Blue Badge parking - frequently asked questions

A Blue Badge costs £10 in England.

You can apply for a Blue Badge by visiting Apply for a Blue Badge and completing the online application.

Applications can take up to 12 weeks to complete.

If you hold an existing Blue Badge which is due to expire you will need to reapply for a new badge. We recommend you apply at least 12 weeks before the expiry date.

The quickest and easiest way to apply is online. However, you can also apply by downloading our application form. You will then need to print and complete. Once completed, please return to us by hand to our Gateway Office, Civic Centre, Southampton, SO14 7LY, or by post to: Blue Badge Team, Lower Ground, West Block, Civic Centre, Southampton, SO14 7LY.

• Proof of ID for child (Either a Birth Certificate or Passport)
• Proof of address for child (EHCP or 0-25 service plan). Please ensure this is addressed to the child
• If the child who requires a badge is adopted, please provide us with proof of adoption
• Proof of conditions the child may have. See "What supporting evidence do I need to provide with my application?" on this page 

Yes. When applying you should answer the questions on the applicant’s behalf and you must provide your contact details where requested. We will require authority from the applicant for you to act on their behalf so please ensure their contact information is correct.

Your application will be reviewed by our Blue Badge team who will determine whether the application can be progressed to the next stage or if further information is required. Once all required information has been received, it can take up to 12 weeks to process. We will contact you to advise once a decision has been made.

We will always try and complete an application as quickly as possible however further assessment may be needed and we need to allow sufficient time for the assessment to be completed.

Important: If you do not provide the required supporting evidence with your application this could cause further delays.

Once your application has been approved and payment of the fee has been received, we will send your badge for printing. Once printed the badge will be sent to the address provided in the application which can take up to two weeks to be received.  

Applications can take up to eight weeks to process so we recommend you apply to renew at least 12 weeks before your Blue Badge expires

A Blue Badge cannot be extended.

If your badge is due to expire you will need to re-apply for a new Blue Badge. We recommend you apply at least 12 weeks before the expiry to allow sufficient time for the application process and ensure you are not left without a valid Blue Badge.

You can keep using your Blue Badge until it expires or is no longer required however you need to advise us of your change of address by emailing Blue.Badge@southampton.gov.uk so we can update our records.

All applications are assessed upon receipt.

If you qualify under the following criteria further assessment may not be required:

• You are registered severely sight impaired (Blind) or receive one or more of the benefits listed below your application may be approved without further Assessment:
• You receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA),
• You receive 8 or more points in the “moving around” part for Personal Independence Payment (PIP),
• You receive 10 points (Descriptor E) in the “planning and following journeys” part of the PIP,
• You receive the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement,
• You receive a qualifying award under the Armed Forces Compensation scheme.

All other applications applied for under the walking or hidden disability criteria of your application will require further assessment by one of our Expert Assessors who may need to contact you if further information is required.

Please note: you will need to provide supporting medical information for your application.

The supporting evidence you need to provide will differ dependant on your condition / disability. However, examples of supporting information you can provide are listed below:

Important: Please send copies only we cannot return original documents to you.

Terminal Illness

• DS1500 report / SR1 form,
• GP notes print out of diagnosis and medication,
• Consultant reports e.g. Cardiology, Rheumatology etc,
• Prescription *should not be only supporting information provided,

Benefits or Severely Sight Impaired

• Certificate of vision impairment
• DWP DLA certificate of entitlement letter
• Every page of DWP Award letter
• Every page of DWP War Pensioners Mobility Award letter
• DWP DLA certificate of entitlement letter
• Every page of your PIP Award letter
• Original letter from Veterans UK or Service personnel & Veterans Agency (SPVA)

Disability in Both Arms, Walking Disability and Non-Visible (Hidden) Disabilities

• GP notes print out of diagnosis and medication
• Hospital / Consultants / Specialists note print outs / reports
• Diagnosis Report for conditions such as Autism and ADHD
• Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP): reports
• 0 – 25 Service report
• Specialist report e.g. Health Visitor
• Pain clinic reports
• Community Independence Services (CIS) reports
• Any School reports
• Children’s Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) reports
• Social Service reports: Southampton City Council
• Psychiatry or Psychology reports
• Alzheimer’s, Dementia cases hospital reports
• Certificate of vision impairments
• Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) reports
• Profession reports e.g. Physiotherapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT) reports, Jigsaw etc.

If your application for a Blue Badge is declined, you will need to wait six months before you can re-apply unless your condition has deteriorated substantially.

If your Blue Badge application has been declined and you feel this is an error, you have four weeks to appeal the decision. To appeal you should detail in writing the reason you feel your application should be reconsidered and send it along with further supporting medical evidence you have to blue.badge@southampton.gov.uk.

You may qualify for a blue badge, subject to further assessment by one of our expert assessors. Please ensure you provide sufficient supporting medical information when submitting your application to enable them to make an appropriate decision. Failure to provide this information may result in your application being delayed or declined. Further information for the types of supporting medical information you can provide is detailed under the ‘What supporting evidence do I need to provide with my application?’.

To replace an expiring Blue Badge, you must reapply for a new Badge. We recommend you apply at least 12 weeks prior to your badge expiring and provide the necessary evidence to support your application. If you have re-applied and it has been more than ten weeks since you applied, please contact us at blue.badge@southampton.gov.uk with your expired badge number, your full name and address.

To replace an expiring Blue Badge, you must reapply for a new Badge. We recommend you apply at least 12 weeks prior to your badge expiring and provide the necessary evidence to support your application.

Please contact your previous local authority and ask for the badge details to be transferred to Southampton City Council. Once confirmed, please provide us with your new proof of address and send to Blue.Badge@southampton.gov.uk.