People with certain eye conditions could be eligible for extra cash from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). You could qualify for extra financial support through Personal Independence Payments (PIP) if your eye condition affects your day-to-day life.
PIP is a disability benefit which comes in two different parts. There is the daily living rate, currently worth £72.65 a week for the lower level, or £108.55 a week for the higher rate.
The mobility rate for PIP is worth £28.70 a week for the lower level or £75.75 a week for the higher level. A claimant could be entitled to both or just one of the rates.
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The lower rate is given to people who need help during the day or at night, Mirror reports. The higher rate is for those who need help during the day and at night.
PIP is paid every four weeks, so you could get £737 a month if you get the highest rates. If you have reached the State Pension age, you may be entitled to an Attendance Allowance instead of PIP.
Your eligibility depends on how your condition affects your ability to complete daily tasks. According to NHS figures, about two million people in the UK are living with sight loss or a degenerative eye condition.
The NHS expects this figure to double, with four million people affected by sight loss by 2050.
Eye conditions which could qualify you for PIP
- 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