Britons of state pension age suffering from eyesight conditions are being encouraged to verify if they qualify for an additional £101 a week through Attendance Allowance.
This benefit, which pays either £68.10 or £101.75 per week, is available to those with physical or mental health conditions.
Those who may be eligible include individuals with cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, or diabetic retinopathy. As reported by the Daily Record, as of February 2023, there were 45,612 recipients of this benefit who have an eye condition.
Additionally, those on this benefit may also qualify for extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or a council tax reduction.
The list of sight loss conditions supported through disability benefits includes diseases of conjunctiva, cornea, eyelids and lacrimal apparatus, uveitis, glaucoma, visual injuries to the eye, vitreous disease, diseases of the retina and optic nerve, retinitis pigmentosa, retinopathy – other/type not known, cataract, refractive errors, disorders of eye movement, and visual field defects.
However, if a person’s condition is not listed, it doesn’t mean it’s not supported. Attendance Allowance assists with additional costs if a person has a severe physical or mental disability or illness that makes self-care difficult – it does not cover mobility needs.
A claimant does not need to have someone caring for them in order to claim.
If you have a disability or illness and require assistance or supervision throughout the day or during the night – even if you are not currently receiving that help, you might want to consider applying for Attendance Allowance.
You may also wish to apply if you struggle with personal tasks. Attendance Allowance is not solely for individuals with a physical disability or illness.
These are common health issues affecting eyesight that are being supported through disability benefits, but if a person’s condition is not listed, it doesn’t mean it’s not supported.
Diseases of conjunctiva, cornea, eyelids and lacrimal apparatus
- Conjunctiva, cornea, eyelids and lacrimal apparatus – Other diseases of / type not known
- Corneal ulceration
- Entropion
- Herpes zoster – ophthalmic
- Keratitis
- Keratoconus
- Orbital cellulitis
- Ptosis
- Scleritis
Uveitis
- Anterior Uveitis (iritis)
- Chorioretinal disorders – Other / type not known
- Posterior (choroiditis)
Glaucoma
Visual injuries to the eye
Vitreous disease
- Posterior vitreous detachment
- Vitreous disease – Other / type not known
- Vitreous haemorrhage
Diseases of the retina and optic nerve
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Hypertensive retinopathy
- Macular degeneration
- Optic atrophy
- Optic neuritis
- Retina and optic nerve – Other diseases of / type not known
- Retinal artery occlusion
- Retinal detachment
- Retinal vein occlusion
- Retinitis Pigmentosa
- Retinopathy – Other / type not known
- Cataract
Refractive errors
- Astigmatism
- Hypermetropia (long-sighted)
- Myopia (short-sighted)
- Presbyopia
- Refractive errors – Other / type not known
Disorders of eye movement
- Eye movement – Other disorders of / type not known
- Nystagmus
- Strabismus (Squint)
Visual field defects
- Amblyopia
- Cortical blindness
- Diplopia (double vision)
- Hemianopia
- Quadrantanopia
- Scotoma
- Tunnel vision
- Visual field defects – Other / type not known.
