Partially sighted

Hardup_Hester

My hubby is partially sighted & receives the lower level of benefit, I sometimes see offers that might be useful for him but don't know what to use to prove he is disabled. Should he have a card or something? He thinks he used to have a certificate of some sort, but he lost his sight 14 years ago & can't really remember. Also he had a very acrimonious divorce just after he lost his sight & his ex destroyed lots of his stuff, passport etc. I'm happy to phone up & get this sorted for him, but don't know who to phone or what to ask for, any help would gratefully received.
Hester

septemberblues

What about using his DLA letter for proof?

Savvy_Sue

Having just looked at the Disabled Persons Rail Card site, they say the following are suitable to send off with your application:

Social Services official stamp in the space below this table
A copy of your Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI)
A copy of your BD8 certificate for being registered blind or partially-sighted

So, if he hasn't got a CVI or a BD8, it might be worth investigating those, and I would start by asking social services if they can tell you what's available and how you 'prove' his entitlement.

Horace

Would the RNIB be able to help?

sheldon08

Hope this helps. If your husband registers as blind or partially sighted there is lots of help available.

shel.

kyssyn

You don't mention how he lost his sight or if he's had an ophthalmology appointment since his diagnosis. If may be worth getting a check-up to see if he qualifies to be registered blind rather than partially sighted as it would give him access to better services. You don't actually have to be completely blind to be registered as such!

Here's a RNIB page giving a bit more information on registration. http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_registration_home.hcsp

zzzLazyDaisy

Hardup_Hester wrote: »

My hubby is partially sighted & receives the lower level of benefit, I sometimes see offers that might be useful for him but don't know what to use to prove he is disabled. Should he have a card or something?
Hester

Hi Hester, I think he might be remembering the days when people were registered disabled, you got a green card to show to proof that you had a disability. There is no registration now, so he needn't worry about losing the card!

I can't comment on disability relating to sight loss, but as a general comment, I am disabled though it isn 't always immediately obvious to a casual observer. I keep a copy of my DLA confirmation in my bag, and that has always been accepted as sufficient proof of disability.

hth

Daisy x

kimlet65

Hi,

As others have mentioned, if registered your hubby would have been sent either a BD8 or, if registration is quite recent, a CVI. If you can't find these, contact the visual impairment team of his local social services as they are the ones that hold the register. They should be able to provide a letter confirming registration.

Plus, if he was registered partially sighted 14 years ago, has his vision deteriorated since then? If so, ask his GP to refer him back to the ophthalmologist because if he's eligible to be registered as severely sight impaired/blind, his benefits may increase (dependent on whether he's on DLA or AA)

Kim

Hardup_Hester

Wow thanks I'm so gratful for all the help & advice.
He lost his sight in an industrial accident, someone thew some bricks & rubble from quite a height into a skip, instead of using the chute. One of the bricks shattered just as he drew level with the skip & the brick shards damaged his eyes, he received a payout after the accident, but it is now long gone. I will persuade him to go to out GP & also contact SS for him. Thanks again.
Hester