Accepted proofs and photo when applying for a Blue Badge

Any documents you provide must be dated within the last 12 months.

When you apply online you will be prompted to attach either a photo or scanned copies.

If you don’t include documents when you apply you must ensure they are provided within 7 working days or your application will be withdrawn. You can do this by emailing us at bluebadges@solihull.gov.uk or by post to:

Blue Badge Team
Solihull Connect at The Bluebell Centre
Ground Floor
West Mall
Chelmsley Wood
Solihull
B37 5TN

Automatic eligibility

If you are applying due to automatic eligibility you will need to provide:

  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA) award letter that confirms your entitlement to the higher rate mobility component
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) original statement of entitlement letter, including all pages to show the breakdown of points allocated
  • War Pension letter that confirms the mobility component
  • Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI))
  • DS1500 report that confirms your medical condition

Assessed eligibility

If you are applying due to assessed eligibility you should provide medical information that confirms your condition. This could be:

  • Diagnosis/consultant reports
  • a print out of your GP Summary record, this can be obtained from the receptionist at your surgery (this is free of charge as under GDPR and as advised on the NHS website, a patient is eligible to obtain a copy of their GP summary at any time without incurring a fee)
  • Repeat prescriptions

Non-visible (hidden) conditions

If you are applying due to a non-visible (hidden) condition you will need to provide:

Automatic eligibility

  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) original statement of entitlement letter, including all pages to show the breakdown of points allocated

Assessed eligibility

  • A letter of diagnosis, as up to date as possible (preferably within the last 12 months)
  • Evidence of the progression of the condition over time
  • Confirmation of ongoing treatments / clinic attendances, or referral for such
  • Evidence of prescribed medication relevant to your condition
  • Evidence of specialist consultations, or referral for such
  • Your patient summary or summary care records
  • Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
  • Care plans from social care teams
  • Social housing letters / assessment reports from a local authority
  • Letters from other professionals involved in your care
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decision letters
  • Evidence of other benefits received

Organisations

If you are applying on behalf of an organisation you will need to provide the following evidence:

  • A signed declaration on your organisation’s letter-headed paper. The declaration should confirm that you are an organisation concerned with the care of disabled people (who would meet one or more of the eligibility criteria prescribed in the regulations that govern the Blue Badge Scheme) and that you will be using the vehicle solely for the purpose of transporting those people. This should be signed by either a Board Member or Trustee of the organisation
  • Tell us about the number of qualifying people being cared for
  • About the type of vehicle(s) being used to transport them, whether the vehicle is adapted and if so how
  • Provide the vehicle registration number(s)
  • Tell us why you feel you need an organisation badge rather than using individual Blue Badges of people in your care
  • How often the badge is likely to be used and for what purpose

Proof of address

So we know that you have a permanent address in Solihull you will need to provide any of the following documents:

  • Bank statement
  • Council Tax bill
  • Prescription
  • Official letter from an organisation such as a hospital, school or the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)

Proof of identity

So we can check your identity you will need to provide any of the following documents:

  • Certified copy of your birth or adoption certificate (If the name on your birth certificate has changed you will also need to provide proof why (e.g. your marriage certificate)
  • Driving licence
  • Passport
  • Civil partnership or dissolution certificate
  • Marriage or divorce certificate

Photographs

As a photo is added to a Blue Badge you will need to provide a passport photograph. You can view the rules on taking a passport photo at Gov.UK.

For only £7.50 we can take your required photo at our Solihull Connect walk in centres.

Photocopies

We can take photocopies of your Blue Badge evidence at any of our Solihull Connect Walk In Centres free of charge

For documents that are not related to Council services, you can purchase photocopies at the following walk in centres:

  • The Core at Solihull
  • The Bluebell Centre Chelmsley Wood

Photocopy charges:

Photocopy Fee per side
A4 black and white 30p
A4 colour £2.00
A3 black and white 45p
A3 colour £2.40