Assistance for the Visual Impairment (DSS)

The Assistance for the Visually Impaired may be awarded to a person who is fourteen (14) years of age and over, who is completely or partially visually impaired.

The Assistance for the Visually Impaired is paid every four (4) weeks in advance.

Please click here for a Schedule of Benefits Rates.

Fill in and submit the Medical Report online.

Only Medical Practitioners are eligible to apply for this assistance on behalf of the applicant.

General eligibility criteria:

• The applicant needs to be fourteen (14) years and over.

• The applicant has been suffering from the visual impairment prior to reaching the age of sixty (60) years.

• An applicant can be gainfully occupied since eligibility for the Assistance for the Visually Impaired is not Capital Means tested.  From January 2022, the applicant is also not weekly means tested.  Thus, both Capital and Weekly Means, will not be taken into consideration.

• A person who is already in receipt of the Assistance for the Visually Impaired and is turning sixty (60) years of age will have the entitlement increased to the equivalent of the Age Pension rate.

• The provisions of Article 90 of the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.) “Duplicate Rights” apply, wherein a beneficiary cannot be in receipt of two pensions; benefits; assistances or allowances concurrently but to the most beneficial pension; benefit; assistance or allowance.

• The Inter-Professional board will decide whether the case falls within the medical parameters for payment of this assistance. 

• An applicant who was eligible for the Disabled Child Allowance prior to turning fourteen (14) years of age, may still be examined by the Inter-Professional board.