Financial Benefits and Entitlements for Registered Sight
Impaired / Partially Sighted
Extra personal income tax allowance
You will not qualify for this allowance
Additional income support benefit
You will not qualify for this allowance
Exemption from ‘non-dependents’ deductions from income
support
You are not entitled to this benefit
Other Department for Work and Pensions benefits
You may be entitled to other benefits such as:
- Income support (if you are under 60 and on a low income)
- Attendance Allowance (if you are 65 or over)
- Disability Living Allowance (if you are under 65)
- Carers Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit
- Pension credits (60 or over)
- Tax credits
For further information contact your local Department for
Work and Pensions (DWP), Citizens Advice
Bureau, welfare rights officer or rehabilitation officer.
Additional housing benefit
You may be entitled to this benefit. You should apply to
your local council benefit section.
Exemption from ‘non-dependents’ deductions from housing
benefit
You may be entitled to this benefit. You should apply to your
local council benefit section.
Council Tax benefit
You may be entitled to a reduction in the amount you
pay. Enquiries should be directed to the Council Tax
office independently.
TV license at reduced cost
You are not entitled to a reduction. However, TV
licenses are now free for everyone over 74 years. This applies
to any household where one member is 75 years or older, regardless
of their medical condition.
You may be entitled to a radio, radio/cassette or
CD/radio/cassette player on a free permanent loan. Information
is available from your rehabilitation officer or from
the British Wireless for the Blind
Fund .
Postage concessions
There is a free postage scheme for people registered as sight
impaired/severely sight impaired or sight impaired/ partially
sighted called Articles for the Blind. For more information contact
your local rehabilitation officer. Full details of the scheme and
labels are available from the
Royal National Institute for the Blind.
Telephones
You may be entitled to financial assistance from us towards the
cost of installing a telephone. This is given in cases which meet
the criteria for the Chronically Sick and
Disabled Persons Act 1970. Applications are subject to an
assessment of need.
Telephone for the Blind Fund
You are not entitled to this fund.
Free Directory Enquiry service
BT offer a free Directory Enquiry service to people who cannot
use the telephone directory. You are entitled to this service.
Details are available from British
Telecom or your rehabilitation officer.
Bus passes
You are entitled to a disabled/older persons bus pass, this
allows free travel after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day
Sat/Sun. See Transport -
Concessions.
Disabled persons car badges
You may be eligible if you have an additional disability. See
our pages on the Blue Badge scheme for
further details.
Disabled persons Rail Card
You are entitled to this service. Enquire at any manned station
or obtain an application form from:
Disabled Persons Railcard Office
PO Box 163
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE12 8WX
Tel: 0845 605 0525
Textphone: 0845 601 0132
Some Councils in England will pay the rail card fee. Ask your
local Rehabilitation Officer. See Transport - Concessions for more
information.
Free eye tests
Advise your optician that you are registered sight impaired /
partially sighted in order to be exempt from the NHS eye
examination fee.
You can contact the rehabilitation officer via the Social Care Teams.
