I waited a few years before formally going through all the disability paperwork. I knew I was legally blind well before starting the process. Work just got too unbearable and frustrating. I believe 15% peripheral is the magic threshold for social security.

If you have established medical records documenting your vision you will need them. If after submitting all the paperwork they will require you to visit their specified doctors for various tests. I had a Humphery visual field test - which I hate taking. They don't share any of the test results with you. They just send it into social security. These tests are free of charge except if traveling from far away.

Just be patient filling out all the paperwork and keep copies of dates and all contacts.

There is a lot of paperwork and the process averages several months to a year to actually get accepted. Expect that Social Security will turn you down the first time or two - they do so almost as a matter of policy, so then you will need to appeal the decision and use doctors notes and evidence.


Document everything; Likewise work out a good system for dealing with the paperwork that they will continually send to you.

You can apply online and blindness is pretty easy to document. I think it had to be 15% or less. If you don’t have enough “work points” you’re going to get SSI which I think is around $740/mo. Likely then you would qualify for Medicaid and snap benefits as well. I was told one time that if one of the parents goes on disability that the (blind) child can then qualify under the disabled parent for SSDI but I don’t know if this is true or not. My daughter had RP and she does live alone (housing vouchers) in a pretty decent condo but we still support her probably more than 60%. No way anyone can live on SSI.

Definitely apply. I resisted for a while. I was working and going to college part-time. I didn't think I needed it. In the end, being on SSI helped me support myself while completing a college and grad school. I've been off it for more than 20 years, and am still so grateful to have had it when I was young and really needed it.

it’s my understanding that you have to be employed and paying into SSDI in order to qualify for it.
My nephew had his own company for years and then was in a horrible motorcycle accident (his fault doing over 100 mph and missed a curve and hit a tree).
SSDI told him because he didn’t pay into SSDI he did not qualify. He didn’t even know his accountant had opted him out of SSDI when he started his business.

You're unlikely to get SSDI, but somewhat likely to be approved for SSI, which isn't enough to live on.

If you have a rehab councillor you could ask them to give you the information you need. And they should assist you in obtaining the aid.