If your vision is below a certain level, you may be automatically entitled to a companion free travel pass, a disabled person’s parking card and free directory enquiry service. If you have a job or are a guide dog user, you are also eligible to get tax credits. This level of vision is set by the Government.

What am I automatically entitled to?

Companion free travel pass

If your vision is below a certain level, you may be entitled to a companion free travel pass issued by the Department of Social Protection. A companion free travel pass entitles you and any one other person over the age of 16 who accompanies you to free travel on Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, LUAS and Iarnrod Éireann. An old age free travel pass entitles you and your spouse only to free travel. If you are over 66 and already have an old age free travel pass, a companion free travel pass can be issued to you by returning your pass along with a letter from NCBI confirming your level of vision.

Apply to the Free Travel section of the Department of Social Protection or LoCall 1890 500 000 Ext 48345.

Disabled person’s parking card

People whose vision is below a certain level may be entitled to a disabled person’s parking card. You can display this card in any vehicle in which you travel as a passenger. The card allows the driver of the vehicle to park in designated disabled parking spaces, disc parking areas and parking meter areas for an unrestricted length of time free of charge. Once issued, this card is valid for two years.

Contact the Disabled Drivers Association or Tel: 094 9364054 or 094 9364266 or contact the Irish Wheelchair Association or Tel: 045 893094 to apply for a disabled person’s parking card or to renew or replace your card.

Free directory enquiry service

If your vision is below a certain level, you may be able to avail of free directory enquiry service with your telecommunications provider. This service will provide you with the telephone number you request from a telephone operator free of charge. However, if you request to be connected then you will be charged. When you apply, you will receive a PIN and a letter explaining how to use this service.

Apply to free directory enquiry service by calling them on Tel: 1800 574 574.

Tax credits

Blind person’s tax credits

If your vision is below a certain level, you may be entitled to a larger tax credit. If you are a PAYE taxpayer, your claim can be submitted at any time during the tax year. If you are self-employed your claim should be submitted at the end of the tax year with your annual tax return.

Tax credits and guide dogs

If you or your spouse has a guide dog and you are a registered owner with the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind you are automatically entitled to an annual tax credit. A letter from the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind should be attached with your first claim. This tax credit is given automatically for each following year. You should let your local tax office know when you cease to have a guide dog.

Apply to your local tax office to claim either of these two tax credits by calling them on:

Border Midland West Region: 1890 777 425
(Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo & Westmeath).
Dublin Region (Dublin City & County): 1890 333 425
East & South East Region: 1890 444 425
(Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Meath, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford & Wicklow).
South West Region: 1890 222 425
(Clare, Cork, Kerry & Limerick).

Age tax credit

Age tax credit is available when either you or your spouse reach 65 years of age, at any time during the tax year. You should let your local tax office know when you or your spouse reach that age.

Read more about age tax credit on Revenue’s website

Deposit interest retention tax

Deposit interest retention tax (DIRT) is deducted from the interest payable on savings in banks, building societies, etc. This happens whether or not you would normally be liable for tax. If you are aged 65 or over or your spouse is aged 65 or over or if you are “permanently incapacitated”, you may reclaim the deposit interest retention tax (DIRT) paid if you are exempt from income tax. Download DIRT reclaim form 54D. This form is also available from your local tax office or LoCall 1890 306706. If you qualify for a refund, from 2007 you will be able to notify your financial institution so that they will be able to pay your interest without deducting DIRT.

VAT refund on aids and appliances

If your vision is below a certain level, you may get a refund of VAT on certain aids and appliances you need to help you carry out daily activities at home or work. For more information or to claim a refund on an aid or appliance contact: Revenue

FREEPOST, Central Repayments Section, M: TEK II Building, Armagh Road, Monaghan
Tel 047 62100, LoCall 1890 606 061.

Download the VAT refund form [PDF 127.63 KB]

Blind person’s pension

The blind person’s pension is administered and paid by the Department of Social Protection. Although it is called the blind person’s pension, you do not have to be totally blind or over the age of 65 to get this payment. To qualify for this payment, your vision must be below a certain level, be over 18 years of age, be resident in the Republic of Ireland and undergo a means test.

What is a means test?

A means test calculates your financial situation.

Other payments you may qualify for when receiving blind person’s pension

If you are under 66 and you receive the blind person’s pension you may also qualify for other payments such as illness benefit or one parent family payment if you satisfy the conditions for these schemes. Read more about other schemes you may qualify for. If you take up rehabilitative employment, you can earn a small weekly income without affecting your blind person’s pension payment.

Payment of blind person’s pension

Blind person’s pension is paid directly into your bank account or by a book of payable orders, which you can cash in at your local post office. You can claim an extra amount for a dependent spouse/partner and child dependants.

Apply for this payment by contacting the Blind Person’s Pension section of the Department of Social Protection or LoCall 1890 50 00 00 Ext 3371. Applications for blind person’s pension will also be accepted over the telephone.

What else can I claim?

If you qualify for the blind person’s pension, you may also qualify for the blind welfare allowance, living alone allowance or household benefits package.

Blind welfare allowance

If you get either the blind person’s pension or old age contributory or non-contributory pension you may also be eligible to receive the blind welfare allowance administered through the Health Service Executive. This allowance is paid once a month and is subject to a means test. If you are living in a nursing home or in residential care you are not usually eligible for this allowance.

Apply to your local Health Service Executive office.

Living alone increase

You may qualify for living alone increase if you are getting certain payments from the Department of Social Protection such as blind person’s pension or old age contributory or non-contributory pension and you are living alone or are mainly living alone.

Apply for the living alone increase from your local social welfare office.

Find out more about the living alone increase.

Medical card

If you are:

• unemployed or
• on a low income or
• are over 70 and are below a certain income threshold
  you may be entitled to a medical card. With a medical card you can get free doctor’s visits, free prescriptions, free hospitalisation, free dental care and free optical services.

Apply to your local Health Service Executive office.

Household benefits package

The household benefits package includes:

• Free electricity allowance or natural gas allowance or bottled gas refill allowance
• Telephone allowance
• Free television licence

You may qualify for the household benefits package if:

• you are aged 70 and over or
• you get carer’s allowance
• you get the blind person’s pension or old age contributory and non contributory pension.

A person will not usually be eligible for household benefits package if they live in a nursing / retirement home where the accommodation is not fully self-contained. Telephone allowance is, however, available to people aged 70 or over living in nursing homes where they have their own telephone account.

Full details of the qualifying criteria for the household benefits package are available on the Department of Social Protection website.

Free electricity allowance
To qualify for this allowance, you must be a registered customer with ESB and your vision must be below a certain level. The allowance covers normal standing charges and a number of free units of electricity each year. If you qualify for this allowance, the Department of Social Protection will inform ESB that you are eligible. The allowance will then be included in your next and subsequent ESB bills. You may only qualify for either free electricity allowance or natural gas allowance but not both.

Natural gas allowance
You can apply for this allowance if you are connected to a natural gas supply and your vision must be below a certain level. This allowance covers the supply charge and a number of kilowatt-hours of gas. It does not cover the cost of installing a natural gas supply into your home. If your application is successful, your allowance will appear on the second gas bill you receive based on the date your application is received. You may only qualify for either free electricity allowance or natural gas allowance but not both.

Bottled gas refill allowance
This allowance is only available to those whose vision is below a certain level and who does not have an electricity or natural gas supply. You will receive a book of vouchers that can be exchanged for a cylinder of gas at a shop of your choice.

Telephone allowance
This allowance may be available to those whose vision is below a certain level. Telephone allowance consists of the basic telephone line rental and a certain amount is paid towards the cost of your calls every two months. It does not cover the installation charge for the telephone or mobile phone charges. To qualify for a telephone allowance your name must appear on the telephone bill. The allowance is paid by the Department of Social Protection directly to your telephone service provider and is shown as a credit on your bill.

Free television licence
If your vision is below a certain level, you may qualify for the household benefits package. If so, you will receive a notification award from the Department of Social Protection about a free television licence. This notification will last as long as you are receiving the household benefits package.

Apply for the household benefits package by contacting the Free Schemes section of the Department of Social Protection or LoCall 1890 50 00 00 ext 48371.

Carers

Carer’s allowance

If you are on a low income and provide full-time care to a person, you may qualify for this allowance. You must

• be aged 18 or over,

• satisfy a means test,

• live with the person you are caring for or be caring for the person on a full-time basis, and

• not be employed or self-employed outside the home for more than 10 hours a week.

The person being cared for must be over the age of 16, require full-time care or be under 16 years and getting domiciliary care allowance. Carer’s allowance is paid directly into your bank account or by a book of payable orders, which you can cash in at your local post office.

Apply to the Carer’s allowance section of the Department of Social Protection or Tel 043 45211 ext 48940.

Carer’s benefit

Carer’s benefit may be payable to you if you have to temporarily leave your job to care for a person in need of full-time care. You will be given credits while you are getting carer’s benefit at the same rate as your last paid PRSI contribution.

Apply to the Carer’s benefit section of the Department of Social Protection in Longford, Tel 043 45211 ext 48787.

Tax allowance for employing a carer

This allowance can be claimed annually, if you employ a carer to care for a family member with a disability.

Apply to your regional tax office by calling them on:

Border Midland West Region: 1890 777 425
(Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo & Westmeath).
Dublin Region: 1890 333 425
(Dublin City & County)
East & South East Region: 1890 444 425
(Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Meath, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford & Wicklow).
South West Region: 1890 222 425
(Clare, Cork, Kerry & Limerick).

Respite care grant

If you are caring for a person with a disability, alternative care can be arranged so that you can take a break. The respite care grant is available to all full-time carers. It is not means tested. You will qualify for respite care grant if you are providing full-time care and satisfy the following conditions:

• you are 16 years or over and live in Ireland,

• you work no more than 15 hours a week outside the home and do not qualify for unemployment benefit, unemployment assistance, or sign for unemployment credits, and

• you care for a person on a full-time basis

• you have been caring for the person for at least six months.

Apply to your local Health Service Executive area.