Organization : All Rights
Facility : Obtain Certificate of Blindness/Visual Impairment
Country : Israel
Website : http://www.kolzchut.org.il/en/Certificate_of_Blindness/Visual_Impairment
Get Certificate of Blindness :
Certificate of blindness/visual impairment enables holders to receive rehabilitation services rights and various benefits.
Related : Israel Aliyah & Immigrant Absorption Housing for New Immigrant : www.statusin.org/28039.html
** The certificate eligibility review process is also used to check eligibility to receive a special monthly allowance for the blind/visually impaired
** According to a circular of the National Insurance Institute as of 02.16.2015, the blind and visually impaired are not required to undergo vision tests for the National Insurance Institute and service for the blind,one of the following tests are sufficient :
i. Certificate of Blindness/ Visual Impairment issued by the Service for the Blind.
ii. Deemed eligible by the National Insurance Institute for benefits (Disabled Child Benefit, General Disability Pension, Special Services Benefit (Attendance Allowance))
** One who first contacts the National Insurance Institute will be reviewed by them, if they are deemed as having 90% defective eyesight, the test for the service of the blind will be administered, according to that a course of action will be taken.
** To appeal a examination of the Service for the Blind, the opinion of the Physician of the Service for the Blind will be sent to National Insurance.
The Physician must express an opinion on the issue of determining the degree of disability. The National Insurance, will decide how to proceed without the need for an additional claimant committee.
** In order to transfer medical information between agencies, the patient has to sign that he agrees for the transfer.
** A Certificate of Blindness/Visual Impairment does not automatically entail entitlement to recognition of 100% medical disability by the National Insurance Institute.
Who is eligible?
** Anyone who meets one of the following criteria is eligible to receive a Certificate of Blindness/Visual Impairment :
** Total blindness
** Visual acuity which is less than 3/60 in the better eye, even with the assistance of eyeglasses
** Field of vision which is less than 20° in the better eye, even with the assistance of eyeglasses
How to Claim it?
** A Certificate of Blindness/Visual Impairment may be obtained online or offline.
** One who has a certificate of Blindness/Visual Impairment will be invited to receive services from the Department of Social Services.
** The process will take about 3 months.
** To receive additional information, contact Social Services closest to your home or office, or Services for the Blind
Online process :
** Ask the eye doctor to fill out the online form. The doctor may download the form from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services website, or the applicant may download it here and send it to the doctor via e-mail or a portable USB drive.
** The doctor performs an eye examination, records the relevant impairment on the form, signs it and sends it. Medical documents and tests may be attached if necessary.
** The document will then be sent to a Blind Services Department eye doctor who will examine the applicant’s eyes, add his/her findings to the online form and send it directly to the Blind Services Department management.
** The Blind Services Department will decided whether to accept or reject the application, and the decision will be sent to the applicant via the social services office closest to the applicant’s home.
Offline process :
** Obtain an eye examination form, which can be downloaded here. Forms can be obtained at a number of public places as well, such as :
i. Local authorities’ social services offices
ii. Hospital eye clinics
iii. Organizations for assisting the blind
iv. Rehabilitation centers
v. Citizens Advice Service (SHIL) stations
** Applicants then go for an eye examination with a doctor at a health plan clinic and get the results of the examination recorded onto the eye examination form.
** After the examination, the completed form must be brought to the social services office closest to the applicant’s place of residence, along with an identification card (teudat zehut), a photocopy of the identification card (teudat zehut), and a passport picture.
** An additional eye examination will be performed by an eye doctor on behalf of the Blind Services Department.
** In rare circumstances, if the applicant is not mobile and a reasoned request from the treating social worker has been attached, the Blind Services Department eye doctor may make a decision based on the examination performed by the doctor at the health clinic.
Nonetheless, in order to determine eligibility to receive a special monthly grant for the blind/visually impaired, the applicant will need to undergo an examination by a Blind Services Department eye doctor.
** The Blind Services Department will decide whether to accept or reject the application, and the decision will be sent to the applicant via the social services office closest to the applicant’s home.
** Those who have been approved to receive a Certificate of Blindness/Visual Impairment will be invited to the social services office to pick it up.
** The entire process should take approximately 3 months.
** For additional information, contact the social services office closest to your place of residence, or contact the Blind Services Department.