Article: Blue Badge disabled parking scheme Article Body Blue Badge disabled parking scheme The Blue Badge is a national scheme of parking concessions for people who have severe walking difficulties and travel either as a passenger or driver. This scheme also applies to people who are registered blind, and people who have severe upper limb disabilities who regularly drive a vehicle and cannot turn a steering wheel by hand. This scheme allows the badge holder to park close to their destination. How do you know if you qualify? You will qualify for a Blue Badge if you fit into one of the following categories: You recieve the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). You receive a war pension 'mobility supplement' and/or are a severely disabled service personnel and/or veteran. You are registered blind. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) give you help towards the running costs of a vehicle. You have a severe disability in both upper limbs, regularly drive a motor vehicle but cannot turn the steering wheel of a motor vehicle by hand even if that vehicle is fitted with a turning knob. You have severe disabilities in both arms, and regularly drive a non-adapted vehicle but cannot operate, or have considerable difficulty in operating, all or some types of parking meter (i.e. those with thalidomide related disabilities). You have a permanent substantial disability which means you are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking. In this case you will be asked to answer a series of questions to help the local authority determine whether you are eligible for a badge. People with a psychological disorder will not normally qualify unless their impairment causes very considerable and not intermittent difficulty in walking. Your child is under the age ofthree and due to a specific medical condition, needs to travel with bulky medical equipment or be close to a vehicle for emergency medical treatment. Should you require an Organisational Blue Badge, please contact the Blue Badge Team directly on 01226 775600. Procedures Application forms can be requested by post, by writing to Blue Badge Scheme, PO Box 679, Barnsley, S70 9JE, or by collecting in person from any local Barnsley Connects Service Centre. For other information about Blue Badges, or to apply online, follow this link to the Department for Transport website or telephone 0870 1226 236. You can also download a Blue Badge Application Form by clicking this link. If you are a Minicom User, please call 01226 772772. If you are a Typetalk user, please call 18002 followed by 01226 775656. You can get more information about Typetalk by visiting the Action for Hearing Loss website. (Formerley known as RNID). From 1st January 2012, the cost of a blue badge will increase to £10.00 which is due upon receipt of an application. If your application is unsuccessful, this cost will be refunded. All applications should be made by post. The application should include payment of £10.00 by either cheque (made payable to Barnsley MBC) or by postal order for which you will be issued with a receipt. Cash payments cannot be accepted from applicants and payment can no longer be accepted at Barnsley Connects Service Centres. If you meet the DfT criteria and have provided all relevant information, you should receive your Blue Badge within 28 working days, from the date of the Authority receiving all correct supporting information and documentation. How you can help If original documents are sent, they will be returned to the applicant upon the outcome of the application. Please include one of the following as proof that you qualify: A recent copy of your DLA award or annual up-rate letter showing the dates covered dated within the last 12 months. This will have been sent to you by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). A copy of your War Mobility Allowance, which will have been sent to you or a letter confirming the level of your award under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and also confirming that you have been assessed as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or considerable difficulty in walking. A copy of your Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) We will also require confirmation that you live in the borough, dated within the last three months. One of the following is adequate proof: Utility Bill. Benefit Entitlement letter. You will also require certified confirmation of your identity, two of the following is adequate proof: Birth/Adoption Certificate. Medical Card. New Driving Licence. Passport. Motability, the car scheme for people with disabilities, has teamed up with Rough Guide to publish the second edition of the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain. Blue Badge holders can request a FREE copy by clicking this link. If your application has been unsuccessful you will be informed in writing and given information about what you can do next. Frequently asked questions What is the disabled parking badge scheme? The disabled parking badge scheme is a national scheme for people who: Are registered blind or Have severe walking difficulties or Regularly drive but are unable to turn the steering wheel by hand. The scheme provides a wide range of parking benefits. For example the scheme enables badge holders to park free in most pay and display car parks and also park on single and double yellow lines in most streets for up to three hours. Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council administers the scheme for Barnsley residents on behalf of the Department for Transport. For people who do not live in Barnsley, please contact your local council. They will be able to help. How long does the badge last for? Each disabled parking Blue Badge lasts for 3 years. If you still require a Blue Badge after this period, you must reapply. However, badges can be issued for less than 3 years to people who are awarded the higher rate mobility component of the disability living allowance (HRMCDLA) or the War pensioners mobility supplement (WPMS). What happens if my new badge does not arrive before by current badge runs out? Please apply for a replacement badge in good time. We don't advise that you display a faded or expired Blue Badge. Traffic Enforcement Officers police the scheme in Barnsley and will check very carefully to prevent fraud and misuse of the scheme. Can I use the photograph that is on my old badge for my new Blue Badge? No, photographs need to be recent (taken within the last six months). The new Department for Transport guidelines on photographs insists that all photographs must be of Passport Standard, with the correct facial dimensions and with a white background. I have two cars - can I have two badges? No, the badge is issued to a person and can be used in any vehicle. This includes family, friends or even taxis, as long as the badge holder is travelling in that vehicle. Can I have a badge for a temporary condition? We have no legal powers to issue Blue Badges for temporary conditions. Badges are only issued for permanent conditions. All badge holders will need to reapply every 3 years upon the expiry of their current badge. Can I loan by Blue Badge to another person? No, the Blue Badge has been issued for you only; this can be used whether you are the driver or a passenger. It must not be used when you are not the driver or the passenger. It is a criminal offence for a non-disabled person to use a Blue Badge. If they do so, they are liable to a fine up to £1,000. You can find out more information about the Blue Badge scheme from the Department for Transport website. Click here to download a copy of the Blue Badge Guidance Notes.