Registration often makes it easier to get support and practical help. Your local social services or social work department should receive a certification of visual impairment form from the hospital within five days.
A worker should then contact you within two weeks about being added to the register. If you agree to be registered, the date the consultant signed your certification form is the date of registration. The worker should also ask you about your needs and any support you feel would help.
There can be delays between certification and registration. So, if you are having difficulties because of poor sight, remember you are entitled to ask your local social services / social work department to assess your needs, even if you are not yet registered.
More information on getting community care.
Council services for people with sight problems
Specially trained staff, usually called rehabilitation workers (or rehabilitation officers), can support you in a range of activities. This could include getting about safely indoors and out, other skills for daily living such as cooking, and leisure activities. They can also refer you to other services you might need.
These workers may be part of a special team working with people with a sight or hearing loss or based with a local voluntary agency for blind and partially sighted people.
Not every local council employs rehabilitation workers. However, it should be possible to 'buy in' any services that were agreed following the assessment of your need for support.
If you later move into a different area, you should let your new council's social services know that you are registered as severely sight impaired (blind) or as sight impaired (partially sighted). Arrangements can then be made for details of your registration to be transferred to your new local authority.
More about the benefits of registration
Getting proof of your registration
A standardised registration card has been introduced in England. Local councils can issue these to people who choose to register as sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind). The card is not yet in use in other parts of the UK but many local authorities and or local voluntary organisations do issue similar cards.
If your local authority does not issue registration cards, you could ask them for an official letter confirming that you are registered with them, including the date of your registration.
This information gives general guidance only and is not an authoritative statement of the law.
More Information
For advice and help with getting support from your local council, contact RNIB's Helpline (0303 123 9999 / helpline@rnib.org.uk)
If you use a language other than English, please let us know which language. We will try to arrange a telephone interpreting service.
This information gives general guidance only and is not an authoritative statement of the law.