Blind Person’s Allowance is a genuinely valuable but often-overlooked tax relief, worth an extra £3,250 of tax-free income in 2026/27 on top of the standard Personal Allowance.
Who qualifies
You need to be registered as blind or severely sight-impaired with your local authority (in England and Wales), or meet the equivalent criteria in Scotland or Northern Ireland where formal registration works slightly differently.
What it’s worth
The allowance adds £3,250 to your tax-free Personal Allowance, meaning £15,820 of your income is tax-free in 2026/27 rather than the standard £12,570 — a saving of £650 a year for a basic-rate taxpayer.
Transferable, like Marriage Allowance
If you don’t earn enough to use the full allowance yourself, you can transfer the unused portion to your spouse or civil partner, similar to how Marriage Allowance works.
See the effect on your own take-home with the Payslp salary calculator.
How to actually claim it
You can claim through your Self Assessment return if you file one, or by contacting HMRC directly to have it applied to your tax code if you’re employed — it isn’t applied automatically just from being registered with your local authority.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim both Blind Person’s Allowance and Marriage Allowance?
Yes, both can apply simultaneously if you’re eligible for each — they’re separate reliefs that stack together.
Does it apply automatically once I’m registered as sight-impaired?
No — registration with your local authority is the qualifying step, but you still need to actively claim the allowance from HMRC separately.