If you are registered blind or severely sight impaired in the UK, you may be entitled to an extra tax-free allowance known as the Blind Person Allowance. For the tax year 2025/26, the Blind Person’s Allowance is £3,130.
This means you can earn an additional £3,130 before paying Income Tax, on top of your standard personal allowance. It’s a valuable relief that helps reduce your tax bill, but many people are not aware of how it works or how to claim it.
In this guide, you’ll get to know:
- What exactly is blind allowance?
- How to apply for blind person’s tax allowance?
- Who is eligible for the blind person allowance?
- And much more…
Let’s get into it!
What Is Blind Person Allowance?
The Blind Person’s Allowance is an additional tax-free allowance. It reduces the income you are taxed on, which means you pay less income tax overall.
For example:
- Standard Personal Allowance (2025/26): £12,570
- Blind Person Allowance (2025/26): £3,130
- Total tax-free income: £15,700
This means you can earn up to £15,700 before paying any Income Tax.
How Much Is Blind Person’s Tax Allowance 2025/26?
For the tax year 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026, the Blind Person Allowance is £3,130.
Blind Person’s Allowance £3,130
The figure of £3,130 is the official HMRC amount for Blind Person Allowance in 2025/26. It is added to your personal allowance to increase the income you can earn before paying income tax.
A quick example:
- You qualify for blind personal allowance and are a basic rate taxpayer.
- You earn £20,000 in 2025/26.
- First £15,700 (personal allowance £12,570 + blind person allowance £3,130) is tax free.
- You pay income tax only on £4,300 instead of £7,430.
So the blind person allowance directly cuts your tax bill by reducing your taxable income.
What You’ll Get with Blind Person Allowance?
As stated above, the Blind Person’s Allowance is an extra amount of tax-free income added to your standard Personal Allowance. Hence, it’ll increase the total amount you can earn before paying Income Tax.
It is also important to note that its amount will increase to £3,250 for the 2026/27 tax year, which begins on 6 April 2026.
| Tax year | Blind Person’s Allowance |
| 2025 to 2026 | £3,130 |
| 2026 to 2027 | £3,250 |
If you and your spouse or civil partner are both eligible, you’ll each get an allowance.
You can also transfer your Blind Person’s Allowance to your spouse or civil partner, if you do not pay tax or earn enough to use all of your allowance.
What are the Eligibility Criteria?
To be eligible for Blind Person’s Allowance, you must be registered with your local council as blind or severely sight impaired. This registration is usually done through a medical professional.
Certificate of Visual Impairment
This certificate is essential to support your claim for a Blind Person’s Allowance.
Residency Requirements
You must be a UK resident to claim Blind Person’s Allowance. If you’re living abroad, you may still be eligible if you’re a British citizen or have a strong connection to the UK.
Age Requirements
Receiving a Blind Person’s Allowance does not affect your eligibility for other benefits. You can claim these benefits in addition to the Blind Person’s Allowance if you meet the respective eligibility criteria.
Who Is Eligible For The Blind Person’s Allowance?
Eligibility for the Blind Person Allowance (BPA) depends primarily on your clinical level of sight loss and where you live in the UK. The specific requirements for the blind person’s allowance eligibility differ based on your location within the UK:
England and Wales
To claim your Blind Person Allowance:
- You must be registered with your local council as blind or severely sight impaired (SSI).
- You will also need a Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) or a similar document from your doctor.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Your sight must be poor enough that you cannot do any work for which eyesight is essential. You must have a medical certificate or doctor’s letter confirming this.
Registration with the local council is not a strict requirement for the tax allowance.
Note: You do not have to be totally blind to qualify. The term “severely sight impaired” covers a range of vision loss that significantly impacts daily life.
How to Claim if I am Eligible?
Before claiming Blind Person’s Allowance, ensure you meet the eligibility criteria. You must be registered with your local council as blind.
Gather Required Documents
Collect the necessary documents to support your claim:
- Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI)
- National Insurance number
- Proof of identity (passport, driving license, or ID card)
- Proof of address (utility bill, council tax bill, or bank statement)
Contact HMRC
Reach out to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to claim a Blind Person’s Allowance:
- Phone: 0300 200 3301 (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, except bank holidays)
- Textphone: 0300 200 3319 (for customers with hearing or speech difficulties)
- Post: Blind Person’s Allowance, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1AS
Complete the Claim Form
HMRC will send you a claim form (P87) or you can download it from the website. Fill in the form carefully, attach all supporting documents, and return it to HMRC.
Wait for Processing
HMRC will assess your claim and notify you of the outcome. If approved, Blind Person’s Allowance will be added to your tax-free Personal Allowance, reducing your taxable income.
Renewal
Blind Person’s Allowance is usually awarded for a fixed period, typically 5 years. HMRC will send a renewal form before the allowance expires. Complete and return the form to maintain your entitlement.
Monitor Your Tax Code
Check your tax code to ensure it reflects your Blind Person’s Allowance. If incorrect, contact HMRC to rectify the issue. Remember, claiming a Blind Person’s Allowance is a straightforward process. If you need assistance, consider consulting a tax advisor or seeking guidance from a reputable organisation supporting visually impaired individuals.
How to Apply for Blind Person’s Tax Allowance?
To get the Blind Person Allowance, you must contact HMRC directly. It is not automatically applied based on your medical records or council registration.
1. Gather Your Information
Before starting, ensure you have the following details ready:
- National Insurance number.
- The date you were first certified as severely sight impaired.
- The name of the local authority you are registered with (if you live in England or Wales).
2. Choose Your Application Method
By Phone (Quickest for most)
Call the HMRC helpline at 0300 200 3301. (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, except UK bank holidays)
Before calling, find out about call charges.
Online via Personal Tax Account
If you have a Government Gateway user ID, you can manage your tax reliefs online.
- Sign in to your Personal Tax Account.
- Go to the “Tax Reliefs” or “Check your Income Tax” section to report a change in circumstances.
Via Self-Assessment
If you already complete a tax return each year, you do not need to call HMRC.
- Tick the box for Blind Person’s Allowance in the ‘Tax Reliefs’ section of your return (specifically box 14 on page TR 3).
- HMRC will then include the allowance in your tax calculation automatically.
Can I Transfer the Unused Allowance to My Partner or Spouse?
This is one of the most valuable features of the blind person allowance. If you don’t earn enough to use the full £3,130 (for example, if you are retired or not working), you can transfer the remainder to your husband, wife, or civil partner.
This applies even if your partner has perfect vision. To do this, you usually need to fill out Form 575. This tells HMRC to shift the tax-free threshold from your “pot” to your partner’s.
Imagine a couple, Alex and Sam:
- Alex is registered blind and earns £10,000 from a part-time job.
- Sam works full-time and earns £30,000.
Alex’s Tax Position
Alex’s standard Personal Allowance is £12,570. Since Alex only earns £10,000, they are already £2,570 under the tax-free limit and pay no tax.
Because Alex’s income (£10,000) is already lower than the standard Personal Allowance (£12,570), they have no taxable income to use the Blind Person’s Allowance against. Therefore, the full £3,130 can be transferred to Sam.
Alex fills out Form 575(T) to transfer the full £3,130 to Sam.
Sam’s Tax Saving
- Sam’s tax-free threshold increases from £12,570 to £15,700 (£12,570 + £3,130).
- Sam now pays tax on £3,130 less of their salary.
- At the 20% basic tax rate, this saves the couple £626 in cash for the year.
Changes That Affect Blind Person Allowance Transfers
If you transfer your allowance to a spouse or civil partner, the following changes must be reported:
- Separation or Divorce: Legal changes to your marriage or civil partnership will end the ability to transfer allowances.
- No Longer Living Together: Generally, you must be living together to transfer the allowance.
- Exception: You can still transfer if you are apart due to illness, residential care, armed forces postings, or working away from home.
What is the Way to Transfer Your Allowance?
The transfer can be beneficial if your partner earns a higher income. Ensuring the allowance is utilised effectively. To transfer your Blind Person’s Allowance.
Complete the Transfer Form
HMRC will send you a transfer form (P87A) or you can download it from the website. Fill in the form, providing details about yourself and your partner, and return it to HMRC.
Provide Supporting Documents
Attach a copy of your Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) and your partner’s National Insurance number and proof of identity.
Wait for Processing
HMRC will assess your transfer request and notify you of the outcome. If approved, your Blind Person’s Allowance will be transferred to your partner, increasing their tax-free Personal Allowance.
Monitor Your Tax Code
Check your tax code and your partner’s tax code to ensure they reflect the transferred allowance. If incorrect, contact HMRC to rectify the issue.
Is There a Blind Person’s Allowance Application Form?
While many people prefer to call, there isn’t one single “application form” for the allowance itself if you are claiming for yourself. However, if you are looking for how to claim blind persons tax allowance online free, the easiest way is through your Personal Tax Account on the GOV.UK website.
If you’re already in the Self Assessment system, you can simply tick the relevant box on your tax return.
And if you want to transfer your unused Blind Person’s Allowance to your spouse or civil partner, you should use Form 575.
How Much Could You Save with Blind Allowance?
The amount you actually “save” with the Blind Person Allowance in cash depends on your Income Tax band.
- Basic Rate Taxpayers (20%): You will save £626 in tax for the year.
- Higher Rate Taxpayers (40%): If you have enough income to be in the higher rate band, the allowance could save you up to £1,252 in tax for the year.
- Non-Taxpayers: If you don’t earn enough to pay tax, you save £0 directly. But this is why the Blind Personal Allowance transfer to a spouse is so valuable as they could save that £626 instead.
It is also worth noting that this allowance is on top of your Marriage Allowance if you already claim that. They are two separate things, so you don’t have to choose one or the other.
How to Claim Blind Person Allowance?
You can claim the Blind Person’s Allowance by phone, post, or online through HMRC. The most direct method is calling the HMRC helpline at 0300 200 3301. (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, except UK bank holidays)
When Does the Blind Person Allowance End or Change?
The Blind Person Allowance generally remains active as long as you meet the eligibility criteria, with the following exceptions:
- Improvement in Sight: If you are no longer registered as severely sight impaired (blind), you must notify HMRC.
- Changes to your tax code usually take effect from the following tax year.
- Moving Abroad: Moving out of the UK can impact your eligibility for the allowance.
- Death of a Claimant: If a claimant passes away, the full allowance is still granted for that specific tax year.
- Death of a Spouse: If you were transferring your unused allowance to a partner, their death will end that specific transfer arrangement.
You should contact HMRC immediately if any of the above occurs. Failure to report changes could lead to:
- Repaying overpaid allowances from previous years.
- Tax penalties if information was deliberately withheld.
Can the Blind Person Allowance Be Backdated?
Yes, the Blind Person’s Allowance (BPA) can be backdated by up to four years. This means if you were eligible in previous years but didn’t claim, you can backdate your claim for the current 2025/26 tax year plus the four previous tax years (back to 6 April 2021).
If you have not used the full allowance, it can be transferred to a spouse or civil partner as we discussed above.
The Bottom Line
The Blind Person Allowance is an important bit of support that often goes unclaimed.
If you are registered blind or severely sight impaired, checking your eligibility and making a claim could cut your income tax bill quite noticeably. And backdating can sometimes lead to a helpful refund.
With the amount sitting at £3,130 for the current year, it’s well worth the ten-minute phone call to HMRC to get it added to your tax code.
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Disclaimer: All the information provided in this article on how much is the blind person allowance, including all the texts and graphics, is general in nature. It does not intend to disregard any of the professional advice.
