Note: Your feedback will help us make improvements on this site. 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. Where this is a problem, and local authorities wish to take action, it is important that authorities are sure that misuse is taking place and have obtained sufficient evidence, especially if a prosecution is to be pursued. out of date or the badge holder is no longer eligible), using a badge that has been reported as lost or stolen, letting a friend or relative use the badge, altering the details on the badge, for example, the expiry date and, making a fraudulent application (e.g. For example, because of the nature of the condition they have only experienced mobility impairments for a very short period. Has a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking. See regulation 8(3) of the 2000 regulations. It is recommended that proof of address be provided in the form of an original council tax bill bearing the applicants name and address. It is for the local authority to decide whether they will accept only originals or certified photocopies of documents. BBDS has a system of reminder letters to badge holders when a Blue Badge is approaching its expiry date. 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. In these cases the application is supported by the form DS 1500. 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. Applications in these cases must be able to confirm they have a diagnosis of a cognitive impairment. If an applicant does not meet the required score for either Mobility Activity 1 (12 points) or Activity 2 (8 to 12 points), they fail to meet the automatic criteria. It may also be relevant to consider whether an applicant who is not using any form of walking aid at the time of their application could improve their walking ability, to the extent that they would no longer demonstrate very considerable difficulty in walking, through the correct use of such an aid. The applicants posture, rhythm, coordination, balance and stride should be considered in terms of the degree of effect they have on their ability to walk. 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. Making use of their specialist skills and resources can enable the enforcement operation to better target their attention, improving success rates. They'll also let you know if you need to go to a mobility assessment. Please contact us on 01792 637366 for advice and we will be pleased to help you. 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. This would be a cost to the local authorities, Welsh Government do not provide additional funds for this. When a badge is retained in scenarios (a)-(c) above we would expect the local authority to destroy it in due course, as it would no longer be valid (if the authority recovering the badge is not the badge-issuing authority, we would suggest they liaise with the issuing authority in this respect). Your local council processes your application. when the badge is lost or stolen), amends the existing inspection power so that authorised enforcement officers in plain clothes may inspect badges (this was limited to constables and specified enforcement officers who in consequence of other legislation generally had to be uniformed), provide constables and enforcement officers with power to retain a badge that has been produced to them and which is cancelled, due for return, being misused or fake, clarify the existing offences relating to the wrongful use of Blue Badges to put beyond doubt that it is an offence to use a badge that should have been returned and apply the same offences to a badge that has been cancelled, has already been cancelled e.g. If you think you might have difficulty accessing the Civic Centre, please mention this to the Blue Badge team when you telephone, and we will tell you about the arrangements we have made to help you. The Welsh Government would like to see local authorities working on a regional basis to reduce misuse of the Blue Badge. The Disabled Persons Parking Badges Act 2013 allows civil enforcement officers to retain a badge which is suspected of being abused or misused. Local authorities should also keep a record of the procedures used and the outcome of applications. You can apply for a Blue Badge yourself, for someone else, or for an organisation (such as a care home). The eligibility criteria for a temporary Blue Badge is based on the applicant being unable to walk or having considerable difficulty walking, and uses the same measure of mobility as used for the permanent eligibility criteria. Healthcare professional evidence should be used to form the basis of this decision. See regulation 4(2) of the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (Wales) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 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. For example Motor Neurone Disease (MND) or some cancers. Following any report of misuse, the Welsh Government suggests that a letter be sent to the badge holder informing them of the report of suspected misuse, reiterating their rights and responsibilities and the repercussions of abusing or misusing the badge. Please do not provide any personal information, All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except for graphic assets and where otherwise stated, Report a lost, stolen or misused Blue Badge, which need face to face appointments or assessments, getting all the support you need to get around. It is for local authorities to decide which delivery system to use and whether the delivery address should be to the applicants home address or to a local authority office where it can be collected. In cases where the local authority has accepted and processed an application by telephone, post or electronically and have not seen the applicant, the local authority may prefer that the applicant collects the badge. Discrimination against transsexual and transgender people is unlawful and good practice is to regard the individual in the gender with which they identify. Where a badge is displayed on a motor vehicle, section 21 of the 1970 Act provides a power for constables or enforcement officers to require any person who is in the vehicle, or appears to have been in, or to be about to get into, the vehicle, to produce the badge for inspection. Youll need a recent digital photo showing your head and shoulders. Welsh Government recommends that local authorities include details of how to return Blue Badges in their death registry packs, and cross-reference deaths registered in their area against their Blue Badge holder records so that these badges can be cancelled on BBDS and issue a reminder to the family as required. Local authorities may refuse to issue a badge where the applicant holds or has held a badge, misused it and received a relevant conviction (Footnote 10). 5. If they wish to appeal against their PIP award, then they should be directed to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). When you apply you will need to provide one of the following an ophthalmologist report; CV1/BD8 form confirming the applicant is severely sight impaired (Blind); registration with the local authority as sight impaired at the severe level. See regulation 6(4)(b) of the 2000 regulations. Further information is available at:BBDS guidance (confluence). It is more difficult to verify lost badges, because very few police authorities will provide an incident number for lost articles. A Blue Badge lets you park closer to your destination. 8. GOV.WALES uses cookies which are essential for the site to work. You can follow the link provided here to tailor your experience, or accept all and continue on this page. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Local authorities may wish to consider having a fast-track application process for people who have a terminal illness that seriously limits their mobility, in order to make the final weeks of their life easier. The Slack Workspace is dedicated to Blue Badge Digital Service and wider Blue Badge Scheme. Last updated: 25 January 2021. This will probably have been done at the initial application stage in the Declaration section of the Blue Badge application form. When dealing with such reapplications, local authorities are also reminded that this criteria seeks to capture individuals who have a condition which is expected to last 12 months. Councils can charge up to 20 for a Blue Badge. it has been stolen or forged or is being used by someone who is not the true holder). You receive the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). If a badge has been issued, the local authority can require its return under Regulation 9(2)(b) of the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles)(Wales) Regulations 2000. Select your council. It can take up to 12 weeks to process an application. Local authorities will need to deal with these on a case by case basis. Reports from some local authorities in England note that conventional enforcement complemented by additional preventative measures are likely to be the most successful and effective in the long term. 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. It is important that there is effective communication between issuing departments and parking enforcement teams or other enforcement agencies. BBDS will send out the badge to an address as specified by the local authority. The rules under which badges are awarded are set by the Welsh Government. Changing or handing back a Blue Badge. This consent should be asked for in the Declaration section of the Blue Badge application form. Examples of cognitive impairments are given below: The application will need to show evidence that because of their cognitive impairment the person is unable to plan and follow any journey, in the form of the following: In those cases where an applicant cannot provide this evidence but can provide evidence of an award of Higher Rate Care Component of Disability Living Allowance, the case should be sent to the Independent Advisory Service established by Welsh Government for advice on eligibility. Furthermore, the enforcement officer does not need to be in uniform but they do need to be authorised in writing by the authority to carry out badge inspections and retentions. Other considerations such as difficulty in carrying parcels, luggage or problems getting in and out of vehicles are not to be taken into account. These can be found on the reverse of a photocard driving licence (under category 12, information codes) and in the codes sections on the front of the counterpart driving licence. Photographs do not need to be provided for organisational badges. The applicant needs to provide evidence that they should not walk very far because of the danger to their health. If you struggle to get around and use a car, you could get a Blue Badge. Changing or handing back a This should be part of a training package which includes wider equality issues. Apply for a disabled parking space on the public highway, Find disabled parking in Swansea car parks. The weighting has not been made publically available in order to tackle fraudulent applications, Local authorities are recommended to not rely on letters from GPs. WebThe City and County of Swansea is a Council in Wales Here are some links which you may find useful. Blue Badge charge The charge for a Blue Badge can be up to 20. This will be the case where a personclearly meets the criteria and their impairment will not improve, such as a double amputee. If the organisation uses a vehicle to transport disabled people who would normally get a badge themselves they may be able to get a Blue Badge for the organisation. 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. Local authorities have discretion to charge a fee of up to 10 for an organisational or replacement badge. 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. WebThe charge for a Blue Badge is 10. Each local authority will wish to consider its own training and procedures for enforcement officers employing the new powers. GOV.WALES uses cookies which are essential for the site to work. any questions or problems you have after you get your badge. This includes: the application process and help to apply. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. However, local authority administrators should note that registration is voluntary. This process may be easier if local authorities work together to share information on lost and stolen badges in their area. If this evidence is not available then it is recommended that the local authority accept a benefit award letter. Local authorities will need to check whether the organisation in question: Applications for badges from organisations caring for people should be examined to ensure that they are genuine and necessary. The badge is usually valid for 3 years. The applicant should be reminded in their decision letter that they have a duty to return the badge to the local authority if at any time their mobility improves. 2. 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. Your local council processes your application and decides if you can get a Blue Badge. anything to do with the badge. It may also be possible to prosecute the person offering the badge for sale under section 7 of the Fraud Act 2006, recording of interviews whether written or tape recorded, how to deal with any third party during the interview process, disclosure of evidence prior to interview, provides local authorities with the power to cancel badges no longer held by the person to whom they were issued (e.g. You do not receive the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). In these cases, the applicant may not have been made aware that they are terminally ill. Children under the age of three are eligible for a badge if they fall under either or both of the following criteria: Examples of children under the age of three likely to fall into the criterion mentioned in the first bullet point may be those who need to be accompanied at all times by any of the following types of equipment: Examples of children with highly unstable medical conditions who need quick access to transport to hospital or home and are likely to qualify under the criterion are set out below. People with epilepsy will need to show (by providing healthcare professional evidence) that any fits were brought about by the effort required to walk. WebIf you've been refused a Blue Badge This advice applies to England If youve been refused a Blue Badge, you can ask for the decision to be reviewed by the council. Find a disabled car park in the city centre, beach and suburban car parks. 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