Local authorities may not wish to charge for replacement badges if there is evidence that the badge has been stolen, for instance where the badge holder has reported the theft to the police and provides the local authority with a police incident number. A Blue Badge lets you park closer to your destination. Declarations can be used to confirm that the applicant: These declarations will also provide evidence in any enforcement action that may be taken if badges are issued because of inaccurate information being provided on the application form. It is important that there is effective communication between issuing departments and parking enforcement teams or other enforcement agencies. Your local council processes your application and decides if you can get a Blue Badge. This section sets out some of the more prevalent forms of abuse and misuse of the Scheme, as well as some of the actions local authorities can take to combat this. This includes: the application process and help to apply. See regulation 6(4)(b) of the 2000 regulations. 12. It can take up to 12 weeks to process an application. People with epilepsy will need to show (by providing healthcare professional evidence) that any fits were brought about by the effort required to walk. 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. A person can be convicted of forging or copying a blue badge and/or using that forgery/copy under this Act. The Slack Workspace is dedicated to Blue Badge Digital Service and wider Blue Badge Scheme. 5. 6. 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. 2. antibiotics), or by subcutaneous injection (e.g. See regulation 8(2) of the 2000 regulations. If this is to be successful, they must be able to demonstrate that the information supplied can be acted on and responded to. Read more information about Blue Badge eligibility. This consent should be asked for in the Declaration section of the Blue Badge application form. Youll also need a photo or scan of your: . The table below details the eligibility criteria and evidence requirements. Blue badge disabled parking permits - a Freedom of Information request to Swansea Council - WhatDoTheyKnow Blue badge disabled parking permits BBC Shared Data Unit made this Freedom of Information request to Swansea Council as part of a batch sent to 216 authorities This request has been closed to new correspondence. That is because the power to retain a badge is not the same thing as a power to permanently withdraw/confiscate a badge. For an individual person badge the mandatory fields for applications through BBDS are: Whilst the National Insurance Number is not a mandatory field, the Welsh Government recommends that local authorities complete this field, where possible, because it is helpful in confirming the identity of an applicant. Having a common system for processing Blue Badge information and securely printing and distributing badges prevents many types of fraud and abuse. Local authorities will need to capture core data in order to determine eligibility and to process the application through the BBDS to obtain the badge. An applicant may have undergone a related functional assessment with a different council department or health provider and this should be checked when disclosed during an assessment. Impairment is the thing about the individual that is different, affecting their appearance or how they function and possibly causing difficulties such as pain or fatigue. Disability, by contrast is the disadvantage experienced by people with impairments as a result of the way the environment is constructed, the way in which a service is delivered or the attitudes of those providing services. because it has expired, the holder has died, the holder is no longer disabled, a replacement has been issued, the badge has become damaged/faded, the authority has written to the holder requesting return of the badge either following a relevant conviction for misuse or because it was obtained by false representation) or, was being misused (including by someone other than the holder when the genuine holder is not involved in the journey), the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (Wales) Regulations 2000 (as amended) and, the Local Authorities Traffic Orders (Exemptions for Disabled Persons) (Wales) Regulations 2000, Section 21A (Recognition of badges issued outside Great Britain) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, Section 117 (Wrongful use of disabled persons badge) and 142(1) (General interpretation of Act) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (provides powers to tackle parking related abuse of the scheme), Section 19 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 and. 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. If you already have a Blue Badge and its nearly expired, or if you want to check if you're eligibleyou can apply or re-applyonlineon GOV.UK. When making an assessment under this criterion, local authorities will need to consider whether the applicant meets all of the following: For this purpose, a parking meter includes a machine for issuing pay-and-display tickets which shows that a charge has been paid and the period of parking paid for, as well as a parking meter which itself indicates that a charge has been paid and whether the period paid for has expired. The 2000 regulations now make it explicit that a valid badge retained because it is being misused must be returned as soon as reasonably practicable to the holder (provided that the authority does not have pre-existing grounds, under the regulations, for withdrawing the badge). It is also important to gather photographic evidence, including people in or getting out of the vehicle. Pain is subjective, and some people have higher pain thresholds than others. Eligibility for a Blue Badge does not depend on diagnosis, but on how an individuals mobility is impaired, which is outside of the specialism of the majority of GPs, Has a temporary and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking. Applications or renewals for Blue Badges must be made through the online system on the gov.uk website. If the applicant has lost their HRMCDLA award or uprating letter, then they can be advised to contact the Disability Service Centre for a current award letter. In these circumstances applicants who apply for a badge are expected to provide healthcare professional evidence to support their application. If you are It is recommended that local authorities have a clear policy on how much, and under which circumstances, they will charge for a replacement badge and organisational badge. It may be advisable where visitors from another country have contacted the local authority about using their Badge in the local area that details and possibly an image of that badge is shared with enforcement officers to avoid advice conflicting with the issue of parking tickets. The badge is supplied with a copy of the guidance leaflet The Blue Badge Scheme: rights and responsibilities. Click 'Accept all cookies' to agree to all cookies that collect anonymous data. It is used to monitor where a child may need access to oxygen, Casts and associated medical equipment for the correction of hip dysplasia: between birth and six months of age, a brace called a Pavlik Harness can be used to hold the babys hips in position. This part of the criteria is intended to identify people with serious chest, lung or heart conditions who may be physically able to walk normally. Publicising the consequences for people with impairments who meet the eligibility criteria who are unable to park close to where they need to get, and publicising the potential consequences for offenders of misusing badges, could reduce the number of offences. See regulation 8(3) of the 2000 regulations. 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. When you apply you will need to provide a letter from a Paediatrician. Local authorities procedures for administering the Blue Badge Scheme need to incorporate the Blue Badge Digital Service (BBDS). The intelligent use of cross-checking existing council records may identify information to support an application under the subject to further assessment walking criterion. After you apply Your local council processes your application. are not in themselves a qualification for a badge. In no circumstances should a badge be issued to an applicant who does not meet one of the eligibility criteria set out in the legislation that governs the scheme and badges should never be issued to people solely on the basis of their age. Such locations include commuter hubs, colleges, stations, shopping centres, sports grounds and entertainment venues, or anywhere that parking is in high demand. 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. Badge holders should be made aware that by continuing to use the badge in these circumstances they will be committing a criminal offence and be liable for a fine up to 1000. 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). It is possible that a person applying for the Blue Badge may not meet the general eligibility criteria but have been diagnosed with a terminal condition and have mobility impairments. The most commonly reported problems tend to relate to misuse of the Blue Badge by the friends and family of the badge holder. An applicant can only appeal to the Welsh Ministers against the local authoritys decision not to award a Blue Badge or to request the return of a badge where the grounds for refusal / return are: The appeal must be made within 28 days beginning with the date of the local authoritys determination. While many blue badge-holders may be self This includes: The Welsh Government cannot intervene in individual applications. experience. In Wales, a badge is issued in bilingual format along with a clock. The badge remains the legal property of the issuing local authority, so it is unlawful for someone else to sell a badge. The evidence required includes proof of residency, a photograph and healthcare professional evidence of conditions, symptoms and difficulties mobilising in the community. Whilst an original assessment may have determined that they meet the criteria for a period of more than 12 months, consideration will need to be given to the applicants recovery or progress as well as anything else which could affect or change the original prognosis. The Welsh Government has provided guidance and funded an Independent Assessment Service to help authorities undertake assessments. Find a disabled car park in the city centre, beach and suburban car parks. 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