Pip for unilateral hearing loss

[SomeCommonThing]

I'm thinking of applying for pip for one sided hearing loss, I've been moderately deaf in that ear for as long as I can remember and have worn a hearing aid since I was a child.
I feel my hearing is getting worse and have an appointment to request another hearing test, I have also finally accepted I actually have a disability, and decided to maybe try apply for pip.
I was wondering if anyone on here had any experience of claiming for a similar condition?

Not relevant to your question about PIP, but my Mum, a teacher, was completely deaf in one ear. She was very good at her job and I don’t think most people knew she was deaf. Somehow she always knew when children were whispering or playing up!

She does have the Railcard already, thank you.
In social situations, it can be v difficult, but her point is that PIP won't change that. She travels all over independently, so doesn't need any help for that.

That's not true. A hearing aid doesn't mean I'll know where sound comes from. All a hearing aid does is amplify the noise.

I think you could possibly get 6 points (2 for the aid and potentially 4 if they deem that you need social support to communicate) but I can't see more than that. You only get the highest number of points in each descriptor, so if you need prompting and supervision, for example, you don't get 6 points, you get 4 points, because supervision trumps prompting.

Should have said, that standard rate requires 8 points.

@Babyroobs there's caselaw on it actually. See: www.gov.uk/administrative-appeals-tribunal-decisions/kt-and-sh-v-secretary-of-state-for-work-and-pensions-pip-2020-ukut-252-aac

The issue is just needing an aid for activity 4. This would actually be reasonably needed all of the time when bathing/ showering in order to completely the activity safely.

In terms of the OP not hearing a smoke alarm at night doesn't fit within the scope of PIP. I've argued it with DLA and AA as it demonstrates a need for continuous supervision due to bodily functions.

Whoever mentioned activity 11 - planning and following journeys. There wouldn't be an argument here unfortunately. The activity is about mental health difficulties. The bar is set extremely high - 'overwhelming psychological distress.' Again with AA or DLA hearing loss would be relevant to a journey, if you had a need for supervision due to your hearing loss (although not so easy to argue).

Having rechecked the descriptors, I think 6 points would be the maximum possible for the OP, and has the above poster stated activity 11 is for mental health conditions only not physical disabilities.

@HappyNewYear2023 OP can't get points for following a journey, it's only applicable for mental health conditions.

Seems a relevant question. What would she spend it on that would make managing her condition easier.

A lot of us have no experience of how difficult things are for someone with hearing loss. I, for one, am genuinely interested. It's not to have a go.

People who are trying it on will generally not bother with an appeal.

This is untrue and inflammatory. Lots of people who are not "trying it on" don't appeal. The whole system is dehumanising in the first instance, and people are often fearful of being described as frauds (like you just did!), or assume they aren't "bad enough" to get it, or simply accept what they are told. It has always been the case, for many years, that a high percentage of people get refused, and that many get immediately accepted on appeal because they should never have been refused support in the first place. This happened to my father, and that was some 30 years ago! Underclaiming of benefits is the problem, not fraud.

I am 100% deaf in my right ear, and 80% deaf in my left ear.

I recently applied for PIP, and was rejected for hearing loss. Accepted for mobility loss on a different issue

@PearlclutchersInc

It's not at all relevant. It doesn't form any part of the application.

This is actually a big help, I may appeal for the deaf part of it

Hearing aids aren’t a magic cure all for hearing impairments. I got hit by a car coming from entirely the wrong direction in a multi-storey car park. Even with aids in I simply did not hear it approaching and was naturally looking for dangers in the opposite direction, even being hyper aware you cannot rely on eyes for everything. It would be likening to a walking stick meaning a person can technically walk but they still wouldn’t have been able to get out the cars path fast enough because they can’t run or leap. I can technically hear but I am not an able hearing person.

Not directly but indirectly since that is what PIP is for.

Anyway, more usefully, other posters have indirectly answered.

I understand, it's usual to build new structures of how to do things and then they become routine.

However, I would still gently suggest you look at how you manage your hearing loss. Again, I can only speak from my own experience but I have two small children and my husband travels regularly for work. It's not possible for me to only (for eg) shower when he is here. You mentioned elsewhere he is always there (I think you meant overnight). What if he has the chance to go on a training course, on a stag do, long distance event etc? Gently, whether you feel anxious or not, this isn't an entirely proportional response (I've actually had a house fire but fortunately wasn't home at time).

It sounds like the jury is very much out on whether you'd be eligible for a PIP (I'd honestly think looking at the criteria, not, but as I've said I'm no expert) but even if you get it or you didn't, how could you meaningfully improve your life?

@Jollofrice

I don't know the dB loss but it equated to a 70% loss in each ear for me. That was a decade ago though I have certainly lost more of my hearing in the last 10 years.

It became very apparant just how much I had come to rely on lipreading when the masks came in in 2020.

For all those commenting on my 'trying it on' phrase, I should perhaps clarify to those trying to get some internet points.

It is my opinion that the DWP view that people are not serious about their claim unless they appeal after first been refused PIP.

I was refused PIP after spending years on DLA for my deafness. I was granted it on appeal after I told them to actually read my form and think again.

My two sons were refused PIP, with zero points and again, one of them were on DLA for some time. Again, we appealed and told DWP to actually read the forms and think again. One of them even qualified for enhanced payments in the end.

Always, always appeal PIP is my experience.

OP,

The short answer is unfortunately no, you wouldn’t be awarded PIP based on your hearing.

An aid in one ear (with unaffected hearing in the other ear) doesn’t meet the minimum criteria. It is assumed that your “good” ear allows adequate hearing.

This is completely untrue. This is my job, and many people with partial hearing loss are awarded pip. It completely depends on how the individual is affected by it. No way to know without interviewing the op in detail.

It’s my job too, and I can guarantee that one hearing aid doesn’t qualify as an aid.

I would recommend the link below for anyone looking for help completing the PIP form. The NDCS is aimed at deaf children but the info contained within is relevant for adults too.

DS has just moved from DLA to PIP, he has mild/moderate hearing loss and has been awarded the higher rate for Daily Care and standard rate for mobility.

He scored high on communicating, mixing with others and following a journey (public transport announcements etc)

www.ndcs.org.uk/information-and-support/money-and-benefits/personal-independence-payment-pip/

It’s my job too, and I can guarantee that one hearing aid doesn’t qualify as an aid.

This goes against the DWP own description of what is considered an 'aid'

That is incorrect.

There is a group on face group called deaf pip and deaf pip non bsl - I would recommend you have a look.