Blind Persons Allowance? Why!

littleacorn
littleacorn Community member Posts: 383 Empowering

Never knew this existed. It's just over £3000 per year added to you Personal Allowance for income tax. Wondering why this section of the disabled communit can get this and not other sections of the disabled community? Anyone got any answers?

Comments

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 6,866 Online Community Coordinator

    Everyone's disability will affect them differently @littleacorn but blind people tend to need a tonne more specialist equipment than others, so the tax allowance is just a way to support some independence without causing them to rely purely on benefits. That's the best answer I currently have anyway. Maybe someone else has some other reasons?

  • littleacorn
    littleacorn Community member Posts: 383 Empowering

    @Albus_Scope I don't know if I agree that they need more specialist equipment than some other disabled people. There are many different disabilities which need specialist equipment so why are they singled out.

  • MW123
    MW123 Scope Member Posts: 702 Championing
    edited August 30

    @littleacorn

    I understand your perspective, and it's true that many disabilities require specialised equipment and support. The Blind Person's Allowance, which has been part of the UK tax system since 1962, was introduced to address the specific challenges that visually impaired individuals face in both employment and daily life. While all disabilities come with their own set of difficulties, visual impairments create unique obstacles in fundamental areas like mobility, finding employment and accessing information and numerous things those with sight often take for granted.

    This allowance is not about giving preferential treatment; it's about recognising the distinct barriers that visually impaired individuals encounter every day. It's not a luxury or a bonus but a small step toward levelling the playing field. I have no doubt that anyone receiving this allowance would give it up in a heartbeat if it meant having their sight restored. I have tremendous respect for the blind and partially sighted and let us not forget the marvellous guide dogs who assist them.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing

    This makes me feel quite sad. I have multiple health conditions but I know I'd choose mine any day of the week, than be blind…

    I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like not to be able to see all the beautiful things in life, scenery, animals, loved ones, plants, flowers, the list is endless.

  • michael57
    michael57 Community member Posts: 431 Pioneering

    what a lovely thing to say i tell everyone i lost most of my sight and a few brain cells since my strokes but kept my wicked sense of humor i can live with that

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Community member, Scope Member Posts: 1,783 Championing
    edited August 30

    I don't understand why anybody would pose this question on Scope's forum or begrudge it. A saving of a few quid on income tax not a gift of that sum!

    It's sad that anyone needs to ask.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing

    Thank you. I meant every word. I've been watching celebrity master chef this week and the blind comedian Jamie MacDonald was on there and oh my goodness, he was just incredible. Just watching him cook as if he was a sighted person was mind blowing.

    He asked the judges to put on blind folds when they were tasting his food so they could have some idea of what it was like as a blind person.

    How you cope with life is just incredible. So many things that sighted people take for granted. I can't even begin to imagine. Yet you still have your sense of humour. I applaud you.

  • Cantilip
    Cantilip Community member Posts: 622 Empowering

    @michael57 Everything that Poppy has said.

  • michael57
    michael57 Community member Posts: 431 Pioneering

    i dont post to much on here being an old ex farm herdsperson i tend to say it as i see it no pun intended my dawnie has an autistic niece who has never ever interacted with males she loves my dawnie to bits tho first time she saw me after i came out of hospital she bypassed dawnie and gave me a massive hug and 18 months on she still does i am happy to live with that having said that for every brownie point i get from she who must be obeyed i lose 10 haha

  • egister
    egister Posts: 271 Empowering

    I see no reason why this doesn't apply to other people with disabilities. Historically, blind communities received some privileges before people with medical conditions, who in those early days were not considered disabled. Read for example Scope history and compare with NLB.

  • littleacorn
    littleacorn Community member Posts: 383 Empowering

    I have never said I disagree or begrudge this allowance it was mearly to understand when and why this decision was made.

  • Biblioklept
    Biblioklept Community member Posts: 5,217 Championing

    The cynic in me imagines it was one of the ways to encourage people to register being blind as registering is voluntary and you have to be registered to receive the allowance.

    I'm 100% speaking from a place of ignorance so I don't know how blind/visually impaired people feel about the register, but can you imagine if they started asking disabled people to be added to various national list based on their disabilities? I can see the sense as it helps with accessing support but also it feels a bit weird

    But it's barely anything anyway, I don't know why anyone would have an issue with it. Someone earning 30,000 that is visually impaired would pay just 574 less tax a year, that's £47 a month.

    As for the argument of why them and not other disabilities you could add the argument for any tax allowance. Marriage allowance? Why not any couple? Or those who choose to be single? Rent a room scheme? Why not any landlord? Or extra allowances for homeowners?

  • michael57
    michael57 Community member Posts: 431 Pioneering

    when it was introduced was i believe early 1960s through the conservative party why is anybody's guess same as it always has been and always will be with the parties in power they all give a shilling and take a pound lol