Four years’ experience of winning awards of DLA and AA on hearing impairment means we can answer your questions. Please post it on the forum or email us any time. DLA (Disability Living Allowance) is for people 18 – 60. Over 60 and you would apply for AA (Attendance Allowance). Both are non-means-tested state allowances. They are ignored when the government calculates any other welfare benefits such as housing benefit or pension credit.
Attendance Allowance
The parents of baby-boomers are the hardest to convince that they may qualify. Regrettably by your eighties you may qualify on other medical grounds that severely impede your life. We use the word ‘severely’ with caution. It is enough to put off the well-deserving. If you want to qualify – GSEDI – get someone else to do it. The form is over 30 pages long and needs to be filled in by someone used to doing them. Putting ‘deafness’ as your reason for claiming will aim it straight at the bin. You have to explain in detail what the hearing issue is, how long you have had it, other associated conditions if any and how it impedes your life. We suggest keeping a diary for 3 months and writing it down every time you have a problem. Be aware that something you have been doing for years to cope with the issue may not be what everyone else does. Write it down. An expert can look at it later and decide whether it should be added to the claim. You’ll find other experts by contacting your local D/deaf charities, Age Concern, Social Services. The problem is that every branch of these services acts differently. Charities usually have a main focus. Try Hearing Concern and deafPLUS.
Disability Living Allowance
It matters less what is wrong with you than what you do to help yourself. The government is running out of money. They have also extended the level of support and believe that in many cases applicants no longer qualify. You would be looking at extremes of hearing impairment. If you have had hearing aids for 3 months and nothing else is wrong, you won’t qualify. On the other hand, if you have an extreme condition of tinnitus, then you may qualify just on that.
DLA takes 6 months to be awarded if you are lucky. Our record was 18 months and only because it was pursued by my Manager at the time but it failed anyway. The Tribunal considered that the claimant did not try hard enough to manage life. It sounds appalling but you have to remember that Tribunal Panels have vast experience in seeing claimants, they are experts in disability although it may not be your field and they give an independent view. The only time this does not work is when they demonstrate remarkably low levels of knowledge of the difficulties some hearing-impaired people face. By the way if you have ever known a member of a Tribunal and they appear in front of you, stop the proceedings immediately. They will know a facet of your life that is totally unrelated but they will be unable to stop themselves applying what they know and that may be prejudicial to your case.
Both DLA and AA applications are stressful. GSEDI – at least have someone look over your application. If the government refuses it outright, they do not necessarily mean it. Ask for ‘reconsideration of decision’. You will be asked for a reason and you must tell them why you think you qualify. This is generally where CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau) will help. A funding cut of £1 million two years ago means they cannot usually help with applications yet they can advise you on an appeal. If you want to talk about an issue you have, post it on the forums here. Start/join a discussion. There will be other people who have been through the same thing and can make you feel better. Above all, you are not alone. We are here to help you.
Carers Allowance
This can only be claimed under retirement age. If you claim over retirement age you will receive a convulted letter from Department of Work & Pensions. It will tell you that this benefit overlaps with your state pension. This means they will pay either Carers Allowance or your state pension whichever is the higher.
Under retirement age you must look after the person who already has AA or DLA for more than 35 hours a week.
Talk on the Forums about how unfair this is. The government has no idea of the well of resentment it stirs up as most husbands/wives become ill when they are pensioners. In the current financial situation they are cutting and not adding to benefits. It may be that the idea behind it is to compensate in a small way for someone who has to give up work to care for someone. Start discussion on the Forums any time 24/7/365.