Benefits - Severely Sight Impaired or Blind
Extra personal income tax allowance
You are entitled to this allowance. You should apply to your
tax
office - proof of registration will be required.
Additional income support benefit
You may be entitled to this benefit. Apply to the local
Department for Work and
Pensions (DWP).
Exemption from ‘non-dependents’ deductions from income
support
You may be 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 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 need to be directed to the council
tax office independently.
TV license at reduced cost
You are entitled to a 50% reduction in the cost of your TV
licence. However, TV
licenses are now free for everyone over 74 years. This applies
to any household where one member is 75 years old or older,
regardless of their medical condition.
British Wireless for the Blind Fund.
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. For more details please
also see the British Wireless for the Blind Fund
website.
Postage concessions
There is a free postage scheme for people registered as sight
impaired/severely sight impaired 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 of Blind People (RNIB).
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 may be entitled to assistance with line rental charges
and /or installation. Further information is available from the
charity Telephones for the Blind.
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 bus pass that will allow free travel on
buses within England at any time of the day. You
should contact your local rehabilitation officer. If you hold 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 are eligible for a disabled persons car badge, applications are
available from your local community services office. See
Car Badge Scheme.
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.
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. See Transport -
Concessions for more information
Welfare Rights
You can contact a rehabilitation officer via the
Social Care Team if you need
further advice on Welfare Benefits.
