The Department for Transport is consulting on how to bring the process for assessing eligibility for blue disabled parking badges in to line with the wider reform of disability benefits announced by the Department for Work and Pensions.
The department’s preferred option for doing this is not expected to significantly affect the overall number of people entitled to blue badges.
Currently, people are entitled to a blue badge if they receive a certain component of the disability living allowance (DLA) that relates to mobility.
The DLA is being replaced by the personal independence payment (PIP), and so the department needs to look at the way the Blue Badge system is administered to ensure a smooth transition when the new benefits structure is introduced.
The consultation (linked to this page) outlines the options under consideration. The department’s preferred option is to ensure decisions are consistent, using the criteria in the new PIP system that most closely correspond to those currently used by local authorities to carry out their own assessments.
The consultation period began on 10 July 2012 and will run until 2 October 2012.