myAberdeenshire Enter search term Search Home Social Care and Health Community care Blue Badge scheme Storm Arwen updates Updates on coronavirus (COVID-19) and council services Blue Badge scheme The Blue Badge Scheme is a national scheme allowing people with severe mobility issues to park close to amenities they would otherwise have difficulty accessing. The scheme helps you travel independently, as either a driver or a passenger. Badge holders can park free at on-street parking meters and in pay and display bays; on single and double yellow lines (unless there is a ban on loading or unloading), or anywhere a disabled parking sign is displayed. We, your local authority, issue Blue Badges to eligible applicants and we are responsible for administering the scheme. Transport Scotland is responsible for the legislation setting out the framework for the scheme and supports local authorities to deliver the scheme. Eligibility Apply for a Blue Badge Cost of a Blue Badge When will you get our Blue Badge Blue Badge application scam When your Blue Badge expires Lost, stolen or damaged Blue Badges Blue Badge online services Blue Badge fraud or misuse Rights and responsibilities Contact us Eligibility Eligibility for a Blue Badge is mainly for those people who have severe mobility problems. Some people can get a Blue Badge automatically, others may need more assessment. Assessment for a badge relates directly to your ability to walk or having a disability in both arms. A badge won’t be granted on the basis of age or the need to have a wider space to fully open a car door. You’ll automatically qualify for a badge, under the no further assessment rules, if you, or the person you’re applying for, can answer yes to any of these questions: Do you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and has this been awarded indefinitely? Do you receive the mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at eight points or more in the Moving Around activity, or 12 points in the Planning and Following Journeys activity? Are you registered blind? Do you receive a War Pensioner’s Mobility supplement? Do you receive a benefit under the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation scheme? You must provide award letters with your application as proof of your entitlement to benefits. You may still qualify for a discretionary badge, under the further assessment criteria, if you answered no to all of the above questions. You may be invited to go to a clinic appointment where you need to demonstrate you meet certain criteria to qualify. A Blue badge can be awarded for one to three years depending on your mobility problems. Organisational Blue Badge A Blue Badge may be issued to an organisation that cares for and transports disabled people who would themselves meet one or more of the eligibility criteria for an individual Blue Badge; and has a clear need for an organisational badge rather than using the individual Blue Badges of people it is transporting. Please contact the Blue Badge team for an application form. Do not apply on-line for an organisational badge. Risk in Traffic Scheme To be eligible for a Blue Badge under this part of the scheme, you must: be aged three years or over have no awareness of danger from traffic and be likely to compromise your safety, or the safety of others, as a result of a diagnosed mental disorder or cognitive impairment There’s a separate application form for this scheme. It is open to those who qualify and can provide evidence and support from a healthcare professional (not a GP) or a registered Social Worker or a teacher. Please contact the Blue Badge Team if you wish to find out more. Apply for a Blue Badge The quickest and easiest way to apply for a blue badge is online. You can check your eligibility and apply online for all badges, except the Risk in Traffic Scheme and organisational badges. Apply for a Blue Badge online You can also apply by calling 03456 08 12 08 or by completing an application form (these forms are also available at some of council offices): Automatic application form (pdf 74KB) - if you meet the automatic entitlement criteria Discretionary application form (pdf 85KB) - depending on further assessment criteria Organisational application form (pdf 58KB) - if you’re applying for a vehicle used to transport disabled people Risk in Traffic scheme application form (PDF 93.2KB) - if you have no awareness of danger from traffic You must provide the following when applying for a Blue Badge: proof of identity eg birth certificate or passport proof of address dated in the last 12 months eg utility bill proof of your entitlement to DLA, AA or PIP a recent passport-style photograph of the person applying It may be helpful if you provide medical evidence in support of your application such as copies of prescriptions, or medical letters you may have. View Blue Badge privacy notice (pdf 38KB). You can take these documents to your nearest council office where they’ll be copied and returned to you. Or you can post then to us with your application form. Cost of a Blue Badge We charge £20 for each badge issued in Aberdeenshire. All badges cost the same regardless of how they are issued (automatically, after further assessment, to an organisation or under risk in traffic scheme). The charge is requested when a badge is approved for issue. Don’t send payment with your application. When will you get your Blue Badge You should get your badge in ten working days, if you automatically qualify and provided all the information we need to process your application. Normally, it may take up to twelve weeks to get your badge if you needed more assessment to qualify. Your badge will be posted to you, if your application is approved. Blue Badge application scam We are aware that there are scam websites offering to help people apply for a blue badge and charging up to £49. These websites ask you to complete an application online, with up-front payment, which you may think is being sent to Aberdeenshire Council, but Aberdeenshire Council does not receive the application form or the fee from these websites. Applicants who have used these scam sites have reported that their application does not exist and their money has been lost. We don’t ask for payment up-front. We charge £20 for each successful application. If you have any doubts about a website or your application contact us for help and advice. When your Blue Badge expires If your application is successful, a blue badge can be awarded for a period of up to three years. Aberdeenshire Council does not send reminders when your badge is due to expire, therefore you should take note of the expiry date on your badge and apply up to 12 weeks before it is due to expire. Please make sure you apply in plenty of time. It is an offence to use an expired badge. All applications are assessed under the current eligibility criteria as provided by Transport Scotland. Lost, stolen or damaged Blue Badges If your Blue Badge is lost, stolen or damaged contact us or report it online. Badges can be replaced for a charge of £20. So we can cancel the badge we need details about how it was lost, stolen or damaged. If you find a Blue Badge please return it, stating where you found it, to: Aberdeenshire Council, PO Box 18533, Inverurie AB51 5WX. Blue Badge online services You can also do the following online: change or cancel a saved application report a lost or stolen badge and get a replacement change the details on your badge and order a replacement if your name has changed Blue Badge fraud or misuse If you suspect someone is misusing a Blue Badge you can report it to us online. Try to gather as much information as possible, for example serial number of the badge, where the vehicle is parked. Using stolen or fake blue badges, or allowing a family member or friend to use a badge without the badge holder in the vehicle, is fraud. Committing blue badge fraud can result in a fine of up to £1,000. Rights and responsibilities You can find out about your rights and responsibilities as a Blue Badge holder in Transport Scotland's leaflet - The Blue Badge scheme: rights and responsibilities in Scotland. The leaflet also gives useful information about using the Blue Badge in the UK and abroad. Contact us For more information about the Blue Badge scheme please email bluebadge@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or call 03456 08 12 08. You can also write to us: Aberdeenshire Council, PO Box 18533, Inverurie, AB51 5WX. If you would like to speak to someone in person about a Blue Badge enquiry, you can visit one of our offices: Banff Benefit Office, Town House, Low Street, Banff, AB45 1AY Fraserburgh Benefit Office, Faithlie Centre, 1 Saltoun Square, Fraserburgh, AB43 9DA Huntly Service Point, 25 Gordon Road, Huntly, AB54 8AL Inverurie Benefit Office, Gordon House, Blackhall Road, Inverurie, AB51 3WA Peterhead Service Point, Buchan House, St Peter Street, Peterhead, AB42 1QF Stonehaven Benefit Office, 16-22 Allardice Street, Stonehaven, AB39 2BR Turriff Service Point, Towie House, Manse Road, Turriff, AB53 4AY Offices are open Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 5pm. Share this information Share this page on Facebook Share this page on Twitter Share this page on LinkedIn Was this page helpful? 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