Apply online
You can apply online on the GOV.UK website.
You will need to pay Oldham Council a £10 administration fee.
Payment
You can pay the £10 administration fee online or by calling the Blue Badge or Payment teams.
Online:
- Online payments - (select Blue Badge Service from miscellaneous payments)
Telephone:
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
- Payment Team: 0161 770 6611
- Blue Badge Team: 0161 770 1222
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
You will automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are aged 3 or over and one of the following applies:
- You receive the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the higher rate.
- You receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with a score of 8 or more under the ‘moving around’ category.
- You receive the mobility component of PIP and have been awarded 10 points specifically for descriptor E under the ‘planning and following a journey’ category, on the grounds that you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress.
- Note: If you have 10 points under descriptor D, or 12 points under descriptor F, you may still be eligible, but you do not automatically qualify.
- You receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement.
- You have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1–8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability that causes considerable difficulty walking.
- You are registered as blind (severely sight impaired).
- You have been issued with an SR1 form due to a life-limiting illness.
If you do not meet the above criteria, you may still be eligible for a Blue Badge if one or more of the following applies:
- You have an enduring and substantial disability that makes walking impossible or very difficult.
- You drive regularly and have a severe disability in both arms, making it very difficult to operate parking meters.
- You experience very considerable difficulty while walking during a journey, including overwhelming psychological distress.
- You are a significant risk to yourself or others while walking during a journey.
- You have a child under the age of 3 with a medical condition that means:
- They must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment, or
- They must be kept near a vehicle in case they need emergency medical treatment.
Organisations that care for or transport disabled people may also be eligible for a Blue Badge. There must be a clear need for an organisational badge, rather than using the individual badges of those they transport.
Getting Attendance Allowance (AA) does not automatically mean you can get a Blue Badge. But if you have problems with walking, you can still apply and your situation will be looked at.
Blue Badges are not given just because you have a certain condition or disability. You can apply if:
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You can’t walk,
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You find walking very difficult, or
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Walking puts you or others at risk because of a physical or hidden (non-visible) disability.
Each application is looked at based on the person’s individual needs and circumstances.
How long will it take?
Due to current demand, applications will take approximately 12 weeks to process.
Please ensure you submit as much evidence as possible with the application to avoid delays.
Apply by post
If you live in Oldham you can request a paper copy of the Blue Badge application form be posted out to you.
Request a paper copy Blue Badge application form
The completed form should be returned, with the supporting documents and payment, to the address below:
Blue Badge Team:
Oldham Council Offices
Spindles Shopping Centre
West Street
Oldham, OL1 1LF
Supporting Documents
You will need to provide evidence to support your Blue Badge application:
Photograph
A recent passport-style or digital photograph of your head and shoulders. This can be taken on a mobile phone and emailed to the Blue Badge Team. If sending a printed photo, please write your name and date of birth on the back.
Filtered digital photos are not allowed and will be rejected.
Proof of identity
Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage, civil partnership, or divorce certificate
- Valid driving licence
- Valid passport
If you send original documents, you will need to collect them from the Customer Service Centre at the Spindles Shopping Centre once your application has been processed.
Proof of address
You can provide one of the following, dated within the last 12 months:
- A recent council tax or utility bill
- A letter from a government department (e.g. DWP or HMRC)
- A valid driving licence (if not already used as proof of identity)
Alternatively, we can verify your address using Council Tax or electoral roll records if you are registered.
Relevant medical evidence to support your application
Examples of the types of evidence that can be provided are:
- Recent consultant letters
- Care plans
- Full EHC plans
- Diagnosis letters
These should be as up to date as possible and show how your condition or disability affects your mobility.
If you are in receipt of PIP or DLA, we can verify your eligibility directly with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Re-apply for your Blue Badge
Existing badge holders will receive a reminder 5 weeks before their badge expires. If you provided an email address with a previous application, the reminder will be sent by email.
If an email address was provided, you will also receive a separate reminder from the Department for Transport approximately 12 weeks before the expiry date.
Blue Badge applications are currently taking around 12 weeks to process, so don’t wait for the reminder to reapply. To avoid delays, please include as much supporting evidence as possible with your application.
Blue Badge Holders – Rights and Responsibilities
A booklet explaining where and when you can use your Blue Badge is included with your new badge.
You can also find this information online at:
- The Blue Badge scheme: rights and responsibilities - gov.uk website
Lost, stolen, damaged or expired badges
Lost Badges
If you lose your badge, it is stolen, or damaged, you will need to report this to us via the GOV.UK website
- Replace Blue Badges - gov.uk website
You will need to pay £10 for the replacement badge and it will be issued with the same expiry date. If your current badge expires in less than 3 months, then you should re-apply instead.
Stolen badges
If your badge has been stolen you will need to contact the police and obtain a crime reference number.
Damaged badges
If your badge has been damaged, you will need to return the badge to us before a replacement will be issued.
- Replace damaged Blue Badges - gov.uk website
Returning a Blue Badge
If you find a badge, please return it to the Blue Badge Team at the address above, or take it to the Customer Services Centre in the Spindles Shopping Centre. We will arrange for it to be returned to the badge holder.
If you have reported a badge as lost or stolen and later find it after a replacement has been issued, you must return it to us immediately so it can be securely disposed of. Badges that have been reported as lost or stolen are no longer valid, and a fine may be issued if they are found in use.
Expired badges remain the property of Oldham Council and should be returned to us as soon as they expire so they can be securely disposed of.
If a badge holder has passed away or no longer needs the badge, it should be returned to us as soon as possible along with a short note explaining why. This helps us update our records and securely dispose of the badge.
Misuse of a Blue Badge
If you suspect that someone is misusing a Blue Badge, please contact the Blue Badge Team with the badge number, details of the person using it, and your reasons for believing it is being misused. All reports will be treated confidentially.
Blue Badges are for the exclusive use of the badge holder. It is an offence to use, or allow someone else to use, another person’s badge when they are not present. The maximum fine upon conviction is £1,000.
To help prevent and detect fraud, we may share information with other Government departments in accordance with the Counter Fraud privacy notice.