Blue Badge parking scheme

People who automatically qualify for a Blue Badge

You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are over three years old and at least one of the following applies:

• You receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance
• You receive a Personal Independence Payment because you can’t walk more than 50 metres (a score of 8 points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component)
• You receive the mobility component of PIP and have obtained 10 points specifically for Descriptor E under the ‘planning and following journeys’ activity, on the grounds that you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress
• You are registered blind (severely sight impaired)
• You receive a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
• You have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1-8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking

People who may be eligible for a Blue Badge

You may be eligible for a Blue Badge if you have an enduring and substantial disability which causes you, during a journey, to:

• Be unable to walk
• Experience very considerable difficulty whilst walking, which may include very considerable psychological distress
• Be at risk of serious harm when walking
• Pose, when walking, a risk of serious harm to any other person

You may also be eligible if you drive a vehicle regularly and:

• Have a severe disability in both arms and are unable to operate pay and display parking machines
• Have considerable difficulty in operating all or some types of parking meter

If you do not qualify for a Blue Badge automatically, you may need to take part in a telephone or face-to-face assessment. This is for us to consider whether you meet the eligibility criteria for a Blue Badge.

Children under the age of three will not normally be eligible unless one of the following applies:

• You have a child under the age of three with a medical condition that means the child always needs to be accompanied by bulky medical equipment
• You have a child under the age of three with a medical condition that means the child must always be kept near a vehicle in case they need emergency medical treatment

To apply over the phone, please call 01733 452 356 – open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

Please note that when you call to apply over the phone, we won’t complete the application with you there and then. We will arrange a telephone appointment with you to help you apply.

You can do the same to apply for a replacement Blue Badge.

You can also email blue.badges@peterborough.gov.uk.

You can pay over the phone with a debit or credit card. Please call 01733 747474.

Listen to all the messages until you get to the end and it says 'Please hold the line if you wish to speak to someone'. When they answer the phone, please tell them you want to pay for a Blue Badge. They will ask for your name and address before taking the payment.

You can do the same if you need to pay for a replacement Blue Badge.

As part of your appeal, we may require you to take part in an independent mobility assessment. An independent healthcare professional will carry out your assessment, usually over the phone. The assessment focuses on walking distances, your mobility impairment and other criteria defined by legislation.

Following the independent mobility assessment, the assessor makes a recommendation as to whether your condition appears to meet the eligibility criteria to be awarded a Blue Badge.

If you have already taken part in a mobility assessment as part of your application prior to your appeal, then an independent member of staff will review the original recommendation.

As part of a ‘non-visible’ disability appeal, we may require you to ask a professional regularly involved in your care to fill out a professional form.

If you have already supplied us with a professional form as part of your application prior to your appeal, then an independent member of staff will review the original information provided.

Where a recommendation is that your condition does not appear to meet the required criteria, an independent member of staff will further review your case based on the eligibility criteria outlined by the Department for Transport, the information on your initial form, the assessment, and any evidence you have supplied to support your appeal. They will not have been directly involved in the original decision. It is important that details and information about your mobility is clear and informative.

They will document clearly their decision on our behalf, including their reasoning.

We will normally let you have a decision within one month of receiving your appeal, but this may be longer if we need further evidence of your condition.

As a result of the appeal, we will send you communication regarding the outcome of your assessment.

If your appeal is unsuccessful, you cannot re-apply for a period of six months unless your condition significantly changes or you become eligible under any other criteria.

Your appeal must be in writing and emailed to blue.badges@peterborough.gov.uk.

Your Blue Badge is the property of Peterborough City Council. We can take it away if it's misused. You should read the Rights and Responsibilities booklet sent to you with your badge to ensure you know when and how you can use your badge.

The important things to remember are:

• The Blue Badge is for your use only
• You must be a passenger or driver of the vehicle at all times when a Blue Badge is on display
• You cannot let someone else use your Blue Badge to get free or better parking
• Carers cannot use the Blue Badge even when carrying out business on your behalf

Misuse of a Blue Badge by you or another person is a criminal offence, which can carry a fine of up to £1,000 and the immediate withdrawal of the badge.

Reporting misuse of a Blue Badge

If you believe a Blue Badge is being misused, please contact us and we will take action where appropriate.

If possible, please include the following information:

• The Blue Badge number
• Name of the person the Blue Badge was issued to
• Vehicle registration of the vehicle using the Blue Badge
• Circumstances of suspected misuse
• Date suspected misuse took place
• Your name and contact details - although you can remain anonymous