Serious advice needed

wannabefreee

hi im a social worker
with a eye disorder whilst i have had corneal grafts my vision is still awful in the winter evenings i cannot drive at night or in the dark... and often have to get friends or tacis to ferry me around...

would i meet the requirement for DLA

can/shud i register myself as disabled anywhere if so where do i do this

does anyone know of any other help available to me financially...please can ppl reply without using abbreviations as i have a very hard time understanding what they mean... thank you

allydowd

If I were in your situation I would contact the Royal National Institute for Blind People as a starting point. They are devoted to providing information to people with all forms of sight loss. And you don't need to be totally sightless to get help from them! Below is the link to take you straight to their website:

RNIB link

somebody_else

If you're a social worker, I would suggest you contact you local Rehabilitation Officer for the Visually Impaired, who should be contacted via your employers. They will be best placed to tell you what benefits you should be able to claim.

I would also suggest that you enquire about your employers providing you with taxi fares until such time as your sight improves. This would come under the heading of a reasonable adjustment if it's a temporary condition. I know a former colleague of mine who had impaired vision had all her bus and taxi fares that were incurred through work were reimbursed through her expenses claim.

Do be aware that if you apply for Disability Living Allowance because you are visually impaired, if it is awarded it will only be at the lower rate of mobility.

nanokitten

I agree if you were to apply for DLA you might get the lower rate at a push, if you need some one to guide you outdoors, but you would only get this help if you needed it most of the time, not just at night I would have thought.

You may find you have a hard time getting much fanancial help from the benefits system as if your sight is good enough to drive during the day you will probably not qualify for many benefits.

I Imagine though you would however qualify for the access to work scheme: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Employmentsupport/WorkSchemesAndProgrammes/DG_4000347

see also the RNIB sites guide here:
http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/publicwebsite/public_atws.hcsp

This looks ike your best bet, first thing to do is find out your rights then speak to your employer.
Good luck

[Deleted User]

Speak to occupational health and your union if you are employed. They are there to help you not just managers.

They can help with lots like counselling, financial help, access to work, workstep, benefits and claiming them. But definetly call RNIB, they can direct you to local support services or can help you over the phone/net.

You may well be entiled to DLA or other benefits depends on your needs, but OH or a welfare advisor can direct you better.

I've get help from workstep and access to work, I can give you more info on what they do & how they do it if you need it. ATM i get help with taxis as a fellow social worker I have to go out visiting people lots, not driving is a pain (

Good luck Michelle