North Wales MS calls for “complete overhaul” of blue badge system

A north Wales politician has called for a “complete overhaul” of the blue badge system.

According to Plaid Cymru’s Member of the Senedd, Llyr Gruffydd, the current structure is “unfair and unworkable” for many people with
disabilities.

Regardless of a person’s condition, individuals constantly need to prove their disability during the application process.

This is particularly difficult for people with hidden or dynamic disabilities. Unfortunately, this isn’t just a government matter, but a social one

There are two sources of benefits that individuals with a disability, illness or mental health issue can apply for – the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit for individuals under the age of 16 and is designed to help with mobility and care costs and the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which is an additional benefit to help individuals over the age of 16 with an illness, disability, or mental illness.

The PIP uses a points system which then determines the amount an individual is entitled to. Those who score eight or more points in the ‘Moving Around’ activity of PIP are automatically eligible for a Blue Badge.

Although both benefit and Blue Badge applications are separate, whether or not a person is in receipt of PIP or DLA is considered when applying for a Blue Badge.

Individuals who do not claim PIP need to fill in an additional form explaining why they need the badge.

In a statement in the Senedd Llyr Gruffydd, the regional Senedd Member for north Wales, challenged the Welsh Government to issue a statement outlining a plan to overhaul the system.

He said: “The current system forces individuals to reapply for their blue badges every three years and that is causing difficulty for many.

“There are a high percentage of blue-badge users that have long-term or lifelong conditions, yet they still have to apply every three years for their new badges.

“Why is it that a passport or driving licence only needs to be renewed every 10 years, yet a disability blue badge needs renewing every three years?

“That doesn’t feel fair if it’s a lifelong condition. There’s a further issue with the complexity of the forms that need to be filled out and accessibility issues for applicants to obtain the passport photos needed from photobooths.”

Concerns have been raised by hundreds of members of the disability rights community in North Wales with more than 1600 supporters signing a petition calling on the Government to overhaul the process.

North Wales-based charity Stand North Wales said: “This process can be very frustrating and time consuming for both individuals and their care givers and focus heavily on the negative aspects of an individual’s abilities.”

Llyr Gruffydd added: “Surely, if you have a lifelong condition, then you should be able to get a lifelong blue badge.

“The lived experience of those applying for Blue Badges makes it clear that many struggle to complete forms and re-applying when you have a lifelong condition doesn’t feel right at all.”