Last updated: 18 October 2026
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’s Allowance. For the 2026/27 tax year, the Blind Person’s Allowance is £3,250, up from £3,130 in 2025/26.
This means you can receive an extra £3,250 of income before paying Income Tax, on top of your standard personal allowance. It is a valuable relief, but many people do not know how it works or how to claim it.
In this guide, you’ll find out:
- What exactly is the Blind Person’s Allowance?
- How much is it for 2026/27, and how much could you save?
- Who is eligible, and how do you claim?
- How to transfer it to your spouse or civil partner
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, in 2026/27:
- Standard personal allowance: £12,570
- Blind Person’s Allowance: £3,250
- Total tax-free income: £15,820
This means you can receive up to £15,820 before paying any Income Tax.
How Much Is Blind Person’s Tax Allowance 2026/27?
For the tax year 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027, the Blind Person’s Allowance is £3,250. It rises each year in line with inflation.
| Tax year | Blind Person’s Allowance |
| 2024 to 2025 | £3,070 |
| 2025 to 2026 | £3,130 |
| 2026 to 2027 | £3,250 |
Blind Person’s Allowance £3,250
£3,250 is the official HMRC amount for 2026/27. It is added to your personal allowance, increasing the income you can receive before paying Income Tax.
A quick example:
- You qualify for Blind Person’s Allowance and are a basic rate taxpayer.
- You earn £20,000 in 2026/27.
- The first £15,820 (personal allowance £12,570 + Blind Person’s Allowance £3,250) is tax-free.
- You pay Income Tax on only £4,180 instead of £7,430, which saves you £650.
So the Blind Person’s Allowance directly cuts your tax bill by reducing your taxable income.
What You’ll Get with Blind Person Allowance?
You get an extra £3,250 of tax-free income for 2026/27, added to your standard personal allowance. It is given through your tax code if you are employed or receive a pension, or in your tax calculation if you complete a Self Assessment return.
If you and your spouse or civil partner are both eligible, you each get the allowance.
If you do not pay tax, or do not have enough income to use all of your allowance, you can transfer the unused part to your spouse or civil partner.
What are the Eligibility Criteria?
The rules depend on where you live in the UK.
England and Wales
- You must be registered with your local council as blind or severely sight impaired.
- You must have a certificate confirming that you are blind or severely sight impaired, such as a Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI), or a similar document from your doctor.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
You can claim if your sight is so poor that you cannot do any work for which eyesight is essential. You will need a certificate or letter from your doctor or consultant confirming this. Registration with your local council is not required.
Note: You do not have to be totally blind to qualify. ‘Severely sight impaired’ covers a range of significant sight loss.
Residency
The allowance is normally claimed by UK residents. If you are living abroad, you may still be able to claim it against UK income if you are entitled to UK personal allowances, for example as a British citizen.
Other Benefits
There is no age limit, and claiming Blind Person’s Allowance does not affect your entitlement to benefits such as Personal Independence Payment.
How to Claim if I am Eligible?
The allowance is not applied automatically from your medical records or council registration. You need to tell HMRC.
Gather Your Information
- Your National Insurance number
- The date you were first certified as blind or severely sight impaired
- The name of the local council you are registered with (England and Wales)
- Details of your employer or pension provider
Contact HMRC
- By phone: call HMRC on 0300 200 3301, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (except bank holidays).
- Through Self Assessment: if you already complete a tax return, claim the allowance in the ‘Tax reliefs’ section of your return and HMRC will include it in your tax calculation.
Monitor Your Tax Code
Once your claim is accepted, HMRC will update your tax code. With the full allowance for 2026/27, a standard code of 1257L usually becomes 1582L. If your code looks wrong, contact HMRC to put it right.
Can I Transfer the Unused Allowance to My Partner or Spouse?
Yes, and this is one of the most valuable features of the Blind Person’s Allowance. If you do not have enough taxable income to use the full £3,250, for example because you are retired or not working, you can transfer the unused part to your husband, wife or civil partner.
This applies even if your partner is not sight impaired. You can ask HMRC to make the transfer by phone, or use Form 575 to tell HMRC to move the surplus allowance to your partner.
Imagine a couple, Alex and Sam, in 2026/27:
- 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 income of £10,000 is already below the standard personal allowance of £12,570, so Alex pays no tax and has no taxable income to use the Blind Person’s Allowance against. The full £3,250 can therefore be transferred to Sam.
Sam’s Tax Saving
- Sam’s tax-free income rises from £12,570 to £15,820 (£12,570 + £3,250).
- Sam now pays tax on £3,250 less of their salary.
- At the 20% basic rate, this saves the couple £650 for the year.
Changes That Affect Blind Person Allowance Transfers
Tell HMRC if any of the following happens:
- Separation or divorce: the transfer can only be made between spouses or civil partners.
- No longer living together: you generally need to be living together to transfer the allowance.
- Exception: you can still transfer if you live apart because of illness, residential care, armed forces postings or working away from home.
What is the Way to Transfer Your Allowance?
A transfer makes sense where your partner pays tax and you cannot use all of your allowance. Once HMRC has processed the transfer, it will adjust your partner’s tax code, or include the allowance in their Self Assessment calculation. Check both of your tax codes afterwards to make sure the change has gone through.
Is There a Blind Person’s Allowance Application Form?
There is no separate application form if you are claiming for yourself. Most people claim by phoning HMRC, or through their Self Assessment return if they already file one.
To transfer unused Blind Person’s Allowance to your spouse or civil partner, you can use Form 575.
How Much Could You Save with Blind Allowance?
How much the allowance saves you in cash depends on your Income Tax band. For 2026/27:
- Basic Rate Taxpayers (20%): you save £650 in tax for the year.
- Higher Rate Taxpayers (40%): you save up to £1,300 in tax for the year.
- Non-taxpayers: you save nothing directly, which is why transferring the allowance to a taxpaying spouse, who could save £650, is so valuable.
The Blind Person’s Allowance is separate from the marriage allowance, so a couple can benefit from both.
When Does the Blind Person Allowance End or Change?
The allowance continues as long as you meet the eligibility rules, but tell HMRC if:
- Your sight improves and you are no longer registered or certified as blind or severely sight impaired.
- You move abroad, as this can affect your entitlement to UK allowances.
- Your circumstances as a couple change, for example through separation or the death of a spouse who was receiving a transferred allowance.
If a claimant dies, the full allowance is still given for the tax year of death. Not reporting changes could mean repaying allowances you were not entitled to.
Can the Blind Person Allowance Be Backdated?
Yes. If you were eligible in earlier years but did not claim, you can claim for the current 2026/27 tax year and the previous four tax years, back to 6 April 2022. The allowance in each earlier year is the amount that applied at the time. Any unused allowance in those years can also be transferred to your spouse or civil partner.
The Bottom Line
The Blind Person’s Allowance is valuable 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 noticeably, and backdating can lead to a welcome refund.
At £3,250 for 2026/27, it is well worth a short phone call to HMRC to get it added to your tax code.
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Disclaimer: All the information in this article on how much the Blind Person’s Allowance is, including text and graphics, is general in nature and does not replace professional advice.
