Transferring to Age Pension (Blind) 065-04010000

Customers currently receiving Age Pension who wish to transfer to Age Pension (Blind), can be transferred without a claim if they meet the rules for permanent blindness.

The customer must meet one of the following:

• Visual acuity on the Snellen Scale, after correction by suitable lenses must be less than 6/60 in both eyes
• Constriction to within 10 degrees of fixation in the better eye irrespective of corrected visual acuity, or
• A combination of visual defects resulting in the same degree of visual impairment as that occurring in the above points

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 a payment and an assessment of income and assets is needed to correctly assess the partner's rate of payment

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. See Assessing permanent blindness for evidence required.

Age Pension (Blind) customers who are Age Pension age and permanently blind do not need to disclose their income and assets unless they wish to claim Rent Assistance (RA) or If their partner is in receipt of or wishes to claim an income support payment in their own right, and the partner is not blind (for example Carer Payment (CP), the partner will need to provide the couple’s income and assets.

Income and asset test free pensioners will receive the basic rate of pension and may be entitled to the Pension Supplement as well as other additional products and services.

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