Apply for assistance for the blind
The Blind Assistance Scheme provides financial support, subject to certain conditions, if you are blind or treated as equivalent to a blind person. This lump-sum payment compensates for the additional expenses you incur as a result of your blindness.
Amount of the State Blindness Allowance from 1 July 2026:
- Adult blind people: EUR 410.00
- Blind minors: EUR 205.00.
There is no annual adjustment.
You will receive this regardless of your income and assets.
- In addition, for those on low incomes and with limited assets (Federal Blind Assistance):
- Blind adults: EUR 541.92
- Blind minors: 271.78 EUR.
The Blind Persons’ Allowance is adjusted annually in line with the increase in the current pension value under the statutory pension insurance scheme.
Note: If you are receiving home care benefits or are in full-time residential care, the state assistance for the blind or the assistance for the blind under the Social Code is reduced.
Forms/Online Services
Responsible authority
the social security office
The social services department is,
- if you live in an urban district: the city council
- if you live in a rural district: the district administration
Note: In some cases, rural districts have delegated responsibility to larger towns within their district. If you live in a rural district, the district office or the local council in your place of residence can tell you which authority is responsible.
Details
Prerequisite
They are
- blind or
- have visual acuity in your better eye of no more than 1/50, or
- have visual impairments of an equivalent severity
An additional requirement for receiving state assistance for the blind is that the blind person must be over one year of age.
Procedure
You can apply for state blind person’s allowance and federal blind person’s allowance at the relevant social security office in your place of residence.
The relevant authority will assess your application. If your application is successful, you will receive a notification to that effect. The authority will pay the assistance into the bank account you specified in your application. You will usually receive the money shortly after you have received the notification.
If your application is rejected, you will receive a letter of refusal.
Deadlines
none
Required documents
The relevant authority may request documentation, such as evidence of visual impairment.
Costs
none
Miscellaneous
Where a person receives home care services or is in full-time residential care, the state assistance for the blind or the assistance for the blind under the Social Code is reduced.
Detailed information
- Deutscher Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverband
Legal basis
Sozialgesetzbuch Zwölftes Buch (SGB XII):
- § 72 Blindenhilfe
Gesetz über die Landesblindenhilfe in Baden-Württemberg
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Sozialministerium Baden-Württemberg, 19.10.2026
Supplement by Stadt Baden-Baden