DLA Mobility

Cedric_Simple

Hi. This is a query for on behalf a family member.

A while ago she was informed that from 2011 she could claim the high rate mobility due to changes being made that everybody who is blind can claim this.

Is this still the case?

Thanks

Mojisola

This is what the site - https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DisabilityLivingAllowance/DG_10011816 says -

"To get the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, your disability must be severe enough for you to have any of the following walking difficulties, even when wearing or using an aid or equipment you normally use:

because of a physical disability, you are unable or virtually unable to walk without severe discomfort, or at risk of endangering your life or causing deterioration in your health by making the effort to walk

you have no feet or legs

you are assessed to be both 100 per cent disabled because of loss of eyesight and not less than 80 per cent disabled because of deafness and you need someone with you when you are out of doors

you are severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems and qualify for the highest rate of care component
you need guidance or supervision most of the time from another person when walking out of doors in unfamiliar places.

Wicked_witch

They are changing the rules, but just being registered blind (or severely visually impaired as it is now) is not enough- there are rules about the degrees of vision etc. The RNIB should have the exact conditions on their website.

DX2

The Government has announced that people with severe visual impairment will be eligible to claim the higher rate mobility component of DLA.

We understand that the change will be implemented on 11 April 2011.

This means that people with severe visual impairment will be able to claim the higher rate mobility component of DLA at £49.85 per week instead of the lower rate at £18.95 per week.
http://www.rnib.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/yourmoney/dla/Pages/eligibility.aspx

The information regarding who will be eligible is contained in the Regulations (Statutory Instrument 2010 No. 1651)

Someone will be taken as having a "severe visual impairment" and eligible if:

• They have a visual acuity of less than 3/60; or
• They have a visual acuity of 3/60 or more, but less than 6/60, a complete loss of peripheral field and a central visual field restricted to no more than 10 degrees in total.

These two routes to entitlement should cover all those people who come within the following categories of sight impairment:

• no perception of light
• perception of light only
• perception of hand movement: and
• a visual acuity of 3/60 with a total or extensive loss of field.