Government benefits and allowances available to children with sight loss

What are we entitled to?

Companion Free Travel Pass

If your child fulfils the registration criteria as blind or vision impaired, they may be entitled to a companion free travel pass from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. With this pass your child can travel free (alone or accompanied by one other person over the age of 16) on Dublin Bus, LUAS, Bus Eireann and Iarnrod Eireann services.

Apply to the Free Travel section of the Department of Social and Family Affairs or call them on LoCall 1890 500 000 Ext 48345.

Disabled Persons’ Parking Card

If your child fulfils the registration criteria as a person who is blind or vision impaired and is aged 5 or over, you are entitled to apply for a disabled persons’ parking card, which can be used in any vehicle in which the child travels. This card allows the vehicle to be parked in designated disabled parking spaces, disc parking areas and parking meters for an unrestricted length of time free of charge.

Contact the Disabled Drivers Association or call them at Tel: 094 9364054 or 094 9364266 or contact the Irish Wheelchair Association or call them at 045 893094 to apply for a disabled persons parking card or to renew or replace your card.

You can also apply for

Domiciliary Care Allowance

If you are a parent or guardian of a child fulfils the registration criteria as blind or vision impaired you may qualify for domiciliary care allowance. To qualify for this allowance, your child must live at home, be under age 16 years and must require substantially more care and supervision. You must also satisfy a means test. The means test will only calculate the financial resources of your child. At 16 years, you can apply for disability allowance administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Apply to your local health service executive office.

Incapacitated Child Tax Credit

If you are a parent or guardian of a child who fulfils the registration criteria as blind or vision impaired and is under the age of 21, you can apply for an additional tax credit. You may still apply for this credit if you child is over the age of 21 and is in full-time education or training for a trade or profession, for a minimum of 2 years.

Apply to your regional revenue office on one of their locall numbers listed below:

• Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo & Westmeath 1890 777 425
• Dublin City & County 1890 333 425
• Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Meath, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford & Wicklow 1890 444 425
• Clare, Cork, Kerry & Limerick 1890 222 425

What am I entitled to if I am 16 years or over?

Disability Allowance

If you fulfil the registration criteria as a person who is blind or vision impaired and are aged between 16 and 18 years you may be eligible to this weekly payment. To get this payment you must satisfy a means test and you must have a disability that is expected to last for at least one year. Find out more about other qualifying criteria for disability allowance.

Disability 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 Disability Allowance section, Longford Tel: 043 45211.

Blind Persons’ Pension

If you fulfil the registration criteria as a person who is blind or vision impaired, are over 18 years and satisfy a means test you may be entitled to get the blind persons’ pension. A means test calculates any income that you may have or property or assets in your name, which could provide an income. You should apply for the blind person’s pension 4 months before your 18th birthday. Blind persons’ 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.

Apply for this payment by contacting the Blind Persons’ Pension section of the Department of Social and Family Affairs or call them at LoCall 1890 50 00 00 Ext 3371. Applications for blind persons’ pension will also be accepted over the telephone.

Blind Welfare Allowance

If you fulfil the registration criteria as a person who is blind or vision impaired, and satisfy a means test you may be entitled to get the blind welfare allowance. Blind welfare allowance is a means tested payment from the Department of Health and Children. This allowance is paid from age 18 to people who are eligible. A means test calculates any income that you may have or property or assets in your name, which could provide an income.

Apply to your local health service executive area.