Blind Welfare Allowance

Blind Welfare Allowance is a means-tested payment from the HSE to people who are blind or have a visual impairment. You must qualify for the allowance.

You apply for the allowance through your local health office.

Contact your local health office if you have any questions about your application.

To qualify for the allowance

To qualify for Blind Welfare Allowance you must:

be age 18 or older
live in Ireland and intend to live here for more than 1 year
meet visual impairment criteria
provide evidence of your visual impairment
pass a means test

You may qualify for Blind Welfare Allowance if you meet the visual impairment criteria and are getting:

the Blind Pension from the Department of Social Protection
another qualifying social welfare payment - for example, Disability Allowance
a similar social welfare payment from another country

Meet visual impairment criteria

To meet the visual impairment criteria your:

best vision must be equal to or less than 6/60 in the better eye
widest area of vision must be no more than 20 degrees across if you have limited field of vision

Provide evidence of visual impairment

If you get the Blind Pension from the Department of Social Protection, you do not need to confirm your visual impairment.

If you do not get the Blind Pension, confirm your visual impairment by providing either:

a report from an ophthalmic surgeon or ophthalmic physician
a letter from Vision Ireland

Request a letter - vi.ie

Pass a means test

Blind Welfare Allowance is a means-tested payment. We look at payments you and your partner get.

You need to provide proof of any:

payments you get
property you own
capital, savings and investments
government welfare or education schemes

We also ask you to list children age 23 and under who are dependent on you.

To apply for the allowance

To apply for the allowance, you must use the Blind Welfare Allowance application form.

Blind Welfare Allowance application form (PDF, 323 KB, 29 pages)

If you want the application form in Braille contact HSE Live.

Freephone: 1800 700 700

Complete the Irish version of the form

Liúntas Leasa na nDall - foirm iarratais (PDF, 516 KB, 29 pages)

Complete the form

You need to:

complete the form by hand or using your computer
print and sign the form
post or deliver the form and supporting documents to your local health office

If you need help to complete the form, contact your local health office or Citizens Information Centre. They can send you the form or help you complete the form.

Provide all the documents we ask for

You need to send us:

proof of income - including 3 months of up-to-date bank statements for all your accounts
your PPS number

If you do not have a PPS number, you can apply to get one.

Getting a PPS number - citizensinformation.ie

After you send your application

We will write to you:

when we get your application to tell you we received it
after we assess your application to tell you if you qualify for the Blind Welfare Allowance

If you do not qualify

If you do not qualify for Blind Welfare Allowance, you can:

appeal our decision
apply again if your situation changes

Your local health office can help you.

Making an appeal

If you are in residential care

If you get the Blind Welfare Allowance and you go into residential care, you will still be paid. But you must continue to meet the qualifying conditions.

If you do not already get the allowance you can apply for it if you:

are in residential care
go into residential care

You must meet the qualifying conditions.

Rates

Blind Welfare Allowance rates are:

€76.96 per week for an adult
€4.40 per week for each dependent child

How we pay

We pay the Blind Welfare Allowance into your bank account. The payment may be made weekly, fortnightly or monthly. This depends on your local health office.

If your situation changes

You must tell your local health office if:

you leave the country for 3 weeks or longer
there are changes in circumstances that may affect your eligibility - for example, if your income changes
your contact or payment details change

Local health offices