Macular degeneration, work and benefits

Is macular degeneration a disability?

Under the Equality Act 2010, a condition counts as a disability if it has a substantial (more than minor) and long-term (12 months or more) effect on your normal daily activities. The law looks at how you would be without treatment. If you are certified as sight impaired or severely sight impaired, you are automatically treated as disabled.

At work

Access to Work can pay for screen readers, magnification software, large monitors, a support worker or taxis to work.

Benefits

Most people with AMD are over State Pension age.

If you are over State Pension age, look at Attendance Allowance instead of PIP. It is for people who need help with personal care or supervision.

If you are under State Pension age:

PIP is based on how your sight affects you on most days. Sight loss can affect activities such as:

• reading, if you cannot read normal size print even with glasses
• preparing food, if you cannot safely use a cooker or chop food
• planning and following journeys, if you need someone with you, a guide dog or a cane on unfamiliar routes
• managing medicines, if you cannot read labels
• making budgeting decisions, if you need help reading bills and letters

Registering as sight impaired

If your sight is badly affected, an eye specialist can sign a Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) so you can register as sight impaired or severely sight impaired with your council. This can open the door to:

• help from your council's sensory team, such as mobility training and equipment
• a Blue Badge, automatically if you are severely sight impaired
• a Disabled Persons Railcard and a free bus pass
• Blind Person's Allowance, which raises your tax-free income, if you are severely sight impaired
• 50% off your TV licence, if you are severely sight impaired

Registering is voluntary, and you can get some help without it.