Administrative services A-Z

Assistance for the blind is a social assistance service for blind people. Aid for the blind is intended to compensate for additional financial expenses incurred as a result of blindness.

You are eligible to apply if you are blind or have a similarly severe visual impairment.

Assistance for the blind is only granted if the income and assets available to you are insufficient.

If you are entitled to assistance for the blind, the amount of the benefit depends on whether you are in an inpatient institution (e.g. old people's home or nursing home) or not.

Certain benefits, in particular benefits such as Landesblindengeld/Landespflegegeld für Blinde and benefits for home care from long-term care insurance, are deducted in whole or in part from the Blindenhilfe. In these cases, assistance for the blind would be reduced.

Assistance for the blind is currently paid from the age of 18 (as of 01.07.2022) in the amount of a maximum of 806.40 euros per month (before the age of 18 currently a maximum of 403.89 euros per month). An adjustment is made at the time and to the extent that the current pension value in the statutory pension insurance changes.

• You must have been marked Bl (blind) by means of a procedure for determining your disability (severely disabled person's pass).
• It is not reasonable for you and, if applicable, certain other persons, such as .dem spouses, to pay the blindness-related additional expenses from your own resources.

- Severely disabled person's pass or assessment notice with mark Bl.

- if applicable, power of attorney or proof of supervision

- if applicable, certificate from the registration authority for legitimate residence, if you do not have German citizenship

Evidence of the information provided in the application: A great deal of information must be provided in the application for assistance for the blind. There must be z.. information is provided about you, the housing situation, the financial situation, health and long-term care insurance or whether a degree of care has been determined. Depending on which information is to be provided by you, you must attach appropriate evidence.

• You contact the locally competent authority and apply for the benefit for the blind (social assistance application for assistance in other situations)
• The authority will examine your application and will contact you if you have any questions or missing documents.
• When all documents are available, the authority will examine your entitlement to assistance for the blind.
• After the examination, you will receive a letter of approval or rejection.

There are no deadlines to be observed. It should be noted, however, that assistance for the blind is paid at the earliest from the first of the month in which the application for assistance for the blind is submitted.

Districts and district-free cities

• § 72 Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB XII)

Although an informal application is possible, you will subsequently need the completed application form.

Other benefits for blind persons may be granted within the framework of the regulations of the federal state in which you live.

Most information about assistance for the blind can be found on the various websites of the authority responsible for you.

You can also find further information at blind associations.

• Infoportal betanet
• German Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired

Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Integration and Consumer Protection