Blind Person’s Allowance is a tax allowance provided by the HMRC to those who are registered as blind or severely sight impaired. It is designed to assist blind people in meeting the additional costs associated with living with a visual impairment. 

Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for Blind Person’s Allowance, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be registered as blind or severely sight impaired with your local council in England, Scotland, or Wales or the Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland.
• You must be a UK resident and not claim Blind Person’s Allowance in any other country.
• You must be over 16 years of age.

If you meet the abovementioned criteria, you can claim Blind Person’s Allowance.

How Much is Blind Person’s Allowance: The Blind Person’s Allowance is a tax-free allowance, which means it is not subject to income tax. The amount of a Blind Person’s Allowance varies each year, and it is usually higher for severely sight impaired people. For the tax year 2022-23, the Blind Person’s Allowance is £2,520.

How to apply for Blind Person’s Allowance: To apply for Blind Person’s Allowance, you must follow these steps:

Step 1: Register as blind or severely sight impaired

You must be registered as blind or severely sight impaired with your local council in England, Scotland, Wales, or the Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland. To register, you must have a certificate from an ophthalmologist or optometrist confirming that you are blind or severely sight impaired.

Step 2: Apply for Blind Person’s Allowance

You can apply for Blind Person’s Allowance by completing the form ‘Blind Person’s Allowance (BPA1)’ and sending it to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). You can download the form from the HMRC website or request a copy by calling the HMRC helpline.

Step 3: Receive confirmation

Once your application is processed, you will receive confirmation of your Blind Person’s Allowance from HMRC. If you are eligible, your Blind Person’s Allowance will be automatically included in your tax code.

Benefits of Blind Person’s Allowance: Blind Person’s Allowance provides several benefits to those who are registered as blind or severely sight impaired, including:

• Tax-free allowance: Blind Person’s Allowance is a tax-free allowance, which means it is not subject to income tax.
• Additional income: Blind Person’s Allowance provides additional income to help those living with a visual impairment to meet the additional costs associated with their condition.
• Automatic inclusion in tax code: If you are eligible for Blind Person’s Allowance, it will be automatically included in your tax code, which means you do not need to claim it separately.

Blind Person’s Allowance is a tax-free allowance for those registered as blind or severely sight impaired. It provides additional income to help those living with a visual impairment to meet the extra costs associated with their condition. If you are eligible, Blind Person’s Allowance will be automatically included in your tax code, so you do not need to claim it separately. If you are not currently receiving Blind Person’s Allowance and believe you are eligible, we encourage you to register as blind or severely sight impaired with your local council or Health and Social Care Trust and apply for Blind Person’s Allowance.