Blind Person's Allowance 2026/27: £3,250 Extra Tax-Free
Blind Person's Allowance adds £3,250 to your tax-free Personal Allowance in 2026/27, so you can earn £15,820 before Income Tax. Who qualifies, how much it saves, and how to transfer it to a spouse.
Blind Person's Allowance is an extra slice of tax-free income for people who are blind or severely sight impaired. It is one of the simplest tax reliefs to claim and, like several allowances, it is often missed.
In 2026/27 it is £3,250, added on top of the standard Personal Allowance.
How it works
The allowance is added to your Personal Allowance, which is £12,570 in 2026/27. So instead of paying Income Tax once you earn over £12,570, you pay it once you earn over:
£12,570 + £3,250 = £15,820
For a basic-rate (20%) taxpayer, using the full allowance is worth £650 a year in tax saved. It applies at whatever your marginal rate is, and unlike a benefit it does not depend on your income or savings.
Who qualifies
- England and Wales: you are certified as blind or severely sight impaired by a consultant ophthalmologist and are on your local council's register.
- Scotland and Northern Ireland: there is no register, so you qualify if your eyesight is so poor that you cannot do work for which eyesight is essential.
There is no age limit - you can claim whether you are working, retired or not employed.
Transferring it to a spouse or civil partner
This is the part that stops the allowance going to waste. If your income is too low to use all of it - for example you do not pay Income Tax - you can transfer the unused Blind Person's Allowance to your husband, wife or civil partner. They do not need to be sight impaired themselves. This is separate from, and can be claimed alongside, Marriage Allowance.
How to claim
Blind Person's Allowance is not given automatically - you have to claim it. Contact HMRC to make the claim; you will usually need the details of the certification of your sight loss. Once claimed, HMRC adjusts your tax code so the allowance is applied through PAYE, or through your Self Assessment if you complete a return. You can also ask for it to be backdated if you qualified in earlier years.
Related guides
Blind Person's Allowance is one of several ways to increase your tax-free income. See the Personal Allowance explained for the standard £12,570 it sits on top of, and the Marriage Allowance guide for another transferable allowance between couples.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Blind Person's Allowance in 2026/27?
Blind Person's Allowance is £3,250 in 2026/27. It is added to your Personal Allowance of £12,570, so you can earn £15,820 before you start paying Income Tax. For a basic-rate taxpayer that saves £650 a year in tax.
Who can claim Blind Person's Allowance?
In England and Wales you must be certified as blind or severely sight impaired and be on your local council's register. In Scotland and Northern Ireland there is no register, so you qualify if your eyesight is so poor that you cannot do work for which eyesight is essential. There is no age limit.
Can I transfer Blind Person's Allowance to my husband, wife or civil partner?
Yes. If your income is too low to use all of the allowance - for example you do not pay tax - you can transfer the unused part to your spouse or civil partner, even if they are not blind. This makes sure the allowance is not wasted.
Is Blind Person's Allowance means-tested or taxable?
Neither. Blind Person's Allowance is an Income Tax allowance, not a benefit, so it is not means-tested and does not depend on your savings. It simply increases the amount you can earn tax-free, and it does not affect any benefits you receive.