Key

B

Registered Severely Sight Impaired/Blind

PS

Registered Sight Impaired/Partially Sighted

FOR ANY REGISTERED PERSON

ADVANTAGE

ELIGIBILITY

Can be transferred to partner. From April 2006

this is £1,660. Apply to your Tax Office. Priority claim

Number 0845 9000 444

Blue Disabled Car Parking Badge

B

People who are not registered Severely Sight

Impaired/Blind must have considerable difficulties

with walking apart from their visual impairment.

Ring Warwickshire County Council Blue Badge

Department on 01926 410410

Reduction on cost of TV licence

B

Half cost of licence. Anyone can apply to be

licensee including children. See tvlicensing.co.uk

Ring 0844 800 6790

Disabled Persons Railcard

B or PS

Costs £18.00 for a year and leads to discounts of 1/3 off for

yourself and an adult companion. Show registration card when buying tickets. Application forms (large print) and booklet

“Rail Travel made Easy” on website Disabled Persons Railcard

Country Wide Bus Pass
From 1st April 2008, the scheme was extended with government funding to provide completely free bus travel throughout the country.

In addition, if you are so disabled that you cannot travel alone you can obtain a pass which allows someone to travel with you.

The district and borough councils within Warwickshire are responsible for the provision of free bus passes to eligible residents.
For information about the passes please click on the appropriate link below.

North Warwickshire Borough Council
Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council
Rugby Borough Council
Stratford on Avon District Council
Warwick District Council

B or PS

Exemption from Directory Enquiry Charges

B or PS

Ring 195 or forms available from WAB

Leisure Concessions

B or PS

Low Vision Aids (such as magnifiers)

B or PS

Available through NHS hospital eye departments

Permanent loan of radios and CD Players

B or PS

Supplied by the British Wireless for the Blind Fund

via WAB to people who need one

Free postage on items marked

B or PS

Applies to items specifically for visually impaired people,

e.g. Braille, talking books and talking newspapers

Disability Discrimination Act

B or PS

If you think you have been treated unfairly, ring RNIB

for details: 08457 669999

Council Tax Disability Reduction

B or PS

If you have a room set aside to meet needs related

to your disability. Ask your local council

 RNIB/British Gas 'Here to Help'

B or PS

Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance

B or PS

These are not automatic entitlements but many people

who are visually impaired are successful in claiming.

They are not related to your income or savings but for

people on a low income it can sometimes lead to an

increase in other benefits. Ask your local CAB or ring the

Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 882200

FOR PEOPLE ON LOW INCOMES

Registration can enable you to raise funding from

various charities for equipment that you can’t otherwise

afford, or to deal with an emergency. Charities will

ask for details of income and savings.

Registration as Severely Sight Impaired/Blind (or

Sight Impaired/Partially Sighted if receiving DLA

middle care rate or AA) may increase the amount

you receive and/or lead to people qualifying for these

benefits who narrowly missed before registration

because:

v If you are under 60 registration can lead to a

Disability Premium

v If your benefit has been reduced because there is

an adult non-dependant (e.g. a son) living with you,

it should be reinstated as a result of registration

v If your partner is getting the AA or DLA middle

care rate you may be able to claim the Severe Disability

premium if you are Severely Sight Impaired/Blind

v If your child is registered Severely Sight Impaired/Blind

you can claim the Disabled Child Premium. Ask at your

local CAB or ring Benefit Enquiry Line 0800 882200

Additional Child Tax Credit

B

A Disability Element is payable if you have a child who is

registered Severely Sight Impaired/Blind OR receiving

DLA. Ring Tax Credit helpline on 0845 300 3900

Income Support – exemption from having to sign on
People of working age who are registered as
Severely Sight Impaired/Blind are not required to sign on
(unless you are working part time)

Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit if you are a student
If you are registered as Severely Sight Impaired/Blind and
you are a student you may be able to claim these benefits
which are not available to other students. Contact RNIB
Student Support for more information about support for
visually impaired students on 0207 388 1666

B

Access to Work
Ask at your local Job Centre about special equipment,
readers and help with the cost of travel to work. Or ring
RNIB Employment Network on 08457 669999

Working Tax Credit
For people working more than 16 hours a week on a low
income. Ring the Tax Credit helpline on 0845 300 3900

Free NHS Sight Tests
Tell the optician about registration before your sight test

Free NHS Prescriptions
Pensioners and people on low incomes don’t have to pay
prescription costs anyway but younger people who have
difficulties with leaving their home without the help of
another person can also claim free prescriptions.
Ask for form FP92A from your surgery or pharmacist or
ring 0845 850 1166

Incapacity Benefit
For people who are unable to work. Registration as
Severely Sight Impaired/Blind gives you exemption from the
Personal Capability Assessment (IB50). Ring 0800 882200
For a claim pack