Young person’s welfare rights
You may not be aware that as a visually-impaired young person, there are many benefits which you may be able to claim in your own right.
16 plus and still in education (school or college)
If you need help from other people because of your sight problems, you may be entitled to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) . Your parents may have been claiming this for you while you were a child, but once you are 16, you can have it paid directly to you instead.
If your course is part-time (less than 21 hours a week), or if it is full-time but you get DLA, you may be entitled to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) .
You can also claim Education Maintenance Allowance – this is available to all students who stay on in education when compulsory schooling ends at 16. The amount you get will depend on the income of your parents/ guardian. For more information see our 
Young people and students in full-time or part-time education fact sheet (74 KB), or visit
www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning
or telephone the EMA helpline on 0800 121 8989
It is possible to be entitled to all three of these things at the same time.
The Benefits Calculator on the DWP website can also help you find out which benefits and tax credits you may be entitled to.
Are you:
16/18 plus and leaving education for work or training
18 plus and off to university
Just graduated from university
Your rights if you're 16 or 18 and leaving education
Are you 16 or 18 plus and leaving education for work or training? This section explains what you may be entitled to.
Your rights if you're about to start university
Are you over 18 and about to start university? This section explains what you could be entitled to.
Your rights if you've just left university
This section explains what you may be entitled to if you have just graduated from university.
