Information
The Blind Pension is a means-tested payment paid to blind and visually
impaired people who are habitually
resident in Ireland. The payment is made by the Department of Social
Protection. To qualify for the Pension you will be required to have an eye test
by an opthalmic surgeon (paid for by the Department) to verify your visual
impairment.
The payment is made up of a personal rate for you and extra amounts for a
qualified adult and any child dependants (see 'Rates' below). If you are
awarded a Blind Pension, you may also qualify for the Blind
Welfare Allowance paid by the HSE.
You will automatically get a
Free Travel Pass
and a Companion Free Travel Pass. (A Free Travel Pass allows you to travel on
State public transport in Ireland for free. A Companion Free Travel Pass allows
your companion aged 16 or over to also travel for free). You may also qualify
for other benefits such as the
Living
Alone Increase and the
Household
Benefits Package.
Blind Pension is a taxable
source of income.
Rules
If you are blind or have a serious visual impairment prior to reaching 18
years, you should make your claim 4 months before your 18th birthday. (If you
are aged 16-18, you may qualify for Disability Allowance.)
If you become blind or seriously visually impaired after your 18th birthday,
you should apply as soon as the condition arises. This is important as
payment can only be made from the date when your application is
received. If you require full-time care and attention, the person
looking after you may qualify for a Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit.
You can earn €120 per week from rehabilitative employment before these
earnings affect your payment. If you have been receiving a Blind Pension for at
least 12 months, you may be eligible for the Back to Work
Allowance
Since June 2006, if you are in rehabilitative employment and have a weekly
income above €120 and below €350 a week, a tapered 50% withdrawal rate will
apply.
The means test
The main items that are counted as means include:
- Any cash income that you or your spouse/civil partner/cohabitant may have
- The value of savings, investments, shares, land etc.
- Any property you may have
- Maintenance paid to you if you are deserted, separated or a civil partner
not living with the other civil partner.
The following items are not counted as means:
- Your own home
- A payment from the Department received by another member of the household
- The value of the first €20,000 of capital assets (e.g. savings)
- Money received from a recognised charitable organisation (excluding
public or local authority)
- The maintenance element of a higher education grant paid in respect to
you, a qualified adult or child dependant(s) for certain courses
- Income up to a certain limit from rehabilitative employment
- Income from rehabilitative training
- Domiciliary Care
Allowance
- Child
Benefit, Supplementary
Welfare Allowance or allowances paid by Health Service Executive (HSE)
in respect of children who are placed in foster care or with relatives by
the HSE
- Mobility
Allowance from the Department of Health
Appealing a decision on your claim
If you are unhappy with a decision made about your claim for Blind Pension,
you can appeal against it. Find out more about the social welfare appeals
process.
Rates
Blind Pension maximum weekly rates in 2012
How to apply
To apply fill in application form (BP1)
for a Blind Pension (pdf). A braille and audio cassette tape version of
this application form is also available from the National Council for the Blind of Ireland. This
application form is also available from your local social welfare office. Staff
in your local social welfare office will be happy to provide assistance in
completing the form and can answer any questions you may have.
You are also required to attach the following certificates with your claim
for Blind Pension (this will help avoid delays in processing your claim):
- Your full birth certificate
- Your marriage certificate (if appropriate)
- Birth certificates for dependent children (if you are claiming child
dependant allowance and you are not receiving Child Benefit for these
children).
You can obtain copies of these certificates from the Registrar of
Births, Marriages and Deaths. (Photocopies of your original certificates
are not acceptable).
Where to apply
Your completed application form (together with the above certificates)
should be returned to the Department of Social Protection at the following
address:
Department of Social Protection
Social Welfare Services
College Road
Sligo
Ireland
Tel:(071) 915 7100
Locall:1890 500 000
Homepage: http://www.welfare.ie/
You can email the Blind Pension section using the secure Blind
Pension enquiry form.