Due for publication spring 2008  Consultation running from 24 Jan – 17 Apr 2008

The current situation:

Blue badges can be awarded to three groups of people:

1. people who:

• are over two years old
• and have ‘a severe and permanent inability to walk for a period of at least three years

2. people who:

• are over two years old
• and receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance (even if this is for less than 3 years)

BUT you cannot claim for mobility needs until your child is age 3. The rule is that ‘you can claim for mobility needs from age three, if your child is unable, or virtually unable, to walk’

3. parents of a child who:

• is less than two years old
• and has a specific medical condition which means that they must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment (including a hip spica)

The Proposals are to:

• adjust the badge issue period so that specific individuals with the most severe mobility problems may still be able to qualify for a badge in certain circumstances if the disability lasts for less than 3 years
• adjust the eligibility criteria so that there are two main eligibility groups, one for people under the age of 3 and another for those aged 3 and over

by:

• raising the age that a child can qualify for a badge due to dependence on bulky medical equipment or the need for emergency medical treatment to up to 3
• raising the age for standard assessed eligibility criteria to 3 or over
• reducing the minimum badge issue period for people awarded a badge through assessed eligibility criteria to 12 or 18 months to enable people with disabilities that last less than 3 years to qualify for the scheme

So the rules will become:

A person will qualify for a blue badge if they:

• are less than 3 years old and must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment
• are 3 years or over and receive the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance
• are 3 years or over and have a permanent and sustainable disability which means that they cannot walk, or which makes walking very difficult for a period of at least 12 or 18 months

For the latest guidance go to http://www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/bluebadge/pubs/factsheets/canigetabluebadge.pdf