Up to £407 extra every month is available for state pensioners with poor eyesight. Older people who suffer from one of 45 eye conditions could get a cash boost from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
To help with daily living expenses, they may be able to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance, reports LancsLive. There are estimated to be two million people across the UK who suffer from some for of sight loss or degenerative eye condition.
More than 57,000 of these are working age adults under 65 are receiving extra financial support through PIP while more than 45,000 over State Pension age are getting extra financial support through Attendance Allowance. The latter can help those who suffer from an eye condition such as cataract, glaucoma or macular degeneration. Those under State Pension age with a sight condition may be able to make claim for PIP.
Those who are State Pension age and living with a sight condition, even really high myopia, may be entitled to Attendance Allowance, reports the Daily Record. It is a tax-free benefit supporting more than 1.4 million people across Britain.
Attendance Allowance is aimed to help people of State Pension age with daily living expenses and can also help them stay independent in their own home for longer. Those who claim Attendance Allowance could get either £68.10 or £101.75 a week depending on the level of care you need because of your condition.
This is paid every four weeks and works out at £272.40 and £407 respectively. You can get more details about claiming Attendance Allowance on the GOV.UK website.
The eligible sight conditions
The following are common health issues affecting eyesight that are being supported through disability benefits. It has been stressed that if your condition is not listed, it doesn’t mean it’s not supported.
Diseases of conjunctiva, cornea, eyelids and lacrimal apparatus
- Orbital cellulitis
- Keratoconus
- Ptosis
- Herpes zoster - ophthalmic
- Entropion
- Conjunctiva, cornea, eyelids and lacrimal apparatus - Other diseases of / type not known
- Corneal ulceration
- Scleritis
- Keratitis
Uveitis
- Posterior (choroiditis)
- Anterior Uveitis (iritis)
- Chorioretinal disorders - Other / type not known
Glaucoma
Visual injuries to the eyes
Diseases of the retina and optic nerve
- Optic neuritis
- Retinitis Pigmentosa
- Retina and optic nerve - Other diseases of / type not known
- Retinal detachment
- Macular degeneration
- Retinal vein occlusion
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Optic atrophy
- Retinopathy - Other / type not known
- Hypertensive retinopathy
- Retinal artery occlusion
Vitreous disease
- Vitreous disease - Other / type not known
- Vitreous haemorrhage
- Posterior vitreous detachment
Cataract
Disorders of eye movement
Strabismus (Squint)
- Nystagmus
- Eye movement - Other disorders of / type not known
Refractive errors
- Hypermetropia (long-sighted)
- Astigmatism
- Myopia (short-sighted)
- Refractive errors - Other / type not known
- Presbyopia
Visual field defects
- Amblyopia
- Hemianopia
- Diplopia (double vision)
- Tunnel vision
- Quadrantanopia
- Cortical blindness
- Visual field defects - Other / type not known
- Scotoma
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