suction of a tracheostomy tube: It is recommended that local authorities treat each application for children under the age of three as a special case. This will help the authority to provide greater transparency to applicants and to demonstrate that correct procedures have been followed in event of a complaint. Non-essential cookies are also used to tailor and improve services. It is recommended that a badge is awarded once an applicants mobility starts to be affected in a way that meets the eligibility criteria. 2012/309 (W. 50)) for circumstances in which an appeal to Welsh ministers will be considered. They are also issued with an annual uprating letter, stating their entitlement. The Welsh Government aims to use appropriate language in line with the social model. If possible no other person should be visible in the photograph. 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. Local authorities should also keep a record of the procedures used and the outcome of applications. 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). A Spica cast can be either plaster or fibreglass and will encase the child from the chest down to cover one leg or both. Consideration may need to be given to cross-referencing an applicants reported experience of pain with the healthcare professional evidence and information they provide about their permanent and substantial disability, details of medication they take, coping strategies they have adopted and any courses of treatment designed to help them manage their pain. Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can follow the link provided here to tailor your experience, or accept all and continue on this page. The local authority will require additional information to support this claim. 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. 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. You should reapply 12 weeks before your badge expires. You are Registered blind or have a severe sight impairment. Wherever possible the onus is on the applicant to provide supporting evidence. Local authorities may wish to consider that the badge may only be sent out to the Blue Badge holders address which could be a care home, as this is the address used to conduct a residency check. No pavement or road is absolutely flat therefore a degree of incline and decline should be considered in the course of a mobility assessment. complaints. With certain restrictions, a blue badge enables the holder to park: Free of charge at a parking meter or pay-and-display bays. This training covers the following topics: The Disabled Persons Parking Badges Act 2013 (the 2013 Act) supported by the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 provides local authorities with further powers to take enforcement action against abuse and misuse of the scheme. Whenever misuse or abuse of a badge is suspected, the enforcement officer should deal with the badge holder in a sensitive manner. Please note that some police forces will only issue an incident number when there is evidence that a crime has taken place. emphysema, heart conditions, etc.) This carries a penalty of a fine of up to 5,000 and/or up to 12 months imprisonment on summary conviction. You can follow the link provided here to tailor your experience, or accept all and continue on this page. When making an application, organisations could be asked to provide the same type of information required by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for licensing a vehicle under the Disabled Passenger Vehicle (DPV) taxation class for exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)). In those circumstances, it is recommended that the photograph is certified by a person, other than a partner or family member of the applicant, who has known them for a minimum of two years and is 18 years or over. It also reduces the potential for fraud through multiple applications. Most local authorities have an internal fraud investigation team to consider council tax / benefit fraud etc. First published: 1 May 2017. It is recommended that proof of address be provided in the form of an original council tax bill bearing the applicants name and address. 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. Badge holders should be made aware that by continuing to use the badge in these circumstances they will be committing a criminal offence and be liable for a fine up to 1000. 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. You will need to re-apply for a Blue We use cookies on this site to enhance the user experience. Parking badges for people with impairments from countries outside the EU vary in design and it would be hard for local enforcement officers to verify their authenticity; inspection of a badge would be advisable where there is doubt. Welsh Government provides funding to local authorities to cover the cost of the Blue Badge through the Revenue Settlement Grant. Where badges are subsequently reported as stolen by badge holders, some authorities will request the badge holder provides a crime investigation number (issued by the police), before providing a replacement. Local authorities may not wish to charge for replacement badges if there is evidence that the badge has been stolen, for instance where the badge holder has reported the theft to the police and provides the authority with a police incident number. As part of their role, it is important that there is effective communication between the teams that issue Blue Badges and those that conduct on-street parking enforcement. Local authorities may require the return of a badge from a resident where another local authority issues the same person with a badge and both badges are valid at the same time (Footnote 18). Local authorities may not wish to charge for replacement badges if there is evidence that the badge has been stolen, for instance where the badge holder has reported the theft to the police and provides the local authority with a police incident number. Local authorities are responsible for the day-to-day administration and enforcement of the scheme. Each applicant for an individual badge will be asked to supply a passport-size photograph to be scanned into the BBDS. For example, if a person can walk relatively normally with the use of a walking stick, then they should not be considered as meeting the criteria to be eligible to receive a Blue Badge. Below is a summary of the powers which local authorities may use: In cases where an applicant makes a fraudulent application (i.e. When you When you are eligible for a Blue Badge. If a badge holder relocates to a new local authority it is the responsibility of the badge holder to inform the issuing authority of the change of address. The badge holder has to re-apply every time their badge expires. If the person regains their mobility or it substantially improves during the issue period of the badge they should surrender the badge as outlined in the rights and responsibilities Booklet they receive when they are issued with their badge. Common examples of organisations that may be eligible include residential care homes, hospices or local authority social services departments that transport groups of people who would meet the eligibility criteria for an individual Blue Badge. However more than one organisational badge can be held by a single organisation, depending on the number of vehicles they use and the number of people in their care who are eligible for a badge. Applications made under the temporary eligibility category will need to be subject to a robust assessment process. Healthcare providers are likely to be a good source of evidence to help the local authority to determine eligibility for a Blue Badge. While many blue badge-holders may be self In all cases, entitlement depends on the applicants difficulty in walking. You'll need some information to apply or re-apply for a Blue Badge. This is often very difficult for local authorities to prove, even when they know it is happening. Healthcare professional evidence should be used to form the basis of this decision. Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 introduced a Public Sector Equality Duty which requires public bodies - including local authorities - to have due regard to the need to: This Duty came into force on 6 April 2011. See regulation 9(1)(f) of the 2000 regulations. The declaration needs to say that they are an organisation concerned with the care of eligible people and that they will be using the vehicle solely for the purpose of transporting those people. The scheme provides a national arrangement throughout the UK of on-street parking concessions for people who experience the greatest barriers to their mobility when seeking to access community based facilities. Applicants who can walk more than 80 metres (87.5 yards) and do not demonstrate very considerable difficulty in walking through any other factors would not be deemed as eligible. The rightful owner can take action to recover the goods through the civil courts. The length of time that an applicant is able to walk for. In all circumstances, badges must be issued to the organisation and not to individual employees. Local authorities are responsible for delivering the Blue Badge scheme and providing a service and information to people who want to apply for a Blue Badge. Respect for the individual and privacy of gender history are of paramount importance and it is recommended that a Gender Recognition Certificate not be requested as proof of identity. It is recommended that local authorities include declarations at the end of the application form for the applicant to review and sign. The intelligent use of cross-checking existing council records may identify information to support an application under the subject to further assessment walking criterion. This ensures that civil enforcement officers and the police checking the validity of badges displayed in vehicles are able to check badge details. In Wales, a badge is issued in bilingual format along with a clock. extremely slow pace and / or their manner of walking). Each local authority will wish to consider its own training and procedures for enforcement officers employing the new powers. It is used to monitor where a child may need access to oxygen, Casts and associated medical equipment for the correction of hip dysplasia: between birth and six months of age, a brace called a Pavlik Harness can be used to hold the babys hips in position. See regulation 4(2) of the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (Wales) Regulations 2000 (S.I. Use our checker to find out if you are eligible for a Blue Badge. In the majority of cases there is no statutory appeal process after the local authority has decided to turn down an application (Footnote 9). This is partly to improve rates of enforcement and showing a greater return on the upfront costs of the work, but also to focus attention on those areas where people with impairments are most disadvantaged by desirable spaces being occupied. We follow guidance set by the Welsh Government but they do not have the power to intervene in the assessment of individual cases. See regulation 8(2) of the 2000 regulations. The Disabled Persons Parking Badges Act 2013 allows civil enforcement officers to retain a badge which is suspected of being abused or misused. Disabled rail passengers face restrictions at one in 10 stations If the applicant applies for a further badge after their temporary badge expires the local authorities should assess their mobility in the normal way, including if necessary referral to the IAS. 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. Local authorities procedures for administering the Blue Badge Scheme need to incorporate the Blue Badge Digital Service (BBDS). You do not receive War Pensioners Mobility Supplement. Applications in these cases must be able to confirm they have a diagnosis of a cognitive impairment. The discretionary criteria relating to mobility and cognitive impairments enable applicants who are unable, or choose not, to apply for DLA or PIP to have an opportunity to apply for a Blue Badge. GOV.WALES uses cookies which are essential for the site to work. Such locations include commuter hubs, colleges, stations, shopping centres, sports grounds and entertainment venues, or anywhere that parking is in high demand. Sheffield City Council incorrectly assessed people for disabled blue badges, says an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. People who may be issued with a badge without further assessment are those who are more than two years old and fall within one or more of the automatic eligibility descriptions below. See regulation 9(1)(e) of the 2000 regulations. Whether the effort of walking presents a danger to the applicants life, or would be likely to lead to a serious deterioration in their health. 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. It is for the local authority to decide whether they will accept only originals or certified photocopies of documents. The BBDS has an on-line facility to allow a badge holder to notify their local authority of a lost or stolen badge. Applicants must give their consent to sharing any personal information for a secondary purpose under the UK General Data Protection Regulations . Please note, we do not accept cheque, cash or postal orders. Non-essential cookies are also used to tailor and improve services. This kind of approach may require some joined up working with private land owners or developers as without this local authorities are not empowered to enforce the scheme off-street. There are cases where an applicant will have been diagnosed with a condition that is permanent and chronic, but the condition may be subject to fluctuations and periods where the person is more mobile. You can follow the link provided here to tailor your experience, or accept all and continue on this page. It is important that there is effective communication between issuing departments and parking enforcement teams or other enforcement agencies. Local authorities should consider developing a range of tools and techniques to deal with different types of offenders and different types of offences. Making use of their specialist skills and resources can enable the enforcement operation to better target their attention, improving success rates. This could mean your local council may not be able to process applications: If you reapply for a Blue Badge your local council should reply to tell you about the situation in your area. Local authorities need to develop their own procedures setting out circumstances when applicants can re-apply and include this advice in their letters. Local authorities in Wales are responsible for licensing these sites; and deciding, through the conditions that they impose, whether tenants are able to use the site address as their principle address. We use cookies on this site to enhance the user experience. Some councils have paper application forms or can help you with your application. A person can be convicted of forging or copying a blue badge and/or using that forgery/copy under this Act. A common theme among some authorities that have had success in this area is involving other departments and other agencies. Local authorities are responsible for checking that applicants have provided relevant and sufficient evidence in support of their application. This includes taxis and hire cars that you're driving, or travelling in as a passenger. This is considered to be good practice because a badge holder is less likely to falsely claim that a badge has been stolen if required to formally report this to the police. Badge holders can travelas either a driver or passenger, and are allowed to park close to their destination. Youll also need a photo or scan of your: proof of identity (such as a birth certificate, passport or driving licence), proof of address (such as a Council Tax bill or government letter), your National Insurance number (if you have one), the details of your current Blue Badge (if youre reapplying). This would be a cost to the local authorities, Welsh Government do not provide additional funds for this. An applicant may have undergone a related functional assessment with a different council department or health provider and this should be checked when disclosed during an assessment. If there is a further challenge this should be considered by an independent person within the local authority such as the Monitoring Officer. You might have to pay to use off-street car parks, such as: In cases where it is clear that the applicants impairment will improve within 12 months the application should be rejected without further assessment. Photographs do not need to be provided for organisational badges. It is important in assessing eligibility for a Blue Badge that the assessment process correctly identifies people who require a Badge to overcome the barriers they face in accessing services. Eligibility. Please call 01792 637366 to explain the circumstances. You do not receive Personal Independent Payment (PIP) with a score of 8 points or more for moving around or 12 points for planning and following a journey. In accordance with the Equality Act 2010, local authorities should provide information about the scheme bilingually and in accessible formats on their website and at locations that are accessible. Applicants must be made aware that in order to be issued with a badge they will need to provide evidence in support of their application. (In summary if a badge has been refused following a conviction.). 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. Applicants applying through Gov.UK can check their eligibility on-line. WebThe Blue Badge is linked to you rather than a vehicle, so you can use it with any car. Youll need a recent digital photo showing your head and shoulders. From six months and over a child can be placed in a Spica cast after surgery. Youll need a recent digital photo showing your head and shoulders. Local authorities have discretion to charge a fee of up to 10 for an organisational or replacement badge. 13. If they wish to appeal against their PIP award, then they should be directed to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Open all Who automatically gets a Blue Badge Who else could get a Blue Badge Visit GOV.UK to check your eligibility and apply for a Blue Badge. Indeed, the badge holder may not know the third party is using the badge. To aid the inspection process, a gender marker has been added to the badge serial number. Indefinite or life awards are still subject to review, and therefore older award letters may not be reliable indicators of whether a person currently has an award of HRMCDLA. 17. 11. 15. The photo should be recent and show the applicants face clearly. 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