In the past 5 years, Citizens Advice has seen a 115% increase in the number of people asking for help with applying for a Blue Badge. Introduced in 1971, Blue Badges allow disabled people to park closer to their destination, park on yellow lines for a period of time and get free parking in some places. The Badge is linked to the individual, so people can use it in any car, whether they’re driving or a passenger. This is a lifeline for people with mobility issues or other disabilities such as sight impairment.
Government data shows that there has been a 23% increase in the number of people issued a Blue Badge between 2019 and 2023. However, the increase in people seeking our support for this issue is far higher. Read our blog to find out which 2 main problems may explain the trend.