO Box 5
St Anne's Crescent
Lewes BN7 1SW
Tel: 01273 481242 (from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and from 8.30am to 4.30pm on
Fridays)
Fax: 01273 481331
Email: asccommentscomplaints@eastsussex.gov.uk
If you are complaining about an unsuccessful badge application and wish to ask for a review of
our decision then please contact the Blue Badge Team for guidance on how to do so.
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Data protection
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, East Sussex County Council is a data controller and is
registered with the Information Commissioner.
East Sussex County Council will only process the information provided in the application form
for the purpose of administering the Blue Badge Scheme. Personal details will be kept in both
electronic and in hard copy formats.
All documents relating to this application will be dealt with in line with the Data Protection Act
1998 and may shared within the local authority, with other local authorities, the police, parking
enforcement officers and other public authorities to detect and prevent fraud
For further information, visit www.eastsussex.gov.uk/dataproctection or contact us using the
details outlined in these guidance notes on page 4.
National Fraud Initiative
The purpose of the National Fraud Initiative is to prevent fraud by matching data with other
organisations. Data matching involves comparing records held by one body against other
records held by the same or another body. Computerised data matching allows fraudulent
claims and payments to be identified.
The Audit Commission requires East Sussex County Council to share certain data for this
purpose and we follow their code of practice, for more information on the National Fraud
Initiative visit www.eastsussex.gov.uk
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