Department of Transport Blue Badge Consultation Opens

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 bringing the process in line with new legislation is not expected to significantly affect the overall numbers 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 published today 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 is now available on the DfT website at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-30/ and will run until 2 October 2012.