Disability Living Allowance(DLA) is for help with personal care and mobility and is for children and adults up to the age of 65 years. Attendance Allowance(AA) is for help with personal care for those aged 65 years upwards.

Neither of these benefits are affected by any savings you may have or usually by any other money you have coming in.

There are other benefits you may qualify for.

Advice about benefits and help with filling in forms can be obtained from various sources, try 0800 038 11 11 including the Benefits Agency of Social Security, Citizens Advice Bureau's (CAB), some Social Services Depts and in some cases voluntary societies. Some good sources of help are listed below, contact:

Newcastle VIP Benefits Advice Project - Part of Newcastle Society for Blind People 0191 232 7292 (Available to Newcastle Residents Only)

Gateshead VIP Benefits Advice Scheme is available from NSS 0191 478 5957

Benefits Agency Customer Services 0191 226 6047 and their Disability Advisory Service 0191 276 2400

New grants announced in 2000 available for home energy saving & security - you may be eligible - contact Citizens Advice or EGA on 0800 952 0600

RNIB Welfare Rights Service 0345 669999

Action for Blind People 0207 7328771

Welfare Right for the VI: 020 7635 4800

North Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau (Paul Kerr) 0191 2008784

Northumberland County Blind Association 01434 600860

Blind Persons’ Personal Income Tax Allowance

In general one should not expect any financial help unless an applicant is of such financial circumstances that they would qualify for income support but if in doubt you can always try. The following lists possibilities only:

Action for the Blind

14-15 Verney Rd, London SEI6 3DZ

The Richard Mayo Hall, Eden St., Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KTI 1HZ

Mrs J Knighting (Grants Sec.) Tel: 0181 546 2379

25-30 yrs, post-graduate for one year

c/o Bowman, Wilkes & Co., 27 Bank St, Dundee DDI IRF

Queensgate Business Centre, Portcullis House, Cromwell Rd., Peterborough PEI 2EB

Provides for self-employed Visually Impaired

20121 Cromwell Terr., London NWI 40T

76 Fonmon Pk Rd., Rhoose, Nr Barry, S Glams CF6 9BG

P Rawdon (Sec)

Freepost, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE85 IBR

FWA 501 - 505, Kingsland Rd, London E84AU

Grants Admin (Max £100) Tel: 0171 254 6251

Cecilia Trust for the Blind

61 West Smithfield, London ECIA 9EA

Peter Rust

Letter first, up to £300

261 - 264 Gray’s Inn Rd, London WCIX8QT

Dunster Court, Mincing Lane, London EC3R7AH

Electronic Aids for the Blind

Suite 4B, 73 - 75 High St., Chislehurst, Kent BR77AG

28 Bedford Sq., London WCIB3EG

Louise A Morris (Admn) Tel: 0171 637 2907

25 - 50 yrs women only

5 Chancery Lane, Clifford’s Inn, London EC4AIBU

Brian McGeogh

Funding computer equipment for disabled students <25 Yrs.

Fishmongers Hall, London Bridge, London EC4R9EL

Mr K.S.Walters (Clerk) Under 19 yrs with single parent

- funding to school

Gardener’s Trust for the Blind As Cecilia Trust

Miss Angela Stewart (Sec) Tel: 0171 606 5711

Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading RG7 3YG

Tel: 017345 835555 (Must own a guide dog - but check latest rules)

Dept. of Education, Mowden Hall, Darlington DL3 9BG

c/o The Registry, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham Hill, Egham TW2O OEX

Miss J.L.Hurn (Sec) For women on vocational courses.

c/o Disability Scotland, Princes House, 5 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh EH2 4RG

2nd Floor, 221 Golders Green Rd, London NWII 9DN

33 King St. London WC2E8JD

The Skinners Company, Skinner’s Hall, 8 Dowgate Hill, London EC4R 25P

Post-Graduate study

do C live Marks & Co. 44a New Cavendish St., London WIM7LG

Tel: 0171 486 4663 Disabled Students.

Central House, Upper Woburn Place, London

Mr M.Bradley (Hon Sec) Women >21 yrs. Send SAE

20 Park Crescent, London WIN 4AL

Financial Awards Committee, P.O.Box 197, Milton Keynes MK7 6BJ

Tel: 01908 652211

Polaris House, North Star Ave, Swindon SNI IUH

Tel: 01793 - followed by:

Economics/Social 413043

Biotechnology/Biology 413200

Natural Environment 411500

Part Phys/Astronomy 444000

Engineering/Physical 444000

Trustee Dept, The Lawn, Steen, Newbury, RGI3 IQN

Individual Applications, 1 Dean Farrar St, London

Mrs S.A.Jessup (Sec) Up to 50yrs , reference,sae.

224 Great Portland St., London WIN 6AA Or

Tel: 0171 388 1266

‘Lismore’. 17 Benwell Grange Ave., Newcastle-U-Tyne NE 6RP

Mr Albert Vietch (New address required.)

22 Horsham Ct., 6 Brighton Rd., Horsham RHI35BA

Tel: 01403 211 252 - 17-25 yrs, FE & HE

7 Huntersfield Close., Reigate RH2 0DX

Messrs Thornton, Dickie & Brand, 11 Whitehall St. Dundee DDI 4AE

Higher Education or about to start.

PO.Box 30, East Horsley, KT 24 6JX

Gillian Fitzpatrick - Tel: 01483 282 580

Equipment for MHVI Children or with Dyslexia.