Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 161G

Entitlement to payment

Section 161G establishes the eligibility conditions for blind welfare allowance, a means-tested payment for people who are blind or have a visual impairment.

• The claimant must be at least 18 years old, or at least 16 if already receiving or entitled to disability allowance.
• The claimant's weekly means, calculated under the standard rules in Part 4 of Schedule 3, must not exceed the maximum threshold specified for this allowance.
• The claimant must provide evidence of visual impairment: either by already receiving blind pension, being on the National Blind Register, or submitting a certificate from an ophthalmic surgeon or optometrist.
• The claimant must be habitually resident in the State when they apply for the allowance.