Changes to the welfare system, aimed at saving £5bn a year by 2030, could seriously impact blind and partially sighted people, according to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
‘Although worst fears were not realised, tightening the qualifying criteria for Personal Independence Payments will cause alarm – and will have a very real impact on blind and partially sighted people who don’t meet these,’ said Vivienne Francis, RNIB chief of strategy and public affairs.
‘Life costs more if you are blind or partially sighted, such as unavoidable costs like taxi journeys or assistive technology. Nobody living with sight loss should lose out on essential support that they need to live independently,’ she added.
