Can I claim for Blind Person’s Allowance?
Blind Person's Allowance is an allowance that is added to your tax-free Personal Allowance and increases the amount of income you can earn each year before you start paying tax.
You can claim Blind Person's Allowance:
England and Wales - if you’re registered with your local council as blind (severely sight impaired) and you have a certificate (or a similar document from your doctor) that says you’re blind (severely sight impaired).
Scotland and Northern Ireland - if you cannot do work for which eyesight is essential and you have a certificate that says you’re blind or severely sight impaired (or a similar document from your doctor).
If you are on a low income, or you don't pay any tax, you can transfer the Blind Person's Allowance, or part of it, to your spouse or civil partner - even if they are sighted. If both you and your spouse or civil partner qualify for Blind Person's Allowance, you can both claim an allowance. Please note that means tested benefits, such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit, assess entitlement using net income (income after tax is deducted). As such, increasing net income by reducing the amount of tax paid, could reduce or remove any entitlement to means tested benefits. If the customer is concerned about this, please refer to a tax adviser within RNIB’s eye care advice service.
To claim, call HM Revenue and Customs on 0300 200 3301. Further information on how to claim can also be found on the Blind Persons Allowance page of the GOV.uk website and on RNIB's Tax advice webpage.
For further information on registering sight loss and the eye sight criteria for registration see How do I register as sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind)? and What is the eye sight criteria for a certificate of vision impairment (CVI)?
