Financial support for parents

RNIB has partnered with Max Card, a discount card for families of children with a disability. Max Card offers free or reduced-price entry to venues and activity providers across the UK. We distribute Max Cards free to families of children and young people with vision impairment (subject to availability). If you are the parent/carer of a child or young person with VI and would like to apply for a free Max Card, all you need to do is:

1. Email [email protected]
2. Write ‘Max Card’ in the subject line
3. Check your inbox (and your junk folders) for our reply

Find out more about the Max Card

Sometimes, there are extra costs to having a vision impairment, such as paying for specialist equipment, replacing damaged items after knocks or slips and extra time and travel to appointments. Benefits can cover some of these extra costs. You may be able to claim:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
• Carers’ Allowance

In Scotland, these are replaced by:

• Child Disability Payment (CDP)
• Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
• Carer Support Payment (CSP)

The applications processes can be quite specific in what they request. Read our “Benefits for Children” guide Need help with the application, checking entitlements, or challenging a decision? Contact RNIB Helpline: [email protected]

Taking a break and support for carers

Families may be able to access free or subsidised specialist activities in their local area. Parents of children with multiple or complex needs may also be entitled to practical help with caring so that they can take a break.

Find out more about short breaks and shared care

Carers Trust

Carers Trust supports unpaid carers such as parents and young carers such as siblings.

Carers Trust | Transforming the lives of carers

Direct payments

Local authorities may offer direct payments so families can buy their own therapies, respite support or childcare.

• Each local authority has its own process and rules.
• You will usually need a referral from a social worker.

You can refer yourself through your council’s social services or ask a professional who knows your child to make a referral for you.

There are different concessions available for children and young people with vision impairment.

Healthcare

You may be able to receive help with medical costs through the NHS.

Help with NHS costs for people with vision impairment

Transport

Support with transport depends on an individual’s needs. Some schemes are provided across the UK, whereas others are locally based.

Concessions may include:

• Bus passes
• Disabled Persons Railcard
• Blue badges

Find out more about travel concessions

Parents may also be able to access:

• Healthcare or Hospital Travel Costs Schemes. For more information, search for the name of your country and “Healthcare Travel Cost Scheme”.
• Road Tax exemption or reduction.
• Motability vehicles (age 3+)
• Family Fund mobility support vehicles (under 3s)

TV licence fee reduction

Households with a child certified as Severely Sight Impaired can get a 50 per cent off TV licence fee if the licence is put in their child’s name.

Find out more about the TV licence fee reduction

Entry to venues

Venues and attractions often provide concessions and other accessibility support for anyone with vision impairment.

Check out leisure concessions

Alongside benefits and concessions, families can apply for grants to help with costs such as toys, equipment, holidays or household items that benefit the child and make caring easier.

Please check each grant’s eligibility criteria with the organisation providing it before you apply.

Grants for children and young people

• The Powell Family Foundation – non-means-tested grants for specialist assessments, professional support, therapies, equipment, and activities
• Family Fund – grants for lower-income families, providing anything from computers to holidays to washing machines.
• The Amber Trust – music therapy, instruments, and lessons, as well as specialist music resources for children aged 0-18 based on age and ability:
• VICTA Parents –low-cost early years sensory packs for children aged 0-5
• Guide Dogs Tech for All – assistive or sensory equipment

Grants at any age

• The Disabled Facilities Grant – home adaptations and renovations for accessibility, for example installing lighting, improving access to rooms and landscaping outdoor areas.
• Carers Trust – grants and links to other support.
• RNIB grants – specialist equipment for people on a low income.
  Grants from other organisations

When applying for financial support, you may be asked to provide documents such as:

• Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI)
• A letter of vision impairment or diagnosis
• Supporting letters and reports from professionals
• A diary of observations from a parent or carer

Keeping a folder of original documents throughout a person’s life can help demonstrate whether their needs have changed or remained consistent over time, as well as what their needs may be at the time of application.

Only send copies of any documents when evidence is required.

Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI)

This document provides evidence that someone is:

• Sight Impaired (SI)
• Severely Sight Impaired (SSI)

Eligibility for financial support can vary dependent on the two categories of certification.

Find out more about Certification and Registration

Alternatives to a CVI

Children under 16 in Scotland may be on the Visual Impairment Network for Children and Young People (VINCYP) pathway and so are unlikely to have a CVI. Parents can also choose not to have a CVI issued or an eye health professional may not be able to issue one. In these cases, other forms of evidence may be used.

Letter of vision impairment or diagnosis

You can ask for a referral letter from a high street optician or hospital eye clinic.

This letter may include:

• a diagnosis or details of an observed but undiagnosed vision impairment
• details about any needs related to the vision impairment

This letter can support applications for services, benefits, concessions and grants.

Support from professionals

Applications for financial support often require a supporting letter from a professional. This letter may confirm that:

• a particular type of specialist equipment or support is needed
• the equipment or support can’t be provided by the local authority or sensory service.

Professionals may also

• provide copies or summaries of their reports
• apply for grants on behalf of a family or alongside a parent or carer.

Keeping a diary of observations

A brief diary may help you understand and communicate your child’s behaviours and establish their needs.

You may want to record:

• time and date of the activity
• what your child struggled with and why
• what your child could access and how
• how long they took part in the activity
• how much they could do independently
• the kind of support, if any, your child responded to
• signs of fatigue and when they started
• your child’s own comments or behaviours related to their vision

It’s important to record positive and negative observations. For example:

• a child saying, “I can see this”
• is just as important as a child saying, “This is making me dizzy”.
• Some parents or carers may want to log everything for two to four weeks. Others might prefer to track specific activities over a longer time.