A brief guide to benefits and concessions
Benefits
Information is available on the full range of benefits in the booklet "Sick or Disabled". This can be obtained from your local social security office, disability services, visual impairment library service and Bury society for the blind.
There is no pension or benefit to which you are automatically entitled if you are registered as blind or partially sighted. However, the following is a list of social security benefits and allowances that you may be able to claim:
- Attendance allowance;
- disability living allowance;
- invalid care allowance;
- disability working allowance;
- income support;
- housing benefit;
- council tax benefit;
- war pension.
Financial Assistance towards NHS costs, i.e. new glasses, is available to people on Income Support or low income (request form HC11). For more details contact:
Benefits Agency,
Humphrey House,
Angouleme Way,
Bury, BL9 0BQ.
Telephone 0161 762 2000.
Concessions
If you are registered partially sighted you are eligible for the following concessions.
- Free NHS sight test. You must be registered, on certain benefits (see benefits agency leaflet HC11), have glaucoma or diabetes. Tell your optician before you have the test.
- Low vision aids. Ask your consultant or request referral to consultant via your GP
- Free postage on items marked articles for the blind. For braille items or recordings like talking books, but not personal tapes or letters.
- Free directory enquiry service. Telephone 195 for details and an application form.
- Exemption from library charges. Ask at your local library.
- Concessions on rail travel. Pick up a leaflet from disability services or your mainline station.
- Transport. Ring and ride is a door to door accessible bus service. Users pay a standard flat fare equivalent to normal bus fares. Concessionary and free fares are available to those holding the appropriate passes. Telephone: 0161 764 1999
If you are registered blind you are eligible to the following concessions in addition to those for partially sighted people.
- TV licence discount. A discount of 50% on the TV licence on providing proof of your registration.
- Free permanent loan of a radio cassette player and TV sound receiver. Contact Bury society for the blind.
- Disabled car badge scheme. Contact Disability Services.
- Travel concessions. Free bus pass or taxi voucher scheme. For further details a leaflet can be obtained from disability services or Bury society for the blind.
- Income tax relief. For further details contact the inland revenue at:
9-11 Minden Parade,
Bury,
BL9 0QN.
Telephone 0161 705 4400.
