WebThe charge for a Blue Badge is 10. When you apply you will need to provide a DS 1500 form or a supporting letter from a Macmillan or Tenovus nurse. It is important that local authorities deal with applications made by transsexual and transgender people sensitively, and issue badges under the requested gender. See regulation 6(4)(b) of the 2000 regulations. The applicantmaybedeemedeligible ifthey canwalk50-80 metres (approximately 55 to 87.5 yards) without pain or breathlessness, but demonstrate very considerable difficulty in walking through a combination of other factors(e.g. If possible no other person should be visible in the photograph. The Welsh Government has made the following publications available on their website so that they can be downloaded and printed locally: In addition, large print, Braille and audio versions of The Blue Badge Scheme: rights and responsibilities in Wales are available on request from BlueBadge@gov.wales. The Welsh Government aims to use appropriate language in line with the social model. The BBDS has an on-line facility to allow a badge holder to notify their local authority of a lost or stolen badge. No pavement or road is absolutely flat therefore a degree of incline and decline should be considered in the course of a mobility assessment. Your local council decides on the charge for a Blue Badge and you pay the money to them. You do not receive War Pensioners Mobility Supplement. Local authorities procedures for administering the Blue Badge Scheme need to incorporate the Blue Badge Digital Service (BBDS). However, when a valid badge is retained under (d) above it should normally be returned to the holder. WebThe City and County of Swansea is a Council in Wales Here are some links which you may find useful. They can be contacted via the free-phone enquiry number: 0808 191 4218. If an enforcement officer encounters any form of resistance we would advise that they take no further action without police support. Such training will help staff to understand the importance of the scheme to those who may rely upon it to access goods and services. The maximum fine is 1,000. on single and double yellow lines if it's safe to so and there are no loading restrictions. All applications should be handled sensitively and applicants and their carers treated with respect and courtesy, but this is particularly important when an applicant is terminally ill. It is important to consider the persons ability to negotiate the types of pavement or road one would normally expect to find in the course of walking outdoors. In the case of stolen badges, it is recommended that the authority ask badge holders to provide a police crime reference number for the local authorities to include in their records. Youll also need a photo or scan of your: proof of identity (such as a birth certificate, passport or driving licence), proof of address (such as a Council Tax bill or government letter), your National Insurance number (if you have one), the details of your current Blue Badge (if youre reapplying). An applicant who is registered blind or as severely sight impaired will often be registered with the local authoritys Social Services Department (or their agents). This includes taxis and hire cars that you're driving, or travelling in as a passenger. You need to reapply for it every 3 years. In such circumstances these applicants should be made aware of the local authoritys standard complaints procedure, in the same way that any other user of the local authoritys services would be informed of their right to complain. emphysema, heart conditions, etc.) A person can be convicted of forging or copying a blue badge and/or using that forgery/copy under this Act. In these circumstances it will not be necessary for the applicant to provide proof that their impairment has existed for six months and will continue to exist. You have a severe disability in both arms. You do not have a child under the age of three who has a medical condition which requires bulky medical equipment or needs to always be near a vehicle. Applications or renewals for Blue Badges must be made through the online system on the gov.uk website. You can apply for a An organisation is defined as meaning an organisation concerned with the care of disabled persons to which a Blue Badge may be issued in accordance with section 21(4) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (Footnote 2).. A local authority may refuse to issue a Blue Badge (Footnote 6)if: In these cases the refusal letter must clearly state the reasons the application has been turned down. The photo should be recent and show the applicants face clearly. Under section 21(4BA) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (the 1970 Act), a police officer, parking attendant or civil enforcementofficer can approach a person in a vehicle displaying a Blue Badge (or a person who appears to have been in or to be about to get into, the vehicle) and require them to produce the badge for inspection. Read more information about Blue Badge eligibility. If you suspect a blue badge is being misused you can report it to us. GPs are clinicians, who specialise in diagnosis and treatment. The local authority may wish to contact the certifying person where deemed necessary. It is for local authorities to make this judgement, based on their local knowledge of the organisation concerned. You receive Personal Independent Payment (PIP) with a score of 8 points or more for moving around or 12 points for planning and following a journey. If a badge holder relocates to a new local authority it is the responsibility of the badge holder to inform the issuing authority of the change of address. This can assist with enforcement if such action were to become necessary. Applications or renewals for Blue Badges must be made through the online system on the gov.uk website. The fact that a walking aid is or is not used may be relevant to the eventual decision, but this alone should not determine whether or not a Blue Badge is issued. At this point the local authority can verify that the photograph matches the person named on the badge. Councils can charge up to 20 for a Blue Badge. You appear to be using an unsupported browser, and it may not be able to display this site properly. This will help the authority to provide greater transparency to applicants and to demonstrate that correct procedures have been followed in event of a complaint. You can follow the link provided here to tailor your experience, or accept all and continue on this page. It is for local authorities to decide how to do this. However, local authority administrators should note that registration is voluntary. Photos should be in the style of passport photos, but as there are no biometric scanners involved in the use of Blue Badges the photos do not need to meet all of strict requirements for passport photos (such as no smiling and no glasses). The charge to reapply for a Blue Badge can be up to 20. Welsh Government recommends local authorities take full advantage of the BBDS to check the national database for key information about the status of individual badges. insulin to control diabetes) this can be given by using a small pump known as a syringe driver. Section 20 of the Equality Act 2010 places a duty upon service providers to take reasonable steps to ensure that people with protected characteristics are not put at a substantial disadvantage compared to other people when accessing services. You receive the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). In order to streamline administration when verifying an applicants proof of entitlement, local authorities should consider using electronic records held about the applicant by other council departments and agencies, where such records are accessible and up to date. A photograph is taken of each badge and booklet dispatched by BBDS as evidence that they have been sent to the badge applicant. BBDS provides a national online application through GOV.UK. However, like other successful applicants, it is recommended that organisations issued with a Blue Badge are sent a copy of the leaflet The Blue Badge Scheme: Organisational rights and responsibilities. WebApplications or renewals for Blue Badges must be made through the online system on the gov.uk website. Any breathlessness reported by the applicant when walking, or as a consequence of the effort of walking. Provided that the applicant can evidence one of the criteria listed and can satisfy identity and residency checks, a badge should be issued. 14. These employees should be reminded that if they use the badge to take advantage of the concessions when there are no passengers in the vehicle who are themselves eligible for a badge they could face a fine of up to 1,000. If you can't access online systems there are computers available in the Civic Centre, our community hubs and local libraries. There is a role however, for all enforcement officers in identifying, lost, stolen and fraudulent badges as part of their day to day activities. It is important to maintain equity in the scheme so that all people are assessed against the same criteria and measure of mobility. In addition, applicants who have registered their adapted vehicle with the DVLA will be able to present their driving licence which will contain codes that refer to the modifications made to the vehicle. Several factors may be relevant and having considerable difficulty walking is defined as one or more of the following: Excessive pain reported by the applicant when walking, or as a consequence of the effort of walking. Lost, stolen, faded or damaged Blue Badges. It is also important to gather photographic evidence, including people in or getting out of the vehicle. Surveillance can identify cases of suspected systematic abuse and build up evidence that can later be used to prosecute a person. The key responsibility of local authorities is to ensure that badges are only issued to those applicants who meet the strict eligibility criteria set out in the relevant legislation. Those who abuse or misuse the Blue Badge scheme may find it easy to convince themselves that no one really suffers as a consequence of the abuse or misuse, or that it is acceptable because everyone does it. The local authority will require additional information to support this claim. Please note that some police forces will only issue an incident number if there is evidence that a crime has taken place. A local authority may require the return of a badge on account of its misuse leading to a relevant conviction or where the authority is satisfied that the badge was obtained by false representation (Footnote 12). A rock musician who co-wrote Harry Nilsson's 1970s chart-topper Without You is to be honoured with a blue plaque in his home city of Swansea. If the applicant applies for a further badge after their temporary badge expires the local authorities should assess their mobility in the normal way, including if necessary referral to the IAS. This non-statutory guidance has been prepared by the Welsh Government to assist local authorities in administrating the Blue Badge Scheme. Wherever possible we recommend that this process involves the badge holder collecting their replacement badge from their local authority offices or a nearby contact centre, so that it can be exchanged for the damaged badge. Very often the person using the badge will admit on questioning that the holder is not involved in the journey; some local authorities telephone the holder to establish their whereabouts. You can follow the link provided here to tailor your experience, or accept all and continue on this page. You do not receive Personal Independent Payment (PIP) with a score of 8 points or more for moving around or 12 points for planning and following a journey. This ensures that civil enforcement officers and the police checking the validity of badges displayed in vehicles are able to check badge details. People with epilepsy will need to show (by providing healthcare professional evidence) that any fits were brought about by the effort required to walk. An individuals eligibility for a Blue Badge is considered in terms of being eligible with or without further assessment. You are completely unable to walk, have considerable difficulty walking or substantial impairment to mobility. GOV.WALES uses cookies which are essential for the site to work. a condition that is likely to last for the duration of a persons life) that means they cannot walk, or means they have very considerable difficulty walking. This shines light through the skin and monitors the amount of oxygen in the blood. Healthcare providers are likely to be a good source of evidence to help the local authority to determine eligibility for a Blue Badge. It is more often the case that a MacMillan nurse or relevant health specialist will be the person applying on behalf of an individual. You can apply for a Blue Badge yourself, for someone else, or for an organisation (such as a care home). Some local authorities operate a dedicated phone line and / or email address for people to report misuse. This requirement has implications for car park operators who may have to demonstrate that, as well as marking out parking spaces for Blue Badge holders, they have taken reasonable steps to ensure that they are available and accessible to people with impairments. Policy and background Includes Your local council deals with all Blue Badge enquiries. To summarise, the 2013 Act: The 2013 Act enables enforcement officers to inspect and retain a badge without police presence if they have reasonable grounds for believing that the badge: In using these powers, it is expected that enforcement officers take appropriate steps to establish reasonable grounds for retaining the badge. It is important that detailed information on the eligibility criteria is provided to all applicants at an early stage to provide realistic expectations and prevent time being wasted by applicants who do not meet the criteria. Parking badges for people with impairments from countries outside the EU vary in design and it would be hard for local enforcement officers to verify their authenticity; inspection of a badge would be advisable where there is doubt. The detailed requirements of the photograph are provided in the guidance accompanying the application form. It can take up to 12 weeks to process an application. They are responsible for determining and implementing administrative, assessment and enforcement procedures in accordance with the governing legislation. Your eligibility will be checked every time you reapply to make sure you can still get a Blue Badge. This would cover, for example, cases where a badge has suffered accidental damage or where a badge may have been tampered with in some way. Some applicants may find it difficult to provide the appropriate documentation, so it is recommended that local authorities are more flexible in assessing the proof of identity of transgender people. Respect for the individual and privacy of gender history are of paramount importance and it is recommended that a Gender Recognition Certificate not be requested as proof of identity. You will need to re-apply for a Blue it has been stolen or forged or is being used by someone who is not the true holder). Local authorities may also wish to consider establishing a designated period for the return of the badge, informing the badge holder that action may be taken if the old badge is not returned, for example information about the expired badge will be passed to enforcement officers. On the GOV.UK website the Blue Badge is included in a list of items about which a deceased individuals family may need to contact their local authority, as part of the process of registering the death. Recognition is voluntary, rather than mandatory, and so local authority enforcement officers can refuse to recognise an overseas badge if they have reasonable grounds to believe that it is fake or forged. The applicant will need to provide healthcare professional evidence that, as a result of their permanent and substantial disability, they are unable to walk very far without experiencing severe difficulty. GOV.WALES uses cookies which are essential for the site to work. There is a wide range of legislation available to enforcement authorities to enforce the Blue Badge scheme. 2. In all circumstances, badges must be issued to the organisation and not to individual employees. This includes full pocket book notes (or electronic equivalent), such as descriptions of any persons seen, who parks the vehicle, gets out of the vehicle and where they go upon leaving. The applicant may provide healthcare professional evidence that the excessive pain or breathlessness occurs at the time of walking, or later as a direct result of their attempt to walk. This charge is at the discretion of the local authority. The rules under which badges are awarded are set by the Welsh Government. Local authorities will need to ensure that they check the BBDS for any applications received through GOV.UK. See regulation 9(1)(f) of the 2000 regulations. The badge remains the legal property of the issuing local authority, so it is unlawful for someone else to sell a badge. It is important in assessing eligibility for a Blue Badge that the assessment process correctly identifies people who require a Badge to overcome the barriers they face in accessing services. If you have physical problems or a cognitive impairment and would have difficulty accessing the online form you can arrange an appointment to help you submit the form. because it was reported lost or stolen, should have been returned to the issuing authority (e.g. Local authorities may have arrangements in place to access information from health providers, or the applicant may have evidence of mobility services they have accessed in the last 12 months from: Other sources of evidence should also be considered to provide a full overview of the applicant and their difficulties and limitations in the community or when completing day to day activities. a person recovering from complex leg fractures sometimes managed with external fixators for periods well over a year; a person recovering from stroke or head injury that has impacted on their mobility; a person recovering from spinal trauma which impacts their mobility. This will go some way to recouping costs of enforcement, and will also serve as an immediate consequence to the motorist. Disabled rail passengers face restrictions at one in 10 stations The Blue Badge Digital Service enables data sharing and enforcement checks quickly and easily. Whenever misuse or abuse of a badge is suspected, the enforcement officer should deal with the badge holder in a sensitive manner. An example of such a letter can be found at Annex C. The Welsh Government recommends that local authorities consult their own legal teams before taking any action. Assessing applications under discretionary criteria can be challenging. Evidence will be required to determine whether the impairment is likely to last for a period of 12 months. 17. If you struggle to get around and use a car, you could get a Blue Badge. This criteria is intended to capture people who have a mobility impairment that is expected to last at least 12 months. The intelligent use of cross-checking existing council records may identify information to support an application under the subject to further assessment walking criterion. Local authorities should make it clear when issuing the badge that it should be returned to them on expiry, or if the recipient no longer needs it, because the condition under which it was issued no longer applies. However, in these cases, the local authority has the discretion to verify the applicants identity through a review of existing records held. The local authority that issued the badge is able to change the address details and inform the new local authority through the BBDS system. First published: 1 May 2017. Welsh government recommends that all appropriate available evidence is used and the local authority may wish to take into account the following: Further non-statutory guidance is available to local authorities to assist them in determining whether an individual meets the criteria, by awarding a weighting to the different kinds of evidence that is presented. When using this marker to check that the correct badge holder is using the badge, officers should be aware of, and deal sensitively with, individuals who may have undergone - or be undergoing - gender reassignment. any questions or problems you have after you get your badge. On summary conviction a person may receive a fine of up to 5,000, a maximum prison sentence of 6 months or both. WebThe Blue Badge is linked to you rather than a vehicle, so you can use it with any car. Non-essential cookies are also used to tailor and improve services. It is important that people in the local authority area, who might be eligible for a Blue Badge, are made aware of the scheme and how they can apply for a badge. Please note, we do not accept cheque, cash or postal orders. When the local authority has determined that an application meets the criteria they will need to process the application details through BBDS Manage Blue Badges web-app (or via their own Case Management System). It is for the local authority to determine for how long they withdraw or refuse to issue a badge to an applicant in such cases. Local authorities are allowed to charge a fee of up to 10.00 for an organisational or replacement badge. WebUse our checker to find out if you are eligible for a Blue Badge. Healthcare professional evidence should be used to form the basis of this decision. They will give you a decision in around 12 weeks. As part of their role, it is important that there is effective communication between the teams that issue Blue Badges and those that conduct on-street parking enforcement. suction of a tracheostomy tube: It is recommended that local authorities treat each application for children under the age of three as a special case. This is considered to be good practice because a badge holder is less likely to falsely claim that a badge has been stolen if required to formally report this to the police. Some local authorities regularly run a check against monthly death records supplied by the Registrars. 15. The badge is usually valid for 3 years. The applicant may still be considered eligible if they demonstrate very considerable difficulty in walking through any other factors. Tackling Blue Badge fraud can be complicated and resource intensive. In these cases the application is supported by the form DS 1500. Some local authorities enable the general public to report abuse or misuse. 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