Main heading

Extra personal income tax allowance

You will not qualify for this allowance

Additional income support benefit

You will not qualify for this allowance

Exemption from ‘non-dependents’ deductions from income support

You are not entitled to this benefit

Other Department for Work and Pensions benefits

You may be entitled to other benefits such as:

• Income support (if you are under 60 and on a low income)
• Attendance Allowance (if you are 65 or over)
• Disability Living Allowance (if you are under 65)
• Carers Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit
• Pension credits (60 or over)
• Tax credits

For further information contact your local Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Citizens Advice Bureau, welfare rights officer or rehabilitation officer.

Additional housing benefit

You may be entitled to this benefit. You should apply to your local council benefit section.

Exemption from ‘non-dependents’ deductions from housing benefit

You may be entitled to this benefit. You should apply to your local council benefit section.

Council Tax benefit

You may be entitled to a reduction in the amount you pay. Enquiries should be directed to the Council Tax office independently.

TV license at reduced cost

You are not entitled to a reduction. However, TV licenses are now free for everyone over 75 years. This applies to any household where one member is over 75 years regardless of their medical condition.

British Wireless for the Blind Fund

You may be entitled to a radio, radio/cassette or CD/radio/cassette player on a free permanent loan. Information is available from your rehabilitation officer.

Postage concessions

There is a free postage scheme for people registered as sight impaired/severely sight impaired or sight impaired/ partially sighted called Articles for the Blind. For more information contact your local rehabilitation officer. Full details of the scheme and labels are available from the RNIB.

Telephones

You may be entitled to financial assistance from us towards the cost of installing a telephone. This is given in cases which meet the criteria for the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970. Applications are subject to an assessment of need.

Telephone for the Blind Fund

You are not entitled to this fund.

Free Directory Enquiry service

BT offer a free Directory Enquiry service to people who cannot use the telephone directory. You are entitled to this service. Details are available from British Telecom or your rehabilitation officer.

Bus passes

You are entitled to a disabled/older persons bus pass, this allows free travel after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day Sat/Sun. See Transport - Concessions.

Disabled persons car badges

You may be eligible if you have an additional disability. See our pages on the Blue Badge scheme for further details.

Disabled persons Rail Card

You are entitled to this service. Enquire at any manned station or obtain an application form from:

Disabled Persons Railcard Office
PO Box 163
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE12 8WX 
Tel: 0845 605 0525
Textphone: 0845 601 0132

In some districts the local District Council Office will pay the rail card fee – enquire locally.

Free eye tests

Advise your optician that you are registered sight impaired / partially sighted in order to be exempt from the NHS eye examination fee.

You can contact the rehabilitation officer via the Access Teams.