Applying for a Blue Badge - Proof you'll need if you are not 'automatically eligible'

Following the October 2024 PPG network meeting, we raised this issue at the Joint Partnership Board (JPB)/Transport Accessibility and Inclusion Working Group meeting on 21 October 2024.

We wanted to be clear about what information was needed for the Council to make a decision on granting a Blue Badge, why the process took so long in some cases and why there was no way for residents to speak directly to the Council's Concessionary Travel Team, to clear up any queries.

Based on the responses we have received from Haringey Council, and our own research, we have set out some tips for applying for a Blue Badge. This is not exhaustive, as for some people who are not automatically eligible, the process can be complex and time-consuming. 

If you have difficulty applying for a Blue Badge, please let us know. We can pass on your comments to the Council's Concessionary Travel Team.

Share your story

I do not automatically qualify - what proof do I need?

You'll either need a letter from an expert assessor or the council may accept a medical record printout from your GP for context and then the Council can appoint an occupational therapist (Whittington Health Trust) to assess and report on your physical mobility.

What is a medical record printout from my GP?

A medical printout, which should be obtained free of charge from your GP, may help explain your disability if no other health professionals are involved. This should be a comprehensive GP medical printout report. The Council has written to GPs asking them to provide these when requested for a Blue Badge application.

The medical printout typically includes the following information:

• Patient information: Patient's name and date of birth 
• Medical conditions: Details of any medical conditions, including how long the patient has been treated, if they are still being treated, and the patient's current condition
• Medications: Details of any prescribed medications, including allergies and reactions
• Test results: Results of any tests arranged by the GP surgery 
• Immunisations: Details of any vaccinations the patient has had 
• Appointment notes: Notes from any appointments at the GP surgery 
• Letters: Letters sent to the GP from hospitals or specialists 
• Lifestyle information: Lifestyle information that may be clinically relevant, such as whether the patient smokes 
• Personal information: Personal information, such as the patient's age and address 

What is a certified expert assessor?

The government sets out some of the medical professionals who may be certified expert assessors (not your GP).

These include, but are not limited to:

• Clinical Psychologist
• Educational Psychologist
• Gastroenterologist
• Neurologist
• Occupational Therapist
• Physiotherapist
• Psychiatrist
• Rheumatologist
• An expert assessor can also be the consultant or medical specialist who saw you for hospital appointments in relation to conditions affecting your mobility.

What does the Council require from an expert assessor?

The Council would like to see the expert assessor's diagnosis outcome letter which should be sent to the patient and the GP following referral and consultation. The letter should outline the condition/disability, severity, and treatment plan. There is no need for Blue Badge applicants to obtain a special report which may come at an additional cost.

What if I don't have access to an expert assessor, for example, if I have been discharged from hospital care, and am no longer in touch with my healthcare professional?

The Council's Concessionary Travel Team states:

"Input from an applicant’s own GP may be considered helpful where it contextualises the applicant’s lived experience of their disability in the absence of input from other suitably qualified health or social care professionals. Local authorities can choose to accept evidence from GPs in support of applications, where there is a medical diagnosis and there is no longer an expert assessor/healthcare professional involved in the patient care and provided this is not the only source of evidence that is used to determine the eligibility of a Blue Badge application." Email from Concessionary Travel Team, 9 January 2025

What is an acceptable timeframe for an eligible person to receive a Blue Badge?

The DfT suggests that the process should take no longer that 12 weeks. However in Haringey the Concessionary Travel Team aim to process a signed and fully completed application form submitted with the required supporting documents in 30 working days.

How can I contact the Concessionary Travel Team direct by phone or email, if I have questions over what documentary evidence is required?

The Blue Badge processing team are based in Customer Services. Residents who wish to discuss matters related to Concessionary Travel directly can contact Customer Services on 020 8489 5715. 

There is an online form for Blue Badge queries.