Money, benefits and finance

If you're blind or partially sighted, there are many helpful benefits and support available to make life easier.

Our advice can help guide you through the rules and regulations of the benefits, concessions and grants you could be entitled to. We also have handy tips on how to manage your finances independently when you have sight loss.

Cost of Living

Many people do not claim the benefits to which they are entitled. Given the current cost of living crisis, RNIB wants to make sure that that all blind and partially sighted people are maximising their income through this route, along with accessing any other financial help that is available.

Research from the Department of Work and Pensions confirms that some 63 per cent of eligible people over state pension age and 52 per cent working age people do not claim all their means-tested benefit entitlement. The result of this is that some £15 billion is left unclaimed in means-tested benefits every year.

We also know that many blind and partially sighted people could meet the threshold for health/disability related benefits which are not means tested, such as Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance for children.

Our advice can help guide you through the rules and regulations of the benefits, concessions and grants you could be entitled to. We also have handy tips on how to manage your finances independently when you have sight loss.

Further information including accessing our benefit calculator, moving to Universal Credit, reducing debt repayments and where to get additional support can be found in our Cost of Living factsheet.

• Cost of Living factsheet (Word)

Our Accessible banking factsheet offers information on how to manage your money via telephone banking, mobile banking, in branch and online as well as advice on keeping your account secure:

• Accessible banking factsheet (Word)

In response to the crisis the government are making extra payments to people who are entitled to certain benefits or tax credits to help with the cost of living. You do not need to apply for Cost of Living payments, if you are eligible, you will be paid automatically in the same way that you usually receive your benefit or tax credits. Further information on the payments including who is eligible, when they will be paid and how they affect people who receive tax credits can be found in our factsheet:

• Cost of living payments FAQs (Word)

For help with any of the benefits and support detailed in this and other factsheets, please contact our Advice Service on 0303 123 9999 or email [email protected].