The Blue Badge Scheme provides an international arrangement of parking concessions for people who are disabled or who have severe walking disabilities and travel either as drivers or passengers.

The scheme also applies to registered blind people and to people with severe upper limb disabilities who regularly drive a vehicle but cannot turn a steering wheel by hand.  The scheme is intended to allow badge holders to park close to their destination.

Blue Badges are currently only issued to people who are registered blind or people who have permanent severe walking difficulties. Use of a Blue Badge allows the vehicle, in which a badgeholder travels, to park in designated areas which enable easier access to shops and other facilities.  

Carmarthenshire County Council runs the Scheme on behalf of the Department of Transport following the rules set out by the Government (visit www.dft.gov.uk  for further details).

Who qualifies for a Blue Badge?
Under current legislation, you can have a Blue Badge if you:

• Receive Mobility Allowance or the higher rate of the mobility component of Disabled Living Allowance; or
• Receive a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement; or
• Are registered blind; or
• You use a vehicle supplied for disabled people by a Government Department; or
• Have a permanent and substantial disability which means that you are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking (we may ask your doctor to confirm this); or
• Have a severe disability in both upper limbs and are unable to turn by hand the steering wheel of a vehicle even if that wheel is fitted with a turning knob.
• Organisations caring for disabled people meeting the above criteria may also be able to get a Blue Badge, but this is entirely at our discretion.
  

Who would not qualify for a Blue Badge?

• Children under two years of age do not currently qualify for a badge because they would not normally be expected to be able to walk independently.
• People with a temporary illness or disability, such as a broken leg, do not qualify.
• People with an intermittent illness or disability.
• People who are awaiting hip or knee replacements because mobility may be expected to improve after the operation.

Can I apply for a Blue Badge for a child under 2 years of age?

No. Current Department of Transport legislation states that a Blue Badge cannot be issued to a child under 2 years of age. 

I am registered partially sighted. Will I automatically qualify for a Blue Badge?

No.  Only a person who is registered as blind under the National Assistance Act 1948 automatically qualifies for a Blue Badge.

I receive Higher Rate Attendance Allowance. Will I automatically be entitled to a Blue Badge?

No.  You are only entitled to a Blue Badge if you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disabled Living Allowance.

I don't drive, can I still have a Blue Badge?
 
There is no requirement for you to own a vehicle or be able to drive one.  The badge is personal to you and can be used in any vehicle in which you are travelling either as driver or passenger. 

Is the application (photo, etc) made in the name of the driver or the disabled person?

The application is always made in the name of the disabled person as it is their badge for use in any vehicle. 

My child needs the badge - do I put my details or my child's?

The application should be made in the name of the child.  The child is the applicant, their photograph and details are required but you can sign the application on their behalf. 

Can I sign the application on behalf of my Husband / Wife / Son / Daughter?
 
Yes.  The application can be signed on behalf of the applicant by a designated member of the family or friend. 
It is difficult to get into a photo booth - can you issue a badge without photos?

If this is difficult, two recent photographs taken at home are acceptable.   We need to be able to ‘cut’ the face of the applicant out of the photo to a passport size.  On rare occasions, we can issue the badge without a photo if it really is impossible to get one. 

How much does the badge cost and how should I pay?

A fee of £2 is payable at the time of application.  This payment should be made by cheque or postal order payable to ‘Carmarthenshire County Council’.  Please do not send cash.
A refund will be made in the event of a refusal.

How long does the badge take to issue?

You should receive your Blue Badge within 2-3 weeks of your application, unless we have to consult with a GP and then it can take longer.  A renewal Blue Badge will normally be issued one week in advance of the expiry date of the old badge.

I have been refused, can I appeal?

If your application has been refused and you feel that your mobility problems have become more serious or not all the relevant facts were taken into consideration, then you may appeal against the decision and we will reconsider your case.  You should write to the Blue Badge Unit, asking for your application to be reconsidered.

Please note that we comply with the Department of Transport legislation and, as such, we cannot currently issue badges to:

• Children under the age of two years of age - a new application should be made at or around the time of the second birthday.
• People with temporary or intermittent disabilities.

Contact Details

Blue Badge Applications:

Carmarthenshire Direct: 01267 234567
Email: direct@carmarthenshire.gov.uk  
Or visit any of the Customer Service Centres at:
• Town Hall, Ammanford
• 3 Spilman Street, Carmarthen
• Ty Elwyn, Llanelli

Queries on current Blue Badge applications:

Blue Badge Unit,
Social Care & Housing Department,
Carmarthenshire County Council,
Freepost RRUS-LLCT-UTUU,
Carmarthen,
SA31 1LE
Tel: 01267 228813
Send an Email: schbluebadges@carmarthenshire.gov.uk