Across the whole of Great Britain, there are an estimated 12 million adults living with hearing impairment or deafness. However, only 35,633 of these currently receive additional financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Participation Allowance or Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only).
Currently, 8,616 people over State Pension age receive either a low rate of £72.65 or a high rate of £108.55 in Participation Allowance each week for hearing impairment. These payments are usually made every four weeks, resulting in either £290.60 or £434.20 per payment period. There are 15 primary hearing impairments supported through these disability benefits, but this is not an exhaustive list because the benefit supports a constantly evolving list of impairments.
If you or someone you know is under State Pension age and has hearing problems, you should consider making a new claim for PIP. If you or someone you know is aged 66 or over and living with hearing impairment, you should consider making a claim for Attendance Allowance.
This tax-free benefit currently supports more than 1.5 million people in the UK, the Daily Record reported. The Joint Allowance is a benefit designed to help people of State Pension age with their daily living expenses and enable them to maintain their independence in their own home for longer.
It is important to note that, unlike Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP), Participation Allowance does not include a mobility component and only provides support for additional daily living expenses.
The number of people claiming Attendance Allowance due to hearing impairment includes:
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Scotland: 801
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England: 7,155
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Wales: 645
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Living Abroad: 13
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Total: 8,616
Conductive hearing loss
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Chronic secretory otitis media
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Chronic suppurative otitis media
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Conductive hearing loss – Other causes / type unknown
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Conductive hearing loss due to trauma
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Mastoiditis
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Otitis externa – chronic
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Otosclerosis
Sensorineural hearing loss
Other hearing conditions
These are common hearing problems supported by disability benefits. However, if your condition is not listed, it does not mean it is not supported; it may fall into the ‘unknown’ category.
Here’s a quick summary of the benefit and how to make a new claim to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Full details about claiming Attendance Allowance can be found on the GOV.UK website here.
What is the Participation Fee?
Attendance Allowance helps to cover additional costs if you have a physical or mental disability or illness that is severe enough to make it difficult to care for yourself – it does not cover mobility needs. You do not need to have someone looking after you to claim.
Who can make a claim?
If you are disabled or ill and require assistance or supervision during the day or at night, you should consider applying for Attendance Allowance, even if you are not currently receiving this benefit.
These may include:
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Help with your personal care – for example, dressing, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering and going to the toilet
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Help stay safe
Assistance with personal care tasks such as dressing, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering, and using the toilet is covered. Safety assistance is also included.
For example, if you have difficulty with personal tasks, if they take a long time, cause pain, or require physical support, such as leaning back in a chair, you should consider applying.
Participation Allowance is not only for physically disabled or sick individuals.
You should also consider making a request if you need assistance or supervision during the day or night for the following reasons:
How much Participation Allowance can I receive?
Depending on the level of care your condition requires, you could receive either £72.65 or £108.55 per week. This is paid every four weeks and works out to £290.60 and £434.20 respectively.
You can spend the money however you want and it can help you maintain your independence in your home for longer.
These may include:
Can I apply even if I have savings and other income?
Yes. The Participation Allowance is not income tested, so it doesn’t matter what other income or savings you have – there is no limit.
It is tax-free and exempt from the Benefit Limit, so you won’t lose money from other benefits.
Will Participation Allowance affect my State Pension?
No, this will not affect your State Pension and you can claim it even if you are still working and earning money.
How does the Participation Allowance affect other benefits?
If you receive Participation Allowance, other benefits may increase, including:
You can check your State Pension age on the GOV.UK website here.
How can I make a request?
When you apply for Attendance Allowance you will need to fill in a long claim form.
It may seem daunting at first, but help is available from your nearest Citizens Advice, so don’t let the form put you off applying.
If you prefer to do this yourself, you can follow Citizens Advice’s guide on how to complete your application form here.
Full details of how to get an application form by post or by phone can be found on the Gov.uk website.
What happens if I’m about to reach State Pension age?
If you are thinking of claiming Contributory Allowance when you reach State Pension age, it may be better for you to claim PIP or ADP straight away.
If you claim and receive PIP, the amount you get will depend on your circumstances and how your disability or illness affects you. Find out more about claiming PIP on the GOV.UK website.
Who cannot benefit from Participation Allowance?
If you are already receiving PIP or DLA to cover the costs of your care, you will not be eligible for Attendance Allowance. If you apply for Attendance Allowance whilst you are on DLA, the DWP will usually reassess your DLA award.
Once the current award ends, you can renew your PIP or DLA if you still meet the eligibility requirements. If your renewal is unsuccessful, you can apply for Attendance Allowance.
For more information about Attendance Allowance, visit the GOV.UK website Here.