Introduction

The Blind Pension is a means-tested repayment compensated to blind and aesthetically reduced individuals who are constantly resident in Ireland. The repayment is manufactured by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. To qualify for the retirement you need to provide an eye fixed test from an opthalmic surgeon to confirm your artistic disability.

The re re payment consists of a rate that is personal you and additional quantities for an experienced adult and any kid dependants (see ‘Rates’ below). You may also qualify for ukrainian brides the Blind Welfare Allowance paid by the HSE if you are awarded a Blind Pension.

You will immediately get a free of charge Travel Pass and a Companion complimentary Travel Pass. (a free of charge Travel Pass allows you to definitely travel on State transport that is public Ireland free of charge. A Companion Free Travel Pass enables your companion aged 16 or higher to also travel 100% free). You can also be eligible for a other advantages like the Living Alone Increase and the Household pros Package.

One-Parent Family Payment and Blind Pension

Blind Pension is payable with One-Parent Family Payment (OFP). Which means someone who qualifies for OFP and Blind Pension could possibly get both re payments during the complete price. Those who be eligible for Blind Pension are exempted through the age conditions for OFP. This means it is possible to claim both Blind Pension and OFP (and any IQCs payable with both Blind Pension and OFP) together until your youngest son or daughter is 16 years old.

Rules

You should make your claim 4 months before your 18th birthday if you are blind or have a serious visual impairment before reaching 18 years. (if you should be aged 16-18, you might be eligible for Disability Allowance.) Blind Pension just isn’t compensated when you turn 66.

You should apply as soon as possible if you become blind or seriously visually impaired after your 18th birthday. This is really important as re payment can only just be manufactured through the date the job is gotten . After you may qualify for a Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit if you require full-time care, the person looking.

The means test

The primary items which are counted as means consist of:

• Any money earnings which you or your partner, civil partner or cohabitant may have (including earnings from work)
• The worth of cost cost savings, assets, stocks, land etc.
• Any home you may have
• Repair paid for your requirements if you should be deserted, divided or a civil partner perhaps perhaps maybe not coping with one other partner that is civil.

The items that are following perhaps perhaps maybe not counted as method for Blind Pension:

• Your house
• Any re payment produced by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
• The worthiness associated with the very first €20,000 of money assets (as an example, cost savings)
• Cash received from the recognised charitable organization (excluding public or authority that is local
• The upkeep section of a pupil grant from SUSI paid for your requirements, an experienced adult or son or daughter dependant(s) for several courses
• Income as much as a limit that is certain work
• Earnings from rehabilitative training
• Domiciliary Care Allowance
• Child Benefit, Supplementary Welfare Allowance or care that is foster
• Flexibility Allowance through the Department of Health
• Blind Welfare Allowance paid because of the HSE

Work and Blind Pension

You can generate €120 per from employment before these earnings affect your payment week. In the event that you earn significantly more than €120 per from work, 50% of your earnings between €120 and €350 are not taken into account in the Blind Pension means test week. All of your profits over €350 are examined as earnings along with your entitlement to Blind Pension are going to be lower in line using the appropriate reduced prices of re payment for Blind Pension.

There are not any disregards for the partner, civil partner or cohabitant’s profits.

Blind Pension along with other re re re payments

You satisfy the relevant conditions, you may also qualify for if you are under age 66 and:

• Adoptive Benefit
• Half-rate Carer’s Allowance
• Health insurance and Protection Benefit
• Disease Benefit
• Injury Benefit
• Jobseeker’s Benefit
• Maternity Benefit
• One-Parent Family Payment (until your youngest son or daughter is 16)
• Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory and Non-Contributory Pension

An increase is also payable on the schemes listed above if an increase is payable for a qualified spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and/or qualified children with your Blind pension.

Blind Pension is payable when you are getting Capacity that is partial Benefit. Partial Capacity Benefit just isn’t taken into consideration within the means test for Blind Pension however your profits are taken into consideration and might impact the number of Blind Pension paid.

Just how to use

A braille and sound cassette tape form of this application can also be available from the nationwide Council when it comes to Blind of Ireland. This application can be offered by your Intreo Centre or personal Welfare Branch workplace. Staff in your Intreo Centre or personal Welfare Branch workplace would be thrilled to allow you to finish the shape and certainly will respond to any concerns you could have.

Whenever you submit an application for Blind Pension, you may have to deliver the Department certificates if the appropriate birth(s), wedding, civil partnership or civil union occurred outside of the Republic of Ireland.

If you’re unhappy by having a decision made regarding your claim for Blind Pension, you’ll attract against it. Discover more about the welfare that is social procedure.

You have to constantly inform the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection if you will find any changes to your needs while you’re getting A blind retirement. In case the means or circumstances change you may no further be eligible for the re payment or it may possibly be paid off. This may imply that you need to repay an overpayment.