Blue Badges

This may include access to specific spaces in car parks and being allowed to park free of charge in some pay and display car parks or single or double yellow lines for up to three hours as long as it is safe to do so and does not cause an obstruction. It is important to check the information displayed in each car park to know if charges apply. For more information on where you can park with a Blue Badge visit parking for people with disabilities.

 Please note the misuse of a Blue Badge and obtaining a Blue Badge by fraudulent means are very serious criminal offences.

This includes renewal applications, as well as new applications. There is no longer a postal option. This means the process is quicker, simpler and can be done in one transaction, including uploading your photograph and documents and paying the £10 fee online through our free, secure online payment service.

Before you apply you will need the following:

• A recent digital photo showing your head and shoulders (which you will upload)
• A photo or scan of your proof of identity (i.e passport or driving licence)
• Proof of your address (i.e a bill less than twelve months old)
• Proof of benefits (if you receive any)
• If you are applying for a Blue Badge on the basis of a non- visible (hidden) condition, you will need to provide supporting medical documentation from a specialist medical professional treating you.

Please also note that your documents and photo do not need to be uploaded at the time of your online application, if this is a problem for you. You can complete your online application and subsequently post them. We will contact you and advise how you can send them to us once we have received your online application.

If you don’t have access to a computer or smart device to complete the online form, please ask family members, or friends if they can help you.

Alternatively you can use the public access computers at: Dudley Council Plus, or Stourbridge, Brierley Hill and Halesowen Libraries.

If you are not able to use a computer and have no family or friends that can help you, please contact Dudley Council Plus or email bluebadge@dudley.gov.uk.

A blue badge costs £10 and is valid for a maximum of 3 years.

We are only able to issue Blue Badges to permanent residents of the borough. If you live in a different borough then please contact your local council for information about how to apply for a Blue Badge. Badges are issued in accordance with the guidelines and regulations provided by the Department for Transport (DfT). 

Once you apply online, if you meet the automatic eligibility criteria and provide all of the documentation and make the payment online, you can expect to receive your Blue Badge from us within 28 days.

If you don’t meet the automatic eligibility criteria (this will be clear online), you may then need to have an assessment from an independent mobility assessor (this will not be the case for non-visible (hidden) conditions). These assessments take place at Brierley Hill Health and Social Care Centre. We will contact you to arrange this. Please note due to the high demand the current waiting time for an assessment is up to twelve weeks, although we are working to reduce this.

Check your eligibility.

Please be aware that there are a number of websites that offer a blue badge application service for a fee. These sites are charging up to £50 to submit an application on your behalf.

Please be advised:

• The maximum fee chargeable for a blue badge is £10 and is only payable by people who are issued a blue badge.
• Only use official local authority websites or Department for Transport website.
• Ensure that you are using a genuine local authority or government website to apply for a Blue Badge. There is no cost to submit an application.
• Please submit you applications in good time. The current processing time is up to 8 weeks.
• Please do not submit applications until there is less than 12 weeks remaining on them.

The misuse of a Blue Badge and obtaining a Blue Badge by fraudulent means are very serious offence criminal offences.

• A person found to be benefiting from a Blue Badge not issued to them could be prosecuted. This could mean they would have a criminal record and be fined up to £1000.
• A person obtaining a Blue Badge by fraudulent means, such as providing false information when applying for a Blue Badge could also be prosecuted. This could mean they would have a criminal record and be fined up to £5000 and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months.

Dudley Blue Badge Enforcement Project

Our Parking Enforcement teams are carrying out a joint project with the Blue Badge team. This is an on-street project completing spot checks on Blue Badges being displayed in vehicles when parked.

If you are using a Blue Badge you may find that you are asked to show your Blue Badge to a:

• Parking Enforcement Officer
• Uniformed member of the Blue Badge Team
• Or you may receive a telephone call to confirm your whereabouts while your Blue Badge is on display.

The results of this project will be considered and future Blue Badge enforcement policies and projects will be formulated. We would like to thank those who have already complied with requests to inspect badges and those who have received telephone calls from us. The response from genuine Blue Badge holders has been very positive and by addressing the misuse of Blue Badges we are maintaining the integrity of the scheme and ultimately making sure that those who need it are able to benefit from the scheme.

Watch this space for further developments in addressing Blue Badge misuse.

As of 30 August 2019 the government introduced a new criteria for Blue Badge applications in England.

Due to the nature of non- visible (hidden) conditions, applications will be assessed by looking at an applicant’s needs. Please note that having a certain condition or disability does not automatically entitle someone to a Blue Badge.

An applicant will be automatically eligible under the new criteria if, in their Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mobility assessment they scored 10 points in the ‘planning and following a journey’. Specifically the 10 points which states:

“cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant.”

If the applicant does not score this, they can still apply and their application will be assessed.

This is the only basis on which an automatic eligibility is granted. There is no other automatic eligibility criteria.

See more about applying under the new criteria in our eligibility section.