What help is there for handling money and paying with cash?
There are a number of things that can help you including:
Notes
Ask your bank for a note gauge, which will allow you to work out the difference between notes.
Use the Arthur Pearson method - simply slide the note between your first and second finger. The £10 note will be the same length as your first finger, the £5 will be shorter, and the £20 longer
If you have an android or iPhone, you can download an app called Cash Reader which recognises multiple currencies and reads out the amount back to you, or you can use the silent vibration mode for busy/noisy areas. The app doesn't require an internet connection to work, and you don't need to take a photo of the currency notes - the app will recognise them instantly via your camera. Further information can be found on the Cash Reader website.
New polymer bank notes
The new polymer bank notes will have the same features as the paper notes, retaining their tiered sizing, bold numerals and similar colour palettes. In addition, the £10 and £20 polymer notes will each have a tactile feature created by a series of raised dots. The £5 polymer note will be distinguishable by the absence of the feature.
The Bank of England has worked closely with RNIB to ensure that these notes are accessible to blind and partially sighted people.
The new £5 note was introduced on 13 September 2016 and the old note phased out on 5 May 2017
The new £10 note was introduced on 14 September 2017 and the old note phased out on 1 March 2018.
The new £20 note featuring artist JMW Turner was introduced in 2020 and the old note will be gradually phased out.
The new £50 note featuring Alan Turing will be introduced in 2021.
Coins
UK coins are thankfully quite easy to distinguish, as they come in different shapes and sizes. However, you can purchase coin holders from online stores such as Amazon in order to further help you.
