A campaign has been started by blind people in the county after they revealed financial difficulties caused by high costs and little income.
They say they get just half what other disabled people can claim and have to pay out for a taxi whenever t
hey want to go out because there is no one to give them a lift.
The consequence is that they are often housebound and have little money leftover to buy essentials, such as food and clothes, and pay bills.
Jan Downes, who is blind but has light perception in one eye, said she doesn't have "equality of life".
She added: "The general public have no idea what blind people can go through.
"We are trying to persuade the Government to give us more benefits.
"It makes me feel like the blind beggar but they have to give us equality."
At the moment Ms Downes, who lives in Northampton Road, Wellingborough, claims £17.60 as a disability allowance to cover her living costs.
However she says this is not enough because blind people have to cover huge day-to-day expenses. These include higher travel expenses because she cannot drive and money for expensive equipment.
Ms Downes says partially-sighted people have to pay £2,000 for sight aids and that reading machines can set people back £1,700.
She says she has been lucky because family members have bought equipment.
However the tiny allowance still leaves her barely able to afford the groceries. The knock-on effect is that Ms Downes stays indoors to save cash.
She said: "It's only very recently that a friend has started taking me for a walk.
"It's virtually impossible to get voluntary help. It would give me independence which everyone takes for granted."
Ms Downes has written to Wellingborough and Rushden MP Peter Bone to ask for his support. In particular she is keen for the Government to allow blind people to claim a higher level of disability allowance of £50 a month.
A Royal National Institute for the Blind spokesman said: "We are campaigning to extend eligibility to claim the higher rate of Disability Living Allowance."
