The RNIB has written to The Royal College of Ophthalmologists to ask for its support in helping patients to understand how the Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) and sight impairment registration can help during the cost-of-living crisis.
The College supports the RNIB in helping to inform patients about the implications and benefits of receiving a CVI and becoming registered, and we encourage College Members to disseminate this information to their whole eye care team.
The cost-of-living crisis can have a disproportionate impact on blind and partially sighted people. For example, there are additional costs for assistive technology, support in their homes and some transport costs. In addition, people with sight loss are also more reliant on benefits than the general population, with only one in four registered blind and partially sighted people of working age in employment.
Through registering as blind or partially sighted with a local authority, following being assessed/certified as Severely Sight Impaired (SSI) or Sight Impaired (SI), people with sight loss can access state benefits, which may alleviate some of the cost-of-living pressures, and the letter provides information about the benefits available across the UK.
You can read the letter here.