Benefit payments are set to rise in the coming months, including for those on PIP and Attendance Allowance.
Both benefits are administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) , and they offer Britons with certain medical conditions over £400 a month.
The exact amount the payments will rise by will depend on whether people qualify for extra elements as well as their financial circumstances.
There are 52 types of eye conditions which the DWP offers help for and those eligible could receive a monthly boost of £407.
Across the UK, there are around two million people who live with a degenerative eye condition or sight loss.
And by 2050, that figure is expected to double as the country’s ageing population continues to grow.
As the cost of living crisis continues, Britons are urged to check what benefits they may be entitled to so they can claim extra cash.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is designed to help with extra living costs for those who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability.
There are two main parts to PIP: the daily living element which helps with everyday tasks, and the mobility part for those who need help getting around.
Whether a person receives one or both parts and how much they get depends on how difficult they find everyday tasks and getting around.
Current rates:
Daily living tasks
- Standard rate – £68.10 a week
- Enhanced rate – £101.75 a week.
Mobility tasks
- Standard rate – £26.90 a week.
- Enhanced rate – £71 a week.
Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if someone has a disability severe enough that they need someone to help look after them.
It’s paid at two different rates and how much one get depends on the level of care that they need because of their disability.
It is worth £68.10 or £101.75 a week – meaning people could potentially get £407 a month.
The lower rate is awarded to those who need help during the day or at night. The higher rate is for those who need help during the day and at night, or who are terminally ill.
Eye conditions that could make you eligible for disability benefits
Some eye health conditions which could potentially make people eligible to claim a disability benefit include:
- 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
This list is not exhaustive, for more information people can visit the Government website.
