People with poor eyesight could be getting £749 every month

People with visual impairment, vision loss or high myopia could be entitled to additional financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP). The latest data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that at the end of April, 58,960 people were getting payments of as much as £187.45 a week (or £749 a month) through PIP.

Across Britain there are around two million people living with a sight impairment or a degenerative eye condition who may not be aware of the extra financial help designed to assist with additional daily living costs or mobility needs. The new figures demonstrate that at the end of April 2025, over 58,960 people were in receipt of support through PIP for over 45 visual conditions.

• Retinitis Pigmentosa
• Macular Degeneration - Wet and Dry (also referred to as age-related MD)
• Retina and optic nerve - other diseases of / type not known
• Diabetic Retinopathy (a condition that can cause vision loss in people with diabetes)
• High myopia (short sightedness)

If you have daily living and/or mobility needs due to a sight condition or poor vision, you may be able to claim PIP or ADP.

To claim PIP or ADP, you must have a health condition or disability where you:

• have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months
• expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months

Typically, you need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the UK when you make your application.

If you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should also consider applying for PIP or ADP.

• preparing, cooking or eating food
• managing your medication
• washing, bathing or using the toilet
• dressing and undressing
• engaging and communicating with other people
• reading and understanding written information
• making decisions about money
• planning a journey or following a route
• moving around

There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the GOV.UK website here.