This leaflet describes the main services and local organisations
for people who have a visual impairment. More detailed information
about the wide range of support available from Social & Housing
Services offices or local societies. You will find contacts and
addresses listed at the end.
Becoming registered as blind or partially sighted
If you have very poor eyesight, an eye specialist may recommend
that you are certified as partially sighted or blind. This does not
necessarily mean that you cannot see or that you are going to lose
your sight altogether.
If you are worried about the information given to you by the eye
specialist while you are at the hospital, you can ask to see a
social worker or contact one of the Social Services & Housing
officers for help and advice.
Once we receive the certification form, completed by the
consultant, we will give you the option of registering as blind or
partially sighted, as recommended by the consultant We can send you
information about benefits of registration to help you come to a
decision.
We can offer you telephone advice and information or a home
visit to help you consider a range of benefits and support some of
which are detailed in this leaflet. At the same time we will send
you an information booklet on services for people with a visual
impairment we have produced in conjunction with Vision Bath .
If you chose to be registered with us as blind or partially
sighted, you will be sent a confirmation card, which may enable you
to receive other concessions and services.
We can assess your needs
If you have a visual impairment you do not need to be registered
as blind or partially sighted – you can ask for an assessment of
your needs.
You may need help with your personal care or daily living (such
as shopping or preparing meals). Your needs may be met by a number
of different services, including home care, day care, community
meals, occupational therapy or a specialist rehabilitation
worker.
We will work with you, and your carer if you have one, to find
out what you need. We may – with your permission - also talk to
other services such as health, housing and voluntary organisations
before agreeing a care plan which we will ensure is carried
out.
We will also advise you of any charges you may have to pay for
services you receive.
We carry out periodic reviews of the services you receive to
make sure they meet your needs. In addition, you can always contact
us at any time for further help if your needs change.
Services for children
There are no charges for children’s services. There is a
specialist team to help disabled children and their families. Local
Social Services offices listed later in this booklet will advise
you on who to contact for advice on the full range of children’s
services.
Rehabilitation and mobility services
The Sensory Services Team provides a specialist rehabilitation
service to help visually impaired people to maintain or increase
their independence. Our Rehabilitation Worker will work with you to
help you improve:
- Independent Living Skills - looking at areas where independence
can be improved in the home: for example, cooking, laundry
etc.
- Communication Skills - looking at a range of ways to
communicate effectively.
- Mobility Skills – advising on safe methods of travelling,
suitable aids etc.
Social & Housing Services has joined forces with Vision Bath
to help organise support groups and social activities for visually
disabled people and their carers.
British Gas, South West Gas, South West Electricity and British
Telecom staff can advise you on any adaptations you may need.
Employment
There is a Disability Employment Advisor who covers the Bath and
North East Somerset area whom you can contact by telephone; 01225
495600 or by writing to the regional office at The Department of
Work and Pensions, The Pithay, Bristol, BS1 2NQ
Education and recreation
There is a wide range of educational, training and career
opportunities for all age groups available through your local
college or careers office:
- Large print books and books recorded on cassettes are available
at your local library.
- Books in Braille or Moon can be borrowed free from the National
Library for the Blind.
- The RNIB Talking Book Service has more than 5000 books recorded
on cassette or CD and they can also provide the machines to play
them on. Social & Housing Services may meet the cost
involved.
- Talking magazines and newspapers with news, short stories and
letters are provided free by several organisations postage
free.
Residential Care
We will give you advice and information to help you make an
informed choice about residential care. If, as the result of a care
assessment, you agree that residential or nursing home care is best
for you, Social & Housing Services can help pay the cost up to
a maximum price.
You may have to make a contribution towards the cost, based upon
a financial assessment. We will then let you know how much you need
to pay.
For up-to-date costs contact one of our local offices (addresses
at the end).
Short-term residential and respite care
An assessment may recommend that your needs could best be met by
offering regular short breaks in a residential or nursing home.
You will be financially assessed in the same way for respite
care as you would be for permanent residential care, based on your
ability to pay.
For more information on assessments, residential care and
respite care, ask your local Housing and Social Services office for
the following leaflets:
- Informing you about Community Care
- Charges for adult care services
- Third Party contributions
Vision Bath
The Society has a wide display of specialist aids and equipment
at its resource centre at 7 Green Park Station. Telephone 01225
446555. These include special clocks and watches, kitchen
aids, lighting, labelling and reading aids and mobility aids and
can also give you information about clubs and services for blind
and partially sighted people.
The Society will advise you about national talking newspapers,
which include cassette recordings of the Sunday papers, Radio
and TV Times and around 100 monthly and weekly magazines to which
you can subscribe.
Each year the Royal Association for Disability and
Rehabilitation (RADAR) publishes a comprehensive holiday
guide.
Vision Bath acts as an agent for the British Wireless for the
Blind scheme.
Voluntary organisations
With your permission we can put you in touch with voluntary
organisations for partially sighted or blind people, such as the
Vision Bath (see address at the end of this leaflet).
The West of England Coalition of Disabled People is run by
disabled people and actively campaigns on disability issues such as
equal opportunities, access, transport and education.
They can be contacted at:
The Yard
6 Sommerville Road
Bishopston
Bristol BS7 9AA.
Telephone 0117 942 0721.
Travel and transport
Concessionary bus fare schemes
Your nearest Council office can give you details, or you can ask
at your local Post Office for an application form. Guide dogs
travel free.
The Disabled Person Railcard
This enables you to receive concessions on many train journeys,
and you can take an escort with you at a reduced rate. More
information is available from Apply for
a Disabled Persons Railcard or your local rail
station.
Road Tax
If you receive the mobility element of the Disability Living
Allowance at the higher rate, you can apply to have your road tax
fee waived. To do so your vehicle must be used only by you or for
your benefit either as a passenger or driver. To find out more
contact the Disability Living Unit, Warbreck House, Blackpool, FY2
0YJ.
Motability Scheme
If you qualify for the higher rate element of the Disabled
Living Allowance you can spend the money on buying or hiring a car
or electric wheelchair under the Motability Scheme. Write for an
application form to: Motability, 2nd floor, Gate House, Westgate,
The High, Harlow, Essex, CM20 1HR. Visit http://www.motability.co.uk/·
Blue Badge
A display for any car in which a registered blind person is a
passenger. It allows the driver to benefit from parking concessions
at meters and on yellow lines. Application forms are available
from: Bath & North East Somerset Disabled parking Section,
Client Services, Floor 2, Riverside, Keynsham BS18 1LA.
Financial help
Social Security Benefits
The Benefits Agency can help you or people who look after you
with money either through Income Support or through the Social
Fund.
Details of what is available can be found in leaflet FB19
‘Social Security Benefits – a guide for blind and partially-sighted
people’ at your local Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) office
or at main Post Offices. This leaflet also contains information
about sight tests and NHS vouchers for glasses. It is also
available in large print.
Income Support
If you are registered blind and are on Income Support, you may
be entitled to extra benefit which is called a Disability Premium.
Income Support also means you and your family can get free NHS
dental treatment, prescriptions and vouchers for glasses.
If you have a blind or partially-sighted child you may be able
to claim Income Support if your income is low because you stay at
home to look after your child, or if you can only do part-time
work. You do not have to ‘sign on’ as unemployed. You can also get
extra Income Support if your child is blind.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
If you are disabled and under 65 you may need help with the
extra costs of personal care and of getting around.
The DLA is not affected by your savings and is not usually
affected by the amount of money you have coming in.
You will need to complete a detailed self-assessment form and a
medical examination may be required. If you have a blind or
partially-sighted child, you may also be entitled to receive money
for providing both care and mobility.
The mobility element of the Disability Living Allowance is paid
either at a higher or lower rate, depending on your level of
disability.
Disability Working Allowance (DWA)
If you are doing low-paid work and used to receive an invalidity
or other benefit, you may be able to claim this allowance by
filling in a DWA self assessment form. A medical examination is not
usually needed.
How to claim
Leaflets on DLA and DWA are available in DWP offices, main Post
Offices and Citizens’ Advice Bureaux. You can call the free
Benefits Enquiry Line (BEL) on 0880 882200 for help in filling in
the forms you need. The BEL will also give you audio tapes to help
you if you are visually disabled.
NHS sight tests and vouchers for glasses
Ask your optician if you qualify for free NHS sight tests and
help towards the cost of glasses. If you are registered blind or
partially sighted, you qualify for free tests and may qualify for
vouchers towards the cost of glasses.
Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB)
If you are on a low income you may be able to get help with your
rent or council tax. These benefits are paid by the Council. If you
are getting Income Support, you can claim HB or CTB at the same
time. If you are not receiving Income Support, you should claim HB
and CTB directly from your local Council office
Concessions
People who are registered blind can get a 50% reduction on TV
licences and free postage on some items.
Telephone services
Blind and partially sighted customers can register for free
directory enquiries by calling BT free on 195 from most phones. or
by writing to BT, PO Box 49, Birmingham, B1 1TE. You do not have to
be a BT customer to receive this service which is available free
through most fixed and mobile phones. Please check with your
service provider whether they charge for this service.
BT offer a ‘talking bills’ service and a priority repair
service. Other services provider may also provide similar
services.
Special Income Tax Allowance
The blind person’s allowance allows you to receive an amount of
income without having to pay tax. It is an extra amount which is
added to your personal allowance. The amount of the blind person’s
allowance is the same for everyone who can claim it, whatever their
age or their level of income. In 2006-07 the amount is £1,660.
You can claim the blind person’s allowance if you are registered
as blind with a local authority in England or Wales.
If you think you might be eligible to claim this allowance,
contact your local Tax Office.
A married couple who both qualify for the blind person’s
allowance can claim an allowance each. If you are married and
living with your spouse and you are unable to use all your blind
person’s allowance, you can transfer the unused part to your
husband or wife to reduce the tax he or she has to pay. For more
information see leaflet IR170 ‘Blind person’s allowance’
People who are registered blind who pay tax at the standard
rate, will qualify for an extra personal allowance. For further
information contact your local Inspector of Taxes or visit
Inland Revenue Information on Blind Person's
allowance
