You can apply for a blindness allowance if you are blind or have a similarly severe visual impairment.

If you meet the eligibility requirements for the blindness allowance, the amount of the benefit depends on whether you live in a residential facility or in a special living arrangement (integration assistance).

If you live in Lower Saxony outside of a residential facility or special housing arrangement, the blindness allowance is 450 euros per month. Certain benefits, particularly those from long-term care insurance, are partially offset against the blindness allowance. In such cases, the aforementioned blindness allowance would be reduced.

If you live in a residential facility or a special living arrangement, the blindness allowance is 225 euros per month.

You can decide for yourself how to use the blindness allowance.

Are you blind or have very poor vision?
Then you may be eligible for the blindness allowance.
The blindness allowance is a form of financial assistance.
You must apply for it.

Do you receive long-term care benefits?
Or do you live in a supported housing program?
In that case, you’ll receive a reduced amount of the blindness allowance.

Do you want to receive the blind person’s allowance in Lower Saxony?
Then you must live in Lower Saxony.
And you must have the BL identification mark.
Or you have applied for the BL designation.

Perhaps you became blind as a result of a war.
Or you may have gone blind while serving in the military.
Perhaps you also became blind as a result of a vaccination.
In that case, you cannot apply for this blindness benefit.

• An application must be submitted
• Disability ID card or determination notice marked with the “Bl” designation
• Documents regarding benefits from third parties that are to be offset against the blindness allowance (e.g., long-term care insurance benefits).
• Certificate of legal residence, if you are neither a German citizen nor a citizen of an EU country

Would you like to obtain a severe disability ID card?
Or do you want to obtain a determination notice with the “Bl” designation?
In that case, you may need to provide:
You receive benefits from a long-term care insurance provider.

Are you not a citizen of the EU?
And do you want to stay in Germany?
Then you’ll need to prove this to the authorities.

The blindness allowance is paid no earlier than the first day of the month in which the application for the blindness allowance is submitted.

You will receive the blindness allowance starting the month you submit your application.
Have you submitted the application?
You’ll start receiving the blindness allowance from that point on.