What kind of tax break do you get for being blind?
If you are legally blind, your standard deduction increases by $1,650. If you are Married Filing Jointly and you OR your spouse is 65 or older, your standard deduction increases by $1,300. If BOTH you and your spouse are 65 or older, your standard deduction increases by $2,600.
Why do blind people get a tax break?
The tax breaks were intended to alleviate the higher costs of living that the blind face. Blind people were more likely to hire guides, readers, and taxis. And they often needed to live closer to their workplaces, which meant they frequently paid higher rents.
What does legally blind mean for taxes?
Legal blindness is defined by the Internal Revenue Service as a visual field of less than 20 degrees or vision that cannot be corrected to 20/200 in the better eye with corrective lenses. Taxpayers who meet this criteria are able to claim additional tax deductions or may claim an additional personal deduction.
Is there a tax deduction for being blind in one eye?
Being legally blind in one eye may not qualify you for the tax deductions. To qualify you must have vision below 20 degrees in both eyes or your vision in your best eye is 20/200 or below. If you are legally blind in one eye but your eyesight is better than 20/200 in your other eye you would not qualify.
Do blind people pay income tax?
A blind taxpayer is any individual in the U.S. whose lack of vision qualifies them for a special tax deduction accorded to blind persons. Blind taxpayers get the same standard deductions as taxpayers over age 65. For 2020, $1,650 is the additional amount of the blind taxpayer deduction for individuals filing as single.
Is being blind a disability?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers “legal” or “statutory” blindness as a qualified disability. Legally blind individuals include people who have been blind since birth in addition to those that have experienced severe vision loss due to conditions.
Is being blind expensive?
At $139 billion in the year 2013, vision loss and eye disorders are among the costliest conditions facing the United States, incurring a cost of $450 per person. Annual costs for are $15,900 for persons with vision impairment and are $26,900 for persons blind.
Is Blindness considered a disability?
Can you get money for being legally blind?
People getting Social Security disability benefits can continue to receive their benefits when they work as long as their earnings are not more than an amount set by law. If you’re receiving Social Security disability benefits and you’re blind, you can earn as much as $2,190 a month in 2021.