The Australian "blind pension" (Disability Support Pension for the blind) pays a single person up to approximately $1,178.70 per fortnight as of early 2026, including supplements, and importantly, it has no income or assets test, meaning it's paid at the maximum rate regardless of other earnings or wealth, unlike other Disability Support Pensions. Rates change, so check Centrelink's Services Australia website for the latest figures, as they are updated twice yearly.
If your parent or Senior friend is legally blind, they may be entitled to the Blind Pension worth $1,149 a fortnight (for a single person) inclusive of the Maximum Pension Supplement and inclusive of $14.10 for the Energy Supplement, regardless of their income and assets.
If you are under 67 years old, and legally blind, you are eligible for the Disability Support Pension (Blind). If you are aged 67 years old or older, and legally blind, you are eligible the Age Pension (Blind). Being legally blind doesn't mean you have total vision loss or 'black' blindness.
The main benefits are: Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Employment Support Allowance, Attendance Allowance. You may also be able to claim tax credits, Access To Work, Disabled Students' Allowance and Blind Person's Allowance.
The full Centrelink Disability Support Pension (DSP) for a single person over 21 is around $1,178.70 per fortnight, including the basic rate, pension supplement, and energy supplement as of late 2025, but this varies by your situation (age, partner, income, assets). You can get up to approximately $1,777.00 combined as a couple, or less if you have significant income or assets, with rates updated twice yearly.
Single recipients will receive $1,149.00 per fortnight, up from $1,138.00. It's a small increase, but every bit helps. Couples will see their payments increase as well. Each partner in a couple will receive $866.10, which is $11.00 more than before.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) – The maximum payment is $4,152 a month (up from $4,018 in 2025). The maximum family benefit for SSDI is about 85% to 150% of the disabled worker's benefit. The maximum payment at full retirement age is $4,152 monthly.
You may be eligible for SSDI benefits or SSI payments if you're blind. We consider you to be blind if your vision can't be corrected to better than 20/200 in your better eye.
Blind Person's Allowance: Eligibility, Conditions, Transfer Rules, and Overseas Aspects (2024/25 to 2026/27) In addition to the personal allowance, blind individuals receive a further allowance (£3,250 for 2026/27; £3,130 for 2025/26; £3,070 for 2024/25).
If you're blind or visually impaired, it is up to you whether or not you identify as disabled. However, under the Equality Act 2010, if you're registered with your local authority as either sight impaired or severely sight impaired, you automatically meet the act's definition of a disabled person.
If you're over the free area, you get a lower pension until you reach the limit or cut off point. If you're permanently blind and get Age Pension, we don't use the income test unless you get Rent Assistance or your partner is getting a payment and is not also blind.
If you've been assessed by an ophthalmologist who says you have severe sight impairment (blind) or you're sight impaired (partially sighted), you can register as sight impaired with your local authority. This can help you access low vision support and services in your area, and means you can apply for benefits.
The Postal Concessions for the Blind (PCB) program provides free postal for eligible items, through Australia Post. This program is for people who are blind or vision impaired, and organisations whose primary purpose is to service the needs of the blind and vision impaired.
In Australia, for the Age Pension (as of late 2025), a single homeowner can have up to $321,500 in assets (including bank accounts) for a full pension, while a couple can have up to $481,500; for non-homeowners, these limits are higher at $579,500 for singles and $739,500 for couples, with figures adjusting for cost of living. Assets above these thresholds reduce your pension, and these limits are reviewed by Services Australia regularly.
Adult Disability Payment is between £29.20 and £187.45 per week. The amount you get depends on how your condition or disability affects you. Adult Disability Payment has two components – a daily living component and a mobility component. You could get money from one or both of these.
For an Australian Disability Support Pension (DSP), how much you can have in the bank depends on your homeownership and relationship status, as it's part of your total assets, with limits around $300k-$900k for full DSP eligibility, though your payment reduces gradually as assets increase, and specific limits apply for stopping payments entirely. Key factors include your home (counted differently), other assets like cars, and how "deemed income" from savings affects your payment.
This can include Disability Living Allowance for Children, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Attendance Allowance.
Some people fold their bills, for example, the 20$ bill is always folded in half and the 10$ in thirds. Some use special wallets. The OrCam MyEye can also help. Hold the banknote steady at eye-level for a few seconds and the OrCam MyEye will read the bill denomination out loud.
iCanConnect provides free equipment including smartphones, tablets, computers, screen readers, braille displays, and more to people who meet federal disability and income guidelines. Once enrolled, participants receive an individual assessment to determine the best equipment solutions.
Your unaffected eye must also have good all-round field of vision. may drive only after clinical advice of successful adaptation to the condition. This means that you should not drive until you have been advised by your doctor or optometrist (optician) that you have fully adapted to monocular vision.
Severely sight impaired (blind)
There are three groups defined by visual function within this category: Group 1: People whose visual acuity is below 3/60 Snellen or equivalent. Group 2: People whose visual acuity is 3/60 or better but below 6/60 Snellen or equivalent, and who have a contracted field of vision.
SSDI is tailored to people who've worked and paid into the system, and the amount you receive reflects your earnings over time. In 2025, SSDI benefits range from $967 to $4,018 per month, but most people receive between $1,100 and $2,000.