Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: Over the past 10 weeks we have been working to update how we support our current beneficiaries. As a result of this work we are now able to support many of them without having face to face contact. We are now in the second phase of our National Support Service and we are pleased to announce we can now start accepting new members again. Whilst we are still not able to work with them face to face, we believe the support we can offer will be of immense benefit to more blind veterans during this time.
How to apply:
If this sounds like you, or someone you care for, applying for our free support is easy.
We want to make applying for support either for yourself, or on behalf of someone else, as simple as possible. Just follow these few steps and you’ll be well on your way to joining our other 4,700 veteran beneficiaries.
- Call us free on 0800 389 7979, complete our application form request or download our application form.
- Send us the completed application form.
- Once we have the form, we will contact the service records office and your eye specialist.
- We may ask the applicant to visit our ophthalmic clinic in London. If travelling is difficult, we can make alternative arrangements.
Once you have become a beneficiary, one of our Community Support Workers will visit you at home. They will discuss your needs, give you advice and may suggest a visit to one of our centres in Brighton or Llandudno.
They may also recommend training in mobility, independent living skills, using low vision equipment and IT, either at one of our centres or in your home.
To qualify for support from Blind Veterans UK, you need to meet two criteria:
1. Military service
You need to have served in either:
- UK Armed Forces, including National Service or the Reserves.
- Served during WWII in the Merchant Navy, or in Polish/Indian forces under British command.
- As a reservist, you need to have either completed at least one year's satisfactory service after training (qualified for bounty) or less time if blinded on duty.
2. Sight loss criteria
To meet our ophthalmic criteria, you need to present with visual acuities in both eyes which are equal to (or worse than) 6/60 or counting fingers.
With certain ophthalmic conditions where field loss is a factor we request field test results and take these into consideration when determining whether or not an applicant meets our ophthalmic criteria.