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Higher rate mobility component for people with severe sight impairments

Since 11 April 2011, certain categories of severely sight-impaired people have been eligible to claim the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

Checking whether you qualify for the allowance

The Disability and Carers Service have been contacting sight-impaired people who receive the lower rate mobility component of DLA. The reason for this is to find out if they qualify for the higher rate mobility component under the new criteria. The exercise to contact these customers is now complete and the dedicated phone line is closed.

If you have been contacted as part of this exercise the Disability and Carers Service will provide you with a decision as quickly as possible. However please note where more medical information is needed it may take longer before a decision can be made.

If you have received form DLA77 and need help completing it, or if you prefer to provide information over the phone, you can contact the Disability and Carers Service Helpline on 08457 123456.

People with speech or hearing difficulties

If you have with speech or hearing difficulties, and use a textphone, you can contact the Disability and Carers Service on 08457 224433.

Higher rate mobility component of DLA - eligibility

To get the allowance, you need to be certified as severely sight impaired by a consultant ophthalmologist and be aged between 3 and under 65 on 11 April 2011. You must also:

  • have a best corrected visual acuity of less than 3/60, or
  • have a best corrected visual acuity of 3/60 or more, but less than 6/60, a complete loss of peripheral visual field and a central visual field of no more than 10 degrees in total

 

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