Age Pension (Blind) transfer provisions 065-04010000

Transfer provisions apply to customers currently receiving most social security payments when they are eligible to transfer to Age Pension and have meet the social security definition of permanent blindness. See Qualification for Age Pension (Blind). Customers are subject to comparable foreign payment requirements if they were born overseas or lived overseas.

This procedure also applies to customers currently receiving Age Pension who wish to have their rate assessed under Age Pension (Blind) provisions. The date of effect in such instances is the date the customer requests this assessment, provided they are qualified on that date and they submit verification of blindness within a reasonable time.

Customers entitled to Age Pension (Blind) do not need to disclose their income and assets unless:

• they are claiming Rent Assistance (RA), or
• their partner is receiving or applying for an income and assets to correctly assess their rate of payment

In these cases customers need to complete an Income and Assets form (SA369).

Note: a claim is not needed if the customer is currently receiving Age Pension.

Verification is required to determine if the customer can be assessed as permanently blind, except for customers already in receipt of Disability Support Pension (Blind).

The customer must provide a report from their treating ophthalmologist.

A Request for Ophthalmologist or Optometrist Report (SA013) is preferred. However, any report which provides the information requested by the SA013 is acceptable.

An optometrist can complete the report but it must be clearly stated it is supported by a report from an ophthalmologist and details about the ophthalmologist are provided. The local blind society may also be able to help with information provided by an ophthalmologist that measures the customer’s visual acuity under the Snellen Scale.

Customers who do not have a Centrelink record and/or do not currently receive an income support payment need to claim Age Pension to be assessed for Age Pension (Blind). See Qualification for Age Pension (Blind).

Customers in receipt of Age Pension (Blind) can choose to receive their Centrelink letters in an accessible format.