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Summary: Information about registration as sight impaired or severely sight impaired.

Why register?

Registering with your local council can make it easier to get practical support from your social services department. It can also be a ‘passport’ to getting concessions and benefits, such as travel, parking and TV licence concessions.

Registration is voluntary but it can help you get the support you need.

Getting registered

If you are having problems with your sight, you should visit a high street optician (optometrist) or your doctor for a check-up. If necessary, they can refer you to an eye clinic for an appointment with an ophthalmologist (eye specialist).

A consultant ophthalmologist can assess whether you qualify for registration as either:

  • sight impaired (partially sighted)

or as

  • severely sight impaired (blind).

If they think you do qualify, the ophthalmologist will complete a certificate of vision impairment and send it to your local social services department. Social services will then contact you to find out what help and advice you need, for instance developing skills to help with remaining independent or with everyday tasks such as cleaning and cooking, keeping in touch with friends and family, or with transport.

As well as helping you get support with doing everyday tasks, becoming registered as blind or partially sighted entitles you to travel and other concessions such as the Disabled Person's Railcard and local travel schemes. If you are registered as blind, you are also entitled to a tax allowance worth £1,730 in 2007-08, free NHS sight tests, parking concessions and free postage on some items.

Find out more about the benefits of registration.

Can I get help even before I register?

If you are having difficulties because of your sight problem, it is important that you let social services know, and to ask for information and support at an early stage. Getting help and advice when difficulties first emerge can make all the difference to your independence.

The optician can also give you an information guide called the Low Vision Leaflet (LVL) which has details of where to get information, advice and help. The LVL has a tear-off form you can fill in and send to social services to ask for support. Getting help if you have a sight problem gives more information about this.

You are entitled to ask for a social care assessment of your needs by social services. You do not have to wait till you are registered.

Contact RNIB Helpline (helpline@rnib.org.uk or 0845 766 9999 / 020 7388 2525) for details of how to get in touch with your local social services (some callers may find it cheaper to call us on a landline, so we have detailed both 08 prefixed numbers and landline equivalents where available).

Further information

RNIB Social Care Advocacy
105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE
Telephone: 0845 766 9999 / 020 7388 2525

Email: SCGrants@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.

Find out about :

This information gives general guidance only and is not an authoritative statement of the law.

For professionals

Information for local authorities about the standardised National Registration Card.

Return to Your rights hompage.

Content author: brit@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13

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