Concessions and Allowances for People with Vision Impairments

Disclaimer
Please note this is an area of constant change. The information here is presented as a guide only. Please check with the authority concerned for the most accurate up-to-date information.

This page has information about the following concessions and allowances for people with vision impairments:

Airfare Concessions 
Carer's Allowance (Child) and Carer Allowance 
Centrelink Assistance - Telephone Allowance, TTY, AUSTUDY 
Computers - The Equipment Recycling Network Inc, The Green PC
Disability Support Pension (Blind) 
EASE 
Mobility Allowance 
Multi-Purpose Taxi Program 
Pharmacy Concessions 
Postal Concessions 
Proof of Age Documentation 
Spectacle Concessions 
Tax Rebates and Concessions for the Purchase of Adaptive Technology 
Telephone Services 
The Vic Venue Guide 
Travel Trainer's Pass 
Travellers' Aid 
Vision Impaired Travel Pass

Airfare Concessions
Qantas Airways offer a discount for people with a  vision impairment travelling with a sighted guide on domestic flights. Both the person with a vision impairment and the sighted guide pay 50% of the full economy airfare.
Contact: The agent for Qantas 'NICAN' 131313.

Singapore Airline offer a 50% discount to the carer of the person with a vision impairment but no discount applies to the person with a vision impairment. Applications must be made through a travel agent and a medical letter or formal documentation must be produced verifying the applicant's vision impairment.

Carer's Allowance (Child) and Carer Allowance
The Carer's Allowance (Child), formerly known as the Child Disability Allowance, provides assistance to parents/carers who care for a child with a disability as a recognition of the disability and its impact on the family.
Two levels of assistance are available:
1. a Health Card and
2. a Health Card and a fortnightly payment. To be eligible the child must be severely impaired, be under sixteen, (a full time student may also be eligible), live at home and not receive a Social Security Pension.
The Carer Allowance available to carers providing constant care to a person aged 16 plus whose disability causes substantial functional impairment.
Contact: Centrelink on 13 2717
Web site: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/yafs/cis/concess/index.htm

Centrelink Assistance
In addition to the Carer's Allowance (Child), Carer Allowance, Disability Support Pension (Blind), Mobility Allowance, Postal Concessions which are described separately, Centrelink also offers a telephone allowance to assist with telephone costs. To be eligible the person must be a holder of a pensioner concession card and have a telephone connected in their own or their partner's name. 
A Teletypewriter service for people who are hearing and vision impaired is available on freecall 1800 810 586.
A form of AUSTUDY is available. It  is called the Education Supplement Pension and is available to full-time or part-time students who receive the Disability Support Pension (Blind). To be eligible the course must be Austudy approved and the student must be undertaking at least 25% of the workload.
Contact: Centrelink on 132490 or
Web site: www.centrelink.gov.au

Computers - Recycled

The Equipment Recycling Network Inc. offers cheap, secondhand PCs to people with disabilities. A Pentium computer with sound card, CD-ROM and printer costs $385. They also have a Trading Post of secondhand equipment on their website. Their office is open from 9am to 12 noon during term time.
Contact: 17 Greenwood Ave Ringwood 3134 Tel (03) 9879 5211

The Green PC provides low cost recycled and refurbished personal computers which have been recycled from the government and private sector to community groups and individuals on low incomes.
Contact: 9417 7039 or view the website www.greenpc.com.au

Disability Support Pension (Blind)
The applicant must be over sixteen years of age, permanently legally blind and permanently living in Australia. Payment is made regardless of income or assets. Pensions vary with the age of the applicant and whether or not the student is living at home. Claim forms are obtainable from Centrelink and returned there and must be accompanied by a separate report from an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Costs incurred can be claimed through Medicare when included as part of a consultation. 
Contact: Centrelink on 132300

EASE - Entertainment Access Service
EASE provides access to low cost tickets for the student and friends or assistants attending entertainment events. A newsletter which is available in regular print, large print or tape lists events for which EASE has access to tickets. EASE will also assist with meeting particular needs where possible eg obtaining tickets which give suitable access to events.
Audio description is available at certain theatre performances and this is noted in the newsletter. Subscription costs $25.00 a year. They also publish a book with reviews of city and regional venues, maps detailing seating and access points are also shown.
Contact: EASE on (03) 9699 8497 or
Web site: www.vicnet.net.au/~artsacc

Mobility Allowance
The applicant must be over 16 and unable to use public transport without substantial assistance because of a physical, psychiatric or intellectual disability. They must spend at least 8 hours a week on a continuing basis in paid employment, vocational training or voluntary work. Payments are not subject to an income and assets test.
Contact: Centrelink on 13 2717 or
Web site: www.centrelink.gov.au

Multi-Purpose Taxi Programme
The Multi Purpose Taxi Program is designed to assist people who have a permanent disability which denies them independent access to bus and tram services and whose mobility is severely restricted by their disability. It entitles the holder to half price taxi fares. One of the criteria for eligibility is reduced vision. Applicants must present a report from an ophthalmologist stating the difficulties. For further information go to Multi Purpose Taxi Program web page.
Contact: Victorian Taxi Directorate on (03) 9320 4360 or 1800 638802

Pharmacy Concessions
The National Health Scheme has a feature known as the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This allows for an item prescribed under the National Health Scheme to be charged at the rate of $3.60 per item. For other items the normal charge applies.

Postal Concessions
“Freepost for the Blind” is a service funded by the Department of Social Security. Eligible articles may be sent free of charge or at concessional rates of postage.

L1.15.1 Eligible articles
A postal article not exceeding 7kg and containing:

• a Braille or Moon postal article ie letters and other communications including literature wholly written in raised characters for the use of the blind;
• an aid for teaching Braille to the blind;
• a plate for embossing literature for the blind;
• special paper intended solely for the use of the blind (note that any communication prepared on such paper must be in Braille or Moon characters to be eligible for carriage as an ‘Article for the Blind’); or
• any form of speech recording for the use of the blind.

L1.15.2 Eligible participants
Carriage is restricted to eligible articles sent by:

• a blind person to any person or organisation;
• any person or organisation to a blind person;
• any person or organisation to an institution or organisation recognised by Australia Post as an institution or organisation that serves the needs of blind people; or
• an institution or organisation recognised by Australia Post as an institution or organisation that serves the needs of blind people to any person or organisation.

L1.15.3 Make-up Conditions
Articles must be posted in unsealed envelopes, wrappings or covers.
The words “Material for the use of the Blind” or similar words or appropriate label  (ie PM275) and the name and address of the sender must appear on the outside of the article.
The minimum and maximum dimensions for Letter Mail are applicable as appropriate.
No matter other than that prescribed in paragraph L1.15.1 may be enclosed in the envelope, wrapping or cover.

L1.15.4 Charges
Surface carriage - exempt from postage for all destinations.
Air carriage - concessional rates of postage apply. Refer to the Post Charges booklet.

Proof of Age Documentation
There are two types of documentation available on application and they compare as follows:

Proof of Age Card

• Application form available from approved RACV offices, Amcal chemists, selected bottle shops etc.
• Applicant must be 17 years and 11 months to apply for the card but must be 18 years to use the card.
• Applicant must provide proof of identity (originals only - photocopies not allowable) including:
  • birth certificate/ passport etc AND
  • social security card/Medicare card/student ID etc
• A referee statement must be provided. The referee must be a dentist, pharmacist, justice of the peace etc as listed on the form and must have known the applicant for a year or more.
• An authorised witness including a dentist, pharmacist, justice of the peace etc must sign a statutory declaration. This person must be different to the person providing the referee statement.
• Take your completed form to an approved RACV office, Amcal chemist where a photograph will be taken and the forms completed.
• Cost: $10
• Available: by mail 10 - 15 working days after the application is made.
• Contact: Liquor Licensing Commission - Victoria 232 Victoria Pde East Melbourne 3002 Tel (03) 9655 3366

• Application form available from police stations.
• Applicant must be 18 years of age to use the card.
• Applicant must provide proof of identity (originals only - photocopies not allowable) including:
  • one of birth certificate/passport etc OR
  • two of passport/social security card/group certificate/Austudy notice/work experience record etc.
• Option 1: Parent/guardian AND witness endorse the photo and completes the Statutory Declaration in front of a member of the police force, JP or Commissioner for taking Declarations and Affidavits.
• Option 2: A police Officer, doctor, dentist, teacher etc as listed on the form who has known the applicant for over a year can complete the proof of identity declaration and endorse the back of the photograph.
• Bring two identical passport style colour photos of yourself showing head and shoulders endorsed by parent/guardian.
• Cost: Ready next day - $35; Ready same day - $45
• Contact: The Commonwealth Key and Property Register PO Box 40 Market St Melbourne 8007 2nd Floor 9 Queen Street Melbourne 3000 Telephone (03) 9614 3441.

Spectacle Concessions

Vision Australia Foundation
Spectacles are available at a reduced rate of $22 per prescription for a single vision lens and $32 per prescription for a bifocal lens at Low Vision Clinics in Melbourne and in regional Victoria.
Contact: (03) 9822 1111.

Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital can provide spectacles from $35.95 to $60 per pair depending on the prescription. People must be referred by their local doctor and there is usually a 4 to 6 month waiting period for appointments.
Contact: RVEEH on (03) 9929 8666.

Victorian Eye Care Service
This service is available to people who are wards of the state, dependents of pensioners or Public Health Benefits recipients. The recipient is entitled to regular prescription spectacles at $25.00 and bifocal spectacles at $35.00.
Contact: Victorian College of Optometry on (03) 9349 7400.
In non-metropolitan areas some optometrists and ophthalmologists are registered with the scheme. Contact the local professional and ask if she/he is part of the Victorian Eye Care Scheme.

Tax Rebates and Concessions for the Purchase of Adaptive Technology

Adaptive Equipment Medical Expense Rebates
The cost of certain equipment designed for people who are vision impaired is eligible for the Adaptive Equipment Medical Expenses Rebate. The medical expense rebate means you can claim 20% of all eligible expenses above $1,250. The approved products include a talking computer, a reading system, and a CCTV. It may also include braille related products. For more information, see your tax consultant.

Specialist Equipment Tax Concessions
Equipment which is specifically designed and made for people with disabilities is exempt form sales tax and import duties under Item 80 of the “Schedule of the Sales Tax Exemptions and Classifications Act”. Speak to the retailer at the time of purchase. You will be asked to sign a form which states that the goods are sold under the provisions detailed in this section of the Act. Retailers can seek clarification from the Australian Tax Office: (03) 9275 2397.

Telephone

Telstra Disability Enquiry Help Line
Telephone: 1800 068 424; TTY: 1800 808 981
Through Help Line you can access the following:

• White pages directory information (no charge)
• Large print / braille bills
• Recording memory coded numbers. This involves Telstra providing A4 sized cards for writing down in large print, the numbers you have stored in the memory buttons of your phone.
• Free call connect. This service means you can speak to an operator who will connect you to a phone number that you nominate. There is no charge. The eligibility requirement  is that you must have disabilities that restrict your phone use.

Contact: Telstra Sales and Billings on 13 2200 or Telstra Shops on 131 800

Optus
Optus offers some services for people with vision impairment. They will provide a braille bill. This can be obtained by phoning customer services on either 133 066 (for Optus cable customers) or 1300 300 469 (for Optus phone service only customers).

The Vic Venue Guide
Arts Access and Hyland House Publishing has produced the Vic Venue Guide, a comprehensive guide to over 75 arts, entertainment and sporting venues across Victoria. It includes:

• where it is
• where to park
• where to make bookings
• the nearest public transport
• facilities for people with disabilities etc

It is available for $14.50 from Arts Access Society 109-111 Sturt Street Southbank 3006
Telephone: (03) 9699 8299
Website:  http://vicnet.net.au/~artsacc

Travel Trainer's Pass
A Travel Trainer's Pass is available to Visiting Teachers who are involved with travel on public transport with their students in the course of their work. Your base school principal needs to write a letter to verfy that the visiting teacher's work involves travel on public transport with students who are blind or have low vision.
Post the letter to:
Kim Irvine
Department of Infrastructure
231 Flinders St
Melbourne 3000
Tel (03) 9610 7402

You will be sent a form to complete and must provide a passport-sized photograph which will entitle you to travel free between 9.30am and 4.00pm and from 6.00pm to last service on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday whilst accompanying a person with a vision impairment.

Travellers' Aid
Travellers' Aid Centres will provide free assistance to travellers  and  a rest station for a few hours whilst in town. There are two locations in the centre of  Melbourne they are:- On the second floor of 169 Swanston St, (Corner of Bourke Street)  and the basement at Spencer St. Station. The Swanston St Centre has a Disability Services Centre which includes equipment to assist people with special physical needs. Free attendant care is available on the premises. A TTY is there for visitors to use and there is an information service about transport transport, holidays and accommodation for people with special needs. You can arrange for a guide to meet you. Telephone (03) 9654 7690 (voice or TTY).

Vision Impaired Travel Pass
The “Vision Impaired Travel Pass” is available to legally blind people (ie less than 6/60 fully corrected vision in the better eye, OR less than 80% field loss). Recipients of the Vision Impaired Travel Pass are entitled to free travel on all metropolitan trains, trams, buses and light rail vehicles within zones 1 + 2 + 3, and free First Class travel on all V/Line passenger services. This pass can also be used in other participating Capital cities within the metropolitan area. The application form is available from some suburban and country rail stations and Met Shops. Fill in your name and address and then obtain an ophthalmologist's assessment and signature on the form. Attach a recent passport size photograph and mail to:
Public Transport Corporation
GPO 1327L Melbourne 3001
Contact: (03) 9610 7402

For more information contact: Deb Lewis

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