A Blind Person’s Allowance is a benefit you can get if you are blind. Indeed, you would be able to receive this amount before Income Tax. Furthermore, if both you and your partner are eligible, both of you will be able to receive this benefit. The amounts you can get vary from year to year. Your Benefits will tell you all you need to know about Blind Person’s Allowance.
What is Blind Person’s Allowance?
Blind Person’s Allowance is a tax-free allowance. Indeed, it is an amount you can receive before having to pay Income Tax. You would be able to receive more money on your Personal Allowance.
Your Personal Allowance is an amount you are able to receive yearly, before Income Tax.
Both you and your partner may be eligible for Blind Person’s Allowance. Then, both of you will be able to receive payments. Furthermore, you are able to transfer your allowance. More specifically, you may do so to your civil partner or spouse.
You can transfer your allowance. More specifically, you may do so for multiple reasons. First, this may be the case if you do not pay taxes. Second, it may also be true if you are able to use the entirety of your allowance because you get a high enough income.
How to qualify for Blind Person’s Allowance
You may be able to claim Blind Person’s Allowance. In fact, for this to be the case, a couple of things needs to be true for your situation. However, your conditions depend on where you live.
If you live in England or Wales, a couple of things need to apply. More specifically, both of the following:
- You are registered as severely sight impaired or blind;
- You have a certificate that indicates that you are indeed blind or severely sight impaired. If you do not have a certificate, a similar document from your doctor will do.
If you live in Northern Ireland or Scotland, two conditions need to apply to you in order for you to be eligible. More specifically, two of the following:
- You have a certificate that indicates that you are blind or severely sight impaired. If you do not have a certificate, a similar document from your doctor will do;
- You are unable to engage in work where eyesight is required.
How much is Blind Person’s Allowance?
The rates for Blind Person’s Allowance change every year. Indeed, the Blind Person’s Allowance rates for 2020/21 are different from the 2021/22 rates, etc…
The rates are published by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) every year. They are released along with tax rates. They include the current year and past year’s tax rates.
| Blind Person's Allowance 2021/22 and 2022/23 yearly amounts | |
|---|---|
| Tax year | Blind Person's Allowance amounts |
| 2021 to 2022 | £2,520 |
| 2022 to 2023 | £2,600 |
How to claim Blind Person’s Allowance
The claiming process for Blind Person’s Allowance is pretty straightforward. Indeed, you may only claim this benefit by phone. More specifically, you will need to contact His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Can I transfer my allowance?
You may be able to transfer your Blind Person’s Allowance. In fact, you can do so if you either are not paying taxes, or cannot use all of your allowance. Then, you may transfer your allowance if the following situations apply for you:
- You are in a civil partnership or married;
- You currently live with your civil partner or spouse ;
- Your civil partner or spouse is or is not blind.
Your partner does not need to be blind in order to be able to transfer the allowance to them. Additionally, you are able to transfer the allowance even if you do not live with your civil partner or spouse. However, then, a couple of things needs to apply.
Furthermore, you may still be able to transfer your allowance, even if you do not reside in the same place as your partner. Indeed, this is likely the case if you cannot live with them for one of the following reason:
- Your education or training;
- Because you are currently in prison;
- Because of your posting as an armed forces;
- From you having to work away from your home;
- Because of old age or an illness. An example of this can be if your partner currently resides in a residential home.
How can I transfer my allowance?
If one of the conditions above apply to you, you may be able to transfer your allowance. Then, you would then be able to do so to a civil partner or spouse. More specifically, you would be able to do so through one of two methods. You can either use form 575, or phone His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Additionally, you may be able to transfer any Married Couple’s Allowance that you receive. Furthermore, you may be using form R40 to get tax back on savings. Indeed, this could also be true if you are trying to get tax back on investment interest. Then, you can ask for form 575 on form R40 by filling in the relevant checkbox.
Lastly, you may need to be provided the form in an alternative format, like Braille. If this is the case, you can contact His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), and ask for one.
What benefits can I get if I am registered blind?
You may be registered blind. If this is the case, you could receive additional benefits. For example, you may be able to receive Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit or things like a Disabled Person’s Railcard. This is true if you are unable to work due to being blind.
If you are blind and unable to work, you would then likely qualify for the support group. Then your rates would be different. More specifically, they are as follows for each:
| Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) amount by group in 2022 | |
|---|---|
| ESA Group | Possible maximum weekly amount |
| Work-related activity group | £74.70 |
| Support group | £114.10 |
If you are placed in the work-related activity group, you will be eligible for a lower weekly amount. However, you will be assigned a work coach, who will help you find work. Indeed, you will construct a Claimant Commitment with them. This will outline what you need to do in order to continue to receive this benefit.
Can I get Universal Credit?
If you are eligible for Blind Person’s Allowance, chances are that you are working. However, you could be out of work. Then, you may be eligible for Universal Credit. Universal Credit is a monthly benefit that can help you cover living costs. However, if you live in Scotland, this benefit is paid bi-monthly.
Universal Credit is a benefit that is replacing a number of other benefits. However, it is not replacing Blind Person’s Allowance.
Note that you may qualify if you are 16 or 17 years old. Additionally, you may reside in European Economic Area, European country or Switzerland. If this is the case, you may still be eligible for Universal Credit.
Can I get the Disabled Person’s Railcard?
If you are blind, you may be eligible to receive the Disabled Person’s Railcard. With it, you could receive a discount of one-third off your train fares. This is for tickets for travels across all of Great Britain.
The Disabled Person’s Railcard is £20. Furthermore, you will be able to make up for the price of the card in a few trips. Additionally, you can buy a 3-year railcard for £57, saving you £6, when compared to the price of 3 individual railcards.
I receive universal credit and pip,I have all sorts of illnesses,I have been told I am blind in my left eye and the right I is is has only 40 percent in that,I am house bound at the moment and need some help,could you give me some advice.
Hello,
You could likely get Blind Person’s Allowance.
Hope this helps,
Robin
You got a very good website, Glad I detected it through yahoo.
Hello,
Thank you! I am also glad you were able to find this article. Hope that the information was helpful to you!
Have a good day,
Robin
I am partially sighted i get attendance allowance would I still be able to get pip or any other benefits even if my husband works
Hello,
You cannot receive this benefit if you already get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and vice versa. Indeed, this is because all 3 benefits fulfill the same purpose for different age groups. As such, if you get Attendance Allowance, you cannot get PIP. However, you may be able to get other benefits.
Hope this helps,
Robin