How 4Sight Vision Support Can Help 
For people living with sight loss and those supporting them, the process of claiming Government benefits may seem a long and daunting process. Access to the correct financial help has never been more important as the cost of living crisis continues and the winter approaches.
4Sight Vision Support, which offers support to blind and sight impaired residents of all ages throughout West Sussex, provides specialist advisors who guide its clients through the process of identifying and accessing benefits and concessions to which they may be entitled. This can make a huge difference to quality of life, independent living and general wellbeing. Advisors will assist with completing forms, such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP), Attendance Allowance (AA), Blue Badge and other travel concessions, and obtaining a 50% discount on a TV licence.
In response to the rising cost of living, the Government has also set up several non-repayable payments to help those who are affected the most. These include a Winter Fuel Payment; Pensioner Cost of Living Payment; Disability Cost of Living Payment and an Energy Discount. Other available benefits include Low Income Benefits, Tax Credits; Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.
Service user Kathleen, who is partially sighted and lives with anxiety and has dyslexia, commented, “4Sight Vision Support’s adviser Tara took the time to read and explain the form, wrote out the answers and read these back to check I was happy. It’s enabled me to overcome the previous barriers I had trying to complete this form and means I now have access to financial support.”
If you or someone you know needs support accessing benefits and concessions call 01243 828555 or visit www.4sight.org.uk
About 4Sight Vision Support
It is estimated that there are over 2 million people living with sight loss in the UK, and over 35,000 people living with sight loss or low vision in West Sussex (RNIB West Sussex Data 2020).
4Sight Vision Support is a registered charity founded in 1921. For over 100 years the team has been providing face-to-face specialist advice and support to over 2,500 people living with sight loss in West Sussex each year. 4Sight Vision Support also supports parents, carers and other family members whose lives are impacted by sight loss. It works across West Sussex and all of its services are free. Its holistic and person-centred approach ensures that a diagnosis of sight loss is not a one-way road to loss of independence and reduced health and wellbeing outcomes. It delivers outreach services in urban and rural settings, social support, emotional support and advocacy, provides daily living aids and accessible technology, transport, as well as eye health information, including preventative information to help people retain and preserve their sight. 4Sight Vision Support achieves this with a small, highly skilled and dedicated team, and with the support of around 200 volunteers.