Full Centrelink Pension for legally blind residents

Full Centrelink Pension for legally blind residents

By Christine Hopper

Centrelink pay the full Age or Disability Support Pension to residents who are ‘legally blind’.  So who is legally blind and not just vision impaired?

When we hear that someone is ‘blind’ we sometimes assume that the person has no vision.  Sadly some people have no eyes and thus they have absolutely no vision.

But most people who are ‘blind’ have some vision; they know when the sun is shining and when the room is dark.  Some blind people can see enough to read a newspaper but cannot find the exit door.  Others can admire the shop window displays by looking sideways but cannot see the dog droppings just ahead.

Our level of vision is measured by acuity, how clearly we see, and our vision field, how widely we see.

In between the guy with the best vision and the totally blind person is a vast array of vision impaired people.  For some vision impairments, prescription lens could remedy the fuzziness but not increase the vision field.

The best clarity normal human vision is 6/6 (the metric equivalent of 20/20 vision).

If you have the best clarity vision then you could read a sign from 6 metres away and be able to separate lines that are one arc minute apart (equivalent to lines that are spaced 1.75 mm apart).  With 6/6 vision you could read the letters on the second lowest line of the standard eye test chart.

A vision of 6/12 is considered half as good as the best clarity.  With 6/12 vision you could read much of the standard eye test chart

If you only have 6/60 vision then your clarity is such that at 6 metres away you could just read a sign that the best clarity vision person could read at 60 metres away.  With 6/60 vision you could just read the top line of the eye test chart; that single big letter.

The people with the best vision have a vision field of 170 degrees.  That means that without moving, the guy with the best vision can see up and down, left and right to 85 degrees from straight ahead.

Loss of vision field comes in many formats. 
With only central vision, it is like looking through tubes.  But with no central vision only some peripheral vision, you have to look sideways at the object that you hope to see.  Alas loss of vision field cannot be ameliorated by spectacles.

Some people lose a segment of their vision field following a stroke. Diseases such as diabetes, can also result in loss of part of the vision field.  Guide Dogs Victoria has sample pictures of how people with some common types of eye conditions see the world at https://www.guidedogsvictoria.com.au/resources/about-low-vision/types-low-vision

Out of the corner of his eye he saw the wasp approaching and waved it away.  Alas the lady had a vision field of only 10 degrees and could not see the wasp coming but finally felt it sting her on the cheek.

Centrelink pay the full Age Pension or Disability Support Pension to residents who are ‘legally blind’.

Under Australian Social Security legislation, ‘legally blind’ is having ‘corrected’ acuity (clarity) of no better than 6/60 and/or a vision field of no more than 10 degrees.

If you are legally blind then you are entitled to the full rate of Age Pension if you have attained your Age Pension Age, or Disability Support Pension if you have not yet attained your Age Pension Age, without any means-testing.  The thought is that if you were legally blind you might not be able to see enough to know what forms people are pushing at you.

To claim for the Blind exemption from the means tests you must have the Centrelink form Request for Ophthalmologist or Optometrist Report form (SA013) completed and signed by an ophthalmologist, a medical doctor who specializes in diseases of the eye.

Legally blind people travel free on Melbourne’s public transport but driving a car is illegal for them.

To hold a car driver’s license in Victoria you must have at least 6/12 acuity using both eyes and a vision field of 120% across the mid-line.

Your acuity is measured with your prescription spectacles on, that is, your ‘corrected’ vision.  Thus my driver’s license requires that I wear my prescription spectacles when driving.

A higher level of vision is required for driving a passenger bus or heavy goods vehicle.

Maybe grandma is seriously vision impaired

Maybe your older family member now only shops at her favourite stores and does not try the new ones further along the street.  If her sight is failing she might be scared that if she ventures into the new part then she could not find her way back to the familiar territory.

Does grandma ask you to help her find small items that have fallen on the floor?
With only 10 degrees of vision field, scanning the carpet for a coin or ring takes a long time when you can only see 20 cm circles.

Does grandpa trip over easily?  You judge depth and speed with your crossover vision, the section of your vision field that both eyes see.  If your vision field is small then those carpeted steps look just like a nice level stretch of floor.

If someone you love is falling over for no medical reason, or has become hesitant about going out then maybe an eye test would help.  Just knowing the limitations of someone’s sight helps us to help them.

If your family member has become legally blind then you could take the certificate to Centrelink. Help with the Centrelink experience is available from Financial Care Services, call Christine on (03)9808 0338.

Vision Australia sells marvelous gadgets to help us safely manage with limited vision.  Would you like a talking clock, or a beeper to tell you that your cup is full now?  Go shopping in person at Kooyong or online at https://shop.visionaustralia.org/

What does this mean to the sighted community?

When you meet your vision impaired friend please introduce yourself as if you had called her on the telephone.

Be proactive, and greet your friend when she is out and about.  Remember that your vision impaired friend cannot see that you are seated just across the aisle and could be upset if the next time you meet, you said, “I saw someone on the train that looked like you but she was reading so I knew that it could not be you because you are blind.” Alas it was her vision impaired friend who was not amused.

Please always clean up after your dog.  A white cane cannot detect dog droppings on the footpath.

Vision impaired people are unlikely to see clear glass doors, steps, display stands or overhanging branches.  So please keep the footpath clear for the safety of our vision impaired friends and because the local Council could fine you for obstructions.

Do not distract the pilot, please.  A guide dog is piloting his handler so allow him to concentrate on his job.  You must not touch or talk to or otherwise distract a guide dog while it is in harness.

Not all blind or low vision people have guide dogs.  Many vision impaired people use a white cane to ‘see’ the surface just ahead.  Others just use their limited vision to get about slowly.

Finally remember that your vision impaired friend is still the same person she was before she lost her sight.  Your friend still has her sense of humor and her love of coffee but is now less likely to criticize your choice of clothing.

If you would like further confidential, independent and professional advice about Centrelink, lifestyle or financial issues please contact Christine Hopper . Call Financial Care Services on (03) 9808 0338 for help navigating the Blind Pension maze.

Financial Care Services your independent financial adviser

Financial Care Services is an independent financial adviser focused on the needs of seniors in transition. Our clients are considering the potential for accessing Age Pensions on retirement. Our advice is valuable when seniors are moving into retirement lifestyle village communities or residential aged care.

Financial Care Services offers Short Consultations to help you check your financial position against the Centrelink financial means tests for a DVA Service Pension or an Age Pension, DSP or a Carer Payment.

To prepare for your Age Pension Short Consultation email info@financialcareservices.com.au now for the Financial Care Services Age Pension Data form. You will also receive the Financial Care Services Financial Services Guide including the Financial Care Services Privacy Policy.

Christine could also assist you with collating your personal data, estimating how much Pension you could expect to receive and completing the Centrelink forms for you to sign. Normal hourly rate consultation fees apply for assistance with personal data collation, completing Centrelink forms and attendance at a Centrelink office with you.

Financial Care Services core value in financial advice is to assist with your money plan in the responsible management of your assets to generate the cash flow needed for your lifetime planning. Christine at Financial Care Services understands both the DVA and Centrelink Pensions systems and the Commonwealth aged care fee arrangements.

To book an appointment for confidential, independent and professional advice about Commonwealth regulated residential aged care, Centrelink, lifestyle or financial issues please contact Christine Hopper 03 9808 0338 or email your enquiry.

Disclaimer. These Insights are a general over view based on our understanding of the Centrelink and DVA Pension arrangements. Individual entitlements to Centrelink and DVA benefits are determined based on your actual situation as documented to Centrelink or DVA.