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Social assistance; applying for assistance for the blind

Blind people can apply for assistance for the blind to compensate for the additional expenses caused by their blindness.

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Procedure details

Within the framework of social assistance or war victims' welfare assistance for the blind can be paid.

From July 1, 2024, assistance for the blind amounts to

  • Blind people after the age of 18 EUR 880.28 per month and
  • EUR 440.90 per month for blind people under the age of 18.

Assistance for the blind is paid directly in the form of a lump sum. This lump sum changes in line with the current pension value in the statutory pension insurance scheme. The assistance for the blind changes at the same time and to the same extent as the current pension value in the statutory pension insurance scheme changes. The pension is generally adjusted on July 1 of each year.

The income limit of § 85 of the Social Security Code XII applies (basic amount of twice the standard needs level 1 + 70 % of the standard needs level 1 for other family members + reasonable accommodation costs).

A more favorable income limit applies to war victims' welfare. As part of integration assistance for people with disabilities, the costs of a guide dog and other aids can also be covered. aids if no other cost bearer (e.g. statutory health insurance) is responsible.

Similar benefits, which are also intended to compensate for additional expenses caused by blindness, have priority. They are offset against the assistance for the blind. This rule applies, among other things, to

  • the state allowance for the blind under the Bavarian Blindness Allowance Act (BayBlindG),
  • the care allowance for war blind people in accordance with § 35 para. 1 sentence 6 of the Act on the Provision of War Victims (Bundesversorgungsgesetz - BVG),
  • the care allowance for the accidentally blind pursuant to Section 44 of the Seventh Book of the Social Code (SGB VII) and
  • the care allowance pursuant to Section 269 of the Equalization of Burdens Act (Lastenausgleichsgesetz - LAG).

  • Receive assistance for the blind:
    • blind people
    • Persons of equal status to blind people
      • Persons who have a total visual acuity of no more than 1/50 in both eyes and
      • Persons who have a severe visual impairment that is equivalent to the aforementioned visual impairment of 1/50. The visual impairment must not be temporary.

  • In the following cases, there is no assistance for the blind:
    • Assistance for the blind is not available if similar benefits are granted under other legislation.
    • People who are deaf-blind do not receive assistance for the blind due to the level of benefits under the Bavarian Blindness Benefit Act (BayBlindG).
    • Persons who receive partial inpatient and outpatient assistance and/or live in special forms of accommodation before the age of 18 do not receive any assistance for the blind

  • Identity card, passport or residence permit (copy)
  • Disability certificate (copy)

    with the corresponding decision of the pension office and already existing medical certificate in which the disability is diagnosed and the necessity of the requested services is justified

  • Declaration of assets
    • Bank statements of all managed accounts of the last 6 months with final account balance (copy)
    • In case of house and land ownership: copy of the certificate of assessed value and the fire insurance certificate
    • If applicable, copy of the notice of long-term care insurance (copy)
    • If applicable, notice of unemployment benefit I or II, maintenance assistance according to LAG, pension payments according to BVG, etc. (copy)
    • If applicable, pension statement (copy)
    • If applicable, contribution notice from the health insurance fund (copy)
  • Rental agreement
    and, if applicable, last letter of tenant increase (copy)
  • in case of guardianship: guardian's card (copy)
  • Power of attorney, if applicable
  • The competent authority may require further documentation.

Assistance for the blind is granted on application. You must submit the completed application form from the district responsible for your place of residence together with the necessary documents.

The responsible office will check your application. If the result is positive, you will receive a corresponding approval notice. The assistance for the blind will be transferred to the account you specified in your application. As a rule, you will receive the money shortly after you have received the notification.

If the result is negative, you will receive a rejection notice.

none

Blind and severely visually impaired people receive blindness benefit regardless of whether they are in need (see "Related topics"). The allowance for the blind is lower than the amount for assistance for the blind. For this reason, people aged 18 and over are entitled to supplementary assistance for the blind. This amounts to the difference of currently 132.28 euros. People who live in residential care facilities such as nursing homes receive a monthly allowance of 66.14 euros.

Objection, social court action

  • Applying for a guide dog as an aid

    Are you blind or severely visually impaired? Then you can apply to your health insurance company for a guide dog as an aid.

  • Blind person's allowance; application

    In Bavaria, people who are blind or severely visually impaired receive a monthly allowance for the blind to compensate for the additional expenses caused by these disabilities.

Status: 14.01.2025
Editorial responsibility Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Familie, Arbeit und Soziales
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