Claiming Government Benefits – How 4Sight Vision Support Can Help

The image shows Vision Support Advocate, Michelle, supporting with the completion of Blue Badge paper work forms.

For people living with sight loss and those supporting them, the process of claiming Government benefits may seem a long and daunting process. Access to the correct financial help has never been more important as the cost of living crisis continues and the winter approaches.

4Sight Vision Support, which offers support to blind and sight impaired residents of all ages throughout West Sussex, provides specialist advisors who guide its clients through the process of identifying and accessing benefits and concessions to which they may be entitled. This can make a huge difference to quality of life, independent living and general wellbeing. Advisors will assist with completing forms, such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP), Attendance Allowance (AA), Blue Badge and other travel concessions, and obtaining a 50% discount on a TV licence.

In response to the rising cost of living, the Government has also set up several non-repayable payments to help those who are affected the most. These include a Winter Fuel Payment; Pensioner Cost of Living Payment; Disability Cost of Living Payment and an Energy Discount. Other available benefits include Low Income Benefits, Tax Credits; Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

Service user Kathleen, who is partially sighted and lives with anxiety and has dyslexia, commented, “4Sight Vision Support’s adviser Tara took the time to read and explain the form, wrote out the answers and read these back to check I was happy. It’s enabled me to overcome the previous barriers I had trying to complete this form and means I now have access to financial support.”

If you or someone you know needs support accessing benefits and concessions call 01243 828555 or visit www.4sight.org.uk