Advice Please! Lost Eye and disability.

DanielUK

Hi

I am after some advice last year I lost my eye and was shocked afterward to find out I was not entitled to disability.

I understand people with one eye can lead normal lives and work etc but to be told point blank I was fine I found was a bit harsh and it should be dealt with on a case to case rather than a mass NO!

Since losing my eye I am having difficulty in public places for example walking in to people, items and walls which can be very embarrassing.

I was told my mind would adjust which it has but not to the impact they led me to believe. I still have big issues with depth and distance, I am also almost 85% blind in the night even through my other eye is ok.

I have been told I can drive which I think is crazy as I can not see or judge distance to items in the dark. I have been told if I lost sight in my other eye then come back so in other words when I am blind I can come back.

Also I know people have one eye and are fine and I am really happy for them, but I am not and do need support with this for instance replacing my car to public transport etc. I work in a face to face environment with expensive items which I have dropped twice not realising they are closer than I thought and when I speak to people they say it will get better, talking to people like myself who suffer from this say it does not.

So I know I can not get disability for my eye which is shocking and if I could challenge it I would I believe this is a disability and its cost cutting excuse to not pay out people who are in this situation.

I lost my eye to an illness which the doctors can not ID, and pretty much been told it might or might not happen to the other eye leaving me suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. The exact words were your 35 now so if it takes another 35 years to happen again you have had a good innings that were doctors words.

I am wondering can I claim any sort of disability allowance as I have an unknown illness which the doctors can not figure out.

Who would I contact to find out?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Daniel

benniebert

DanielUK wrote: »

Hi

I am after some advice last year I lost my eye and was shocked afterward to find out I was not entitled to disability.

I understand people with one eye can lead normal lives and work etc but to be told point blank I was fine I found was a bit harsh and it should be dealt with on a case to case rather than a mass NO!

Since losing my eye I am having difficulty in public places for example walking in to people, items and walls which can be very embarrassing.

I was told my mind would adjust which it has but not to the impact they led me to believe. I still have big issues with depth and distance, I am also almost 85% blind in the night even through my other eye is ok.

I have been told I can drive which I think is crazy as I can not see or judge distance to items in the dark. I have been told if I lost sight in my other eye then come back so in other words when I am blind I can come back.

Also I know people have one eye and are fine and I am really happy for them, but I am not and do need support with this for instance replacing my car to public transport etc. I work in a face to face environment with expensive items which I have dropped twice not realising they are closer than I thought and when I speak to people they say it will get better, talking to people like myself who suffer from this say it does not.

So I know I can not get disability for my eye which is shocking and if I could challenge it I would I believe this is a disability and its cost cutting excuse to not pay out people who are in this situation.

I lost my eye to an illness which the doctors can not ID, and pretty much been told it might or might not happen to the other eye leaving me suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. The exact words were your 35 now so if it takes another 35 years to happen again you have had a good innings that were doctors words.

I am wondering can I claim any sort of disability allowance as I have an unknown illness which the doctors can not figure out.

Who would I contact to find out?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Daniel

Who told you that you couldn't claim? Whoever it was I would put them straight telling them that with that sort of advice may well have caused you to lose out on a disability benefit. If it was a government department - official complaint copied to your MP.

tomtontom

Have you asked your GP about getting some support for adapting to your condition? The RNIB may be able to help also.

Indie_Kid

There might be a local sight centre who can advise you as well.

Disability benefits are based on care and /or mobility needs and not the condition or type of condition you have. You can't get disability benefits because you have a disability. You can only get disability benefits because you're either unable to work or have care and /or mobility needs due to your disability.

As for driving - some people are advised that legally, (ie, they meet the criteria) they can drive. (I've been told this more than once - there's actually no accurate way of testing my vision) However, you also need to consider your own safety and that of others around you. You can't register as partially sighted because both eyes have to be affected. However, you may get a bus pass if you're advised by your GP / the hospital that driving is unsafe.

rogerblack

In general, disability benefits are not paid to those with some level of disability below a threshold.
They are not paid if you are only able to do some work.

Speaking in particular, if you are employed and lost the eye not due to work - you can likely only claim PIP.

Looking at PIP descriptors, I cannot see you can claim reasonably any points under 'cannot cook a simple meal', 'eat', 'monitor a health condition', 'washing and bathing', 'toilet needs', 'communicating verbally', 'reading and understanding', 'engaging with people', 'making budgeting decisions'.
Or 'planning and following journies', 'moving around'.

I question if you would even get one or two points for either PIP component - care or mobility.

If you can get the DVLA to say you are unsafe to drive, you may be able to obtain a blue badge.

Indie_Kid

rogerblack wrote: »

If you can get the DVLA to say you are unsafe to drive, you may be able to obtain a blue badge.

You have to be registered blind to get a blue badge, unless you meet the criteria relating to walking. You can however, obtain a bus pass (which I think might be actually what you meant?) if you've been refused a driving licence for reasons other than drugs and alcohol.

sheeps68

DanielUK wrote: »

Hi

I am after some advice last year I lost my eye and was shocked afterward to find out I was not entitled to disability.
l

I am unsure what you mean by not being entitled to disability.

Are you talking disability benefit?
Are you talking being able to call yourself disabled?
Are you asking to be able to put yourself on a local authority disability register?
Are you wanting to put yourself on a visual impairment register?

rogerblack

Indie_Kid wrote: »

You have to be registered blind to get a blue badge, unless you meet the criteria relating to walking. You can however, obtain a bus pass (which I think might be actually what you meant?) if you've been refused a driving licence for reasons other than drugs and alcohol.

Err - yes - bus pass.