Blue Badge parking permit

Non-visible (hidden) conditions

Due to the nature of non-visible (hidden) conditions we’ll assess your application by looking at your needs. Having a certain condition or disability does not mean you will automatically get a Blue Badge.

Eligibility types

Automatic eligibility:

You will be automatically eligible if, within your PIP mobility assessment, you scored 10 points in “Planning and following a journey” and specifically the 10 points which say “cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant.”

If you did not score this amount, you can still apply but will need to be assessed.

Assessed eligibility:

We will need to assess your application if you apply due to a non-visible (hidden) condition that causes you to severely struggle with journeys between a vehicle and your destination, and either:

• is a constant significant risk to yourself or others near vehicles, in traffic or in car parks
• causes you to severely struggle to plan or follow a journey
• means you find it difficult or impossible to control your actions and lack awareness of the impact this could have on others
• means you regularly have intense and overwhelming responses to situations, causing a temporary loss of behavioural control
• means you frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public or open spaces.

If one or more of these statements are relevant to you, will need to provide evidence before you apply, as follows:

Evidence of eligibility

Automatic eligibility:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) original statement of entitlement letter.

Assessed eligibility:

• a letter of diagnosis, as up-to-date as possible (preferably within the last 12 months)
• evidence of the progression of the condition over time
• confirmation of ongoing treatments/clinic attendances, or referral for such
• evidence of prescribed medication relevant to your condition
• evidence of specialist consultations, or referral for such
• your patient summary or summary care records
• Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
• care plans from social care teams
• social housing letters/assessment reports from a local authority
• letters from other professionals involved in your care
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decision letters
• evidence of other benefits received.

People who may be issued with a Blue Badge without further assessment are those who are more than two years of age who:

• receive the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
• receive a war pensioner's mobility supplement
• are registered blind under the National Assistance Act 1948
• have been awarded a benefit (giving rise to a lump sum at tariffs 1-8 inclusive) under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and have also been certified by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency as having a permanent and substantial disability that causes an inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking
• receives 8 points or more under the moving around activity of the mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment.

You can still apply for a Blue Badge if you do not meet the above criteria, so long you are more than two years old and fall within one of the following categories:

• you have a severe disability in both upper limbs and regularly drive a motor vehicle but have difficulty operating parking meters
• you have a permanent and substantial disability that means you are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking (please note: you may have to attend a mobility assessment to see if you qualify for a badge)
• you have a child or children under 3 years of age who, because of a specific medical condition, need to travel with bulky medical equipment or need to be close to a vehicle for emergency medical treatment.

Visit the GOV.UK website for the Blue Badge scheme rights and responsibilities in England

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Last updated: 14/04/2022 18:57