Blue Badges

A blue badge allows drivers or passengers with severe mobility problems / disabilities to park in parking restricted areas. For example, if you have a blue badge, you can park free and for any length of time at on-street parking meters and on-street pay and display areas.

A blue badge may also be issued to an organisation for a group transport motor vehicle (for example people carrier or minibus) when the vehicle is used to carry disabled persons. In this instance the badge(s) should only be used on group transport vehicles.

To get a blue badge you can complete the online form: https://bluebadge.direct.gov.uk/bluebadge/why-are-you-here   

Here you will be able to upload a recent photo of yourself. Your photo is a vital part of your application. If the photo you supply is not suitable, your application will be delayed. Please follow the instructions below carefully so you can get it right first time. Guidance on acceptable photographs can be found in the Government's UK Passport Photo Guidance document

Applying online, and answering each question as fully as possible, will allow the team to process your application more quickly. To assist with this, you should provide an active email address.

Incomplete/ limited responses, or lack or supporting documentation, will slow the processing of your application.

Everyone who wishes a blue badge needs to complete the application form however some people may qualify for a blue badge automatically. If you don't qualify automatically, you will need to be assessed. 

The Scottish Government webpageprovides information on who is eligible for a blue badge: https://www.mygov.scot/apply-blue-badge/eligibility-who-can-have-one/ .

Should you prefer to attend an office in person to receive/ return a paper application, staff will be able to assist at the following times:

16 Church Street, Dumbarton:

Mondays             2pm – 4pm

Wednesdays       2pm – 4pm

Thursdays           10am – 12 noon

 Aurora House, Clydebank:

Monday – Thursday        9.30am – 4pm

Friday                              9.30am – 3pm

An administration fee of £20 will be charged for a Blue Badge.

A blue badge will not be issued unless payment is received. Payments can be taken by telephone or paid in cash in person to 16 Church Street, Dumbarton, G82 1QL or Aurora House, Queens Quay, Clydebank, G81 1BF.

This £20 charge applies to all successful blue badge applications, including renewals and replacements.

Automatic Entitlement

In Scotland, you are automatically entitled to a blue badge if you are over two years old and:

• you are registered blind; or
• you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA); or
• you receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (must be at least 8 points for Moving Around OR 12 points for Planning and Following a journey; or
• you receive a War Pensioners' mobility supplement; or
• you have received an award under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) within tariffs 1-8.

Please note, all award letters must be dated within the last 12 months.

• It can take up to 8 weeks to process an automatic Blue Badge application. We are experiencing a high volume of discretionary applications. Current applications under this category are taking up to 5 months to process.

Subject to further assessment – discretionary

In order to assist us with processing your application please complete all the answers on the application form as fully as you can including detailed  descriptions of your mobility issues , medical conditions, treatment and professionals that have you have seen in relation to these issues.

If you do not meet any of the above automatic criteria then you may qualify for a blue badge if you are over two years old and:

• have a permanent and substantial disability which means you are unable to walk or virtually unable to walk; or
• have a temporary, but substantial, disability which means you are unable to walk or virtually unable to walk which is likely to last for a period of at least 12 months but less than 3 years; or
• drive a motor vehicle regularly, have a severe disability in both arms and are unable to operate, or have considerable difficulty in operating, parking meters.

If you are applying under one of the above criteria then we may request that you attend an independent mobility assessment as a means of checking your eligibility. This assessment will be conducted by an occupational therapist.

There are special rules for children under the age of three years.  A parent or guardian may apply for a badge for their child, if the child:

• has a medical condition requiring the transportation of bulky medical equipment at all times; or
• they must always be kept near a motor vehicle on account of a medical condition so that they can, if necessary, be treated for that condition in the vehicle or taken quickly in the vehicle to a place where they can be so treated.

To be eligible under this criteria you must have a diagnosed mental health, cognitive or behavioural condition. This includes any mental health problem, personality disorder or learning disability, however caused or manifested. Examples are dementia, autism or down's syndrome. You will need to submit:

•  A letter confirming your diagnosis.
•  A completed questionnaire in Section 3 of the application form completed by a registered health care professional.      

Your application will be fast tracked without assessment if there is evidence of a DS1500 being in place.

Organisational Badges will only be issued to an organisation which both:

• Cares for and transports disabled people who would meet one or more of the eligibility criteria for an individual Blue Badge; and
• Has a clear need for an organisational badge rather than using the personal Blue Badges of people it is transporting.

Receipt of your application will be confirmed by email.

• if we have reason to believe that the applicant is not who they claim to be.
• that the badge would be used by someone other than the person to whom it has been issued.
• If you do not meet the eligibility criteria set out by the Scottish Government.
• The application form is not fully completed and insufficient evidence is supplied to support the application form.

The majority of blue badges are issued for a three year period. However the regulations provide for certain exceptions which are detailed below:-

• Where a temporary badge has been issued for a period of at least 12 months, but less than three years
• Where a badge has been issued for a condition that is unlikely to last longer than 12 months
• Where entitlement for a blue badge is linked to the Higher Rate of Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (HRMCDLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement (WPMS) and the Armed forces and Reserved Forces (Compensation) Scheme (AFCS) the period of issue is linked to the period of receipt of the allowance, where that period is less than three years. Note in this regard there is no minimum period of issue e.g a badge could be issued for less than 12 months if this corresponds with the period of issue of the allowance
• Where a blue badge is issued by reason of an extended award of disability living allowance (DLA) whilst an application for PIP is being considered the period of issue is determined by period of receipt of the previous award of DLA, where that period is less than 3 years. No minimum period of issues applies in this circumstance.
• Where a blue badge is issued under regulation 4(2)(ab) the badge has an issue period of 1 year
• Where badge is issued to a child under three, the badge is issued for a maximum period ending on the day following their third birthday.

If your blue badge is lost or stolen, you must contact your local police station and report it.

You will be issued with a 'pink slip' called 'Confirmation of loss report' or reference number from Police Scotland.

At the point of reporting your blue badge as lost/ stolen to the local authority, we will cancel your badge immediately. Should you then find your badge, this cannot be used, as such use would be deemed fraudulent (see below). You must await a re-issued badge. 

A blue badge can also be reported lost or stolen online via:

https://www.mygov.scot/blue-badge-lost-stolen/

You should also contact the Council if:

• you move house
• you no longer need a badge
• a badge needs to be returned because the holder has died
• a badge needs to be returned when you are no longer entitled to its use

Fraudulent use of Blue Badges prevents people in genuine need from accessing parking where they need it most and additionally can be a significant cost to the public purse.

Fraudulent misuse of a Blue Badge can include

(a)    abuse of the Badge (using a counterfeit badge, using a lost or stolen badge or using the badge of a deceased person) or

(b)   misuse of a genuine Badge (using the Badge when the holder is not present).

If it is suspected that a Blue Badge is being misused, this should be reported to West Dunbartonshire Council via telephone on 01389 776499 or email providing as much information as possible of the badge, vehicle, location and suspected person.  

The Council will investigate and take the appropriate action and if the Blue Badge can be shown to have been or is being misused, this could lead to confiscation of the Badge and a £1000 fine.