Tynwald has approved measures which will give people under the age of 65 who have a severe visual impairment entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance. This will represent an increase of ?29.90 a week for the majority of those affected. For those eligible, entitlement will begin from 11th April 2011. Minister for Social Care Hon Martyn Quayle MHK commented: “This change is good news for the estimated 60 to 70 severely visually impaired people who will benefit from this measure, helping them to afford the support they need to live their lives. The total cost to my Department is expected to be around ?100,000 a year. I would encourage all those who think they may be entitled to this benefit to get in touch with my Department as soon as possible so that if they are entitled then payments can start from 11th April 2011.” Under the regulations, a person is regarded as having severe visual impairment if, even with corrective lenses, they have visual acuity of less than 3/60. This means they can only read the top line of an eye test chart from 3 metres away. Visual acuity is the measurement of a person’s central vision and how well they can see detail. A person will also be regarded as having severe visual impairment if their visual acuity is more than 3/60, but less than 6/60, meaning they can only see the top line of an eye test chart from 6 metres away, but only if they also have a complete loss of peripheral vision and suffer from tunnel vision. If a person’s sight is so poor that it cannot be measured in this way, then they will also be regarded as having severe visual impairment. To qualify for Disability Living Allowance a person does not have to have paid National Insurance contributions and the benefit is not means tested. Generally speaking it is not taken into account when assessing entitlement to means-tested benefits, such as income support. For people over the age of 65 who have a severe visual impairment extra help will be available from April, but on a means-tested basis. The Department’s income support scheme provides for a mobility premium, for people who would otherwise qualify for the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance if they were under the age of 65. People who think they may be regarded as having a severe visual impairment are advised to contact the Department’s Disability Benefits Unit as soon as possible by telephoning 685104 or by e-mail to disabilitybenefits.dsc@gov.im. This includes people who may already be getting some other component of Disability Living Allowance. The Department’s officers will then advise individuals what they need to do next. The Department will be contacting some individuals directly, for example those already registered as blind, to encourage them to get in touch. It will also be writing to the Manx Blind Welfare Society and Age Concern Isle of Man to provide more information, in order that they can advise their clients. -ENDS -