Claiming benefits if you are vision impaired and aged 16 or over
It’s important to make sure you get all the financial help you may be entitled to.
If your claim is successful, your money can be paid directly into your bank account and it will be backdated to the date of your initial application.
Depending on your condition and circumstances you could be entitled to these benefits.
Are you?
16 or over in full time education:
- Personal Independence Payments
- Disabled Student’s Allowance – Designated higher education courses
- 16-19 Education Bursary fund
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit – University Students living away from home
- Employment Support Allowance
16 or over not in education and not working full time:
- Personal Independence Payments
- Employment Support Allowance
- Job Seekers Allowance
- Universal Credit
16 or over in work:
- Personal Independence Payments
- Access to Work
- Blind Person’s Allowance
- Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
- VAT Relief to buy products specifically designed for people with a disability
Depending on your condition and your circumstances these are the main benefits that vision impaired young people could be entitled to:
- Personal Independence Payments (PIP) – provides a contribution towards the extra costs you face in order to live a full and active independent life. How much you receive is based on how your condition affects you and not the condition itself
- Employment Support Allowance (ESA) – if you are unable to work due to your disability
- Access to Work – aims to help disabled people start or stay in work including moving to self-employment or starting a business. It can provide practical and financial support if you have a disability or long term physical or mental health condition claiming Access to Work does not affect your other benefits
- Blind Persons Allowance – if you are in employment you can earn up to £2,320 more before you start paying income tax on the top of your personal allowance
Benefits can be confusing
If you would like some advice please speak with one of RSBC’s specialist benefits advisers, we can also help you complete the application forms and help you to challenge any decisions.
If you are a parent or guardian or vision impaired yourself and aged 16 – 25 then please call 020 3198 0225 or email connections@rsbc.org.uk
You may also like
No categories April 22, 2025
Running for Sharn and Maya
With the London Marathon fast approaching, we spoke to runner Hannah to find out why she wanted to raise funds for RSBC.
No categories April 14, 2025
Nick’s path to the London Marathon
This April, Nick will be running the London Marathon for RSBC. We sat down with him to find out why he wanted to run for us, and learn a little bit more about his journey so far.
No categories April 9, 2025
Running for Albie
Albie was born with severe sight impairment, having been diagnosed when he was 4 months old. His mum and dad, Abbie and Lewis, are both running the 2025 London Marathon to raise funds for RSBC – the first time that two parents of a child supported by the charity have run together at this famous […]
No categories March 28, 2025
Mother’s Day: our CEO shares her story
Happy Mother’s Day to everyone celebrating! In recognition of this special day, we sat down with our CEO, Julie, to hear about her relationship with her daughter, Saime, who is registered blind.
No categories March 20, 2025
What our young poets have to say this World Poetry Day
We were delighted to host two workshop sessions with renowned poet Dave Steele recently, and they certainly fired up the imaginations of the young people who attended! We’re pleased to be able to showcase the incredible talent that came out of the workshops in the beautiful poems written by those attending below.
No categories March 10, 2025
RSBC’s 5 key reforms to support young people into work
The government has just announced plans for a major shakeup of the welfare system, with £6bn of proposed cuts. Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are a lifeline for many people in our community. We understand the system needs reform, and that tough times can call for tough measures. But cutting back on PIP without making it […]
No categories March 7, 2025
Dorton College careers day: giving our students the confidence to shine
Too often, young people living with a vision impairment aren’t given the career opportunities they deserve. That’s why RSBC’s Dorton College hosted a careers day recently, inviting external speakers to inspire our students and help provide them with the tools they need to enter the world of work.
No categories March 5, 2025
Gary O’Donoghue’s win at the RTS Television Journalism Awards
Each year, the Royal Television Society hosts the Television Journalism Awards, celebrating the most prestigious change-makers in the British journalism space.
No categories March 4, 2025
Young people unlock their imagination at The Blind Poet’s workshops
Dave Steele, popularly known as The Blind Poet, is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning poet, author, speaker and singer – and an advocate for people with vision impairment.
No categories March 3, 2025
Helping young people be heard: RSBC’s Youth Voice Strategy Day
Recently, RSBC’s Youth Forum, Young Ambassadors and members of the RSBC team came together for a Youth Voice Strategy Day at our Life Without Limits Centre in London. The mission was simple: young people were tasked with coming up with their own objectives and create a roadmap for the future, which would help RSBC identify […]
