Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

Pip for unilateral hearing loss

140 replies

SomeCommonThing · 05/01/2023 17:40

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?

OP posts:
Lavenderflower · 06/01/2023 17:04

I would recommend you contact your local sensory team and get equipment such as door bell etc - this will also help your application.

Your application my get rejected but persist.

GG2022 · 06/01/2023 17:19

@Galactico @FatGirlSwim
And therein lies the problem, the PIP assessors (if both of you are as you claimed to be) have different ideas on what constitutes an aid!
DS has 2 hearing aids but doesn't wear either of them (his choice) and even tho they would make his life easier (although not as easy as a fully hearing person) he still got awarded...

Galactico · 06/01/2023 17:25

FatGirlSwim · 06/01/2023 16:52

That is incorrect.

Show quote history

No it isn’t.

If I’m incorrect, tell me what is correct? One hearing aid, fully-functioning hearing in the other ear…tell me how you’d justify someone needing an aid?

GG2022 · 06/01/2023 18:06

@Galactico can I ask roughly how many deaf people have you assessed?
One good hearing ear certainly does not make adequate allowances for a hearing impairment in the other ear in lots of cases so I'm really worried if you have refused PIP on that assertion...

Galactico · 06/01/2023 18:33

GG2022 · 06/01/2023 18:06

@Galactico can I ask roughly how many deaf people have you assessed?
One good hearing ear certainly does not make adequate allowances for a hearing impairment in the other ear in lots of cases so I'm really worried if you have refused PIP on that assertion...

I completely get what you’re saying. I’m also aware that perfect hearing in one ear doesn’t compensate for the loss on the other.

All I’m trying to say is that the DWP’s perspective is that one hearing can restore your overall hearing to an adequate standard. They concentrate on risk - if someone can hear a smoke alarm or train tannoy - even if it is just in one ear, that’s sufficient.

I’m not saying in any way that I agree with them, but that’s their policy. There are various other silly things they do too, for example, use of stairs isn’t factored into mobility even though they’re everywhere. Illiteracy isn’t considered in the reading activity. There are lots of exclusions.

Soubriquet · 06/01/2023 19:52

Where would I stand then?

I can hear a smoke alarm if I’m right near it. Only with my hearing aid though. Wouldn’t hear it if I didn’t have it in.

Train tannoys. I could hear something was being said, but I wouldn’t be able to tell you what was said.

morningstar15 · 06/01/2023 20:13

Soubriquet · 06/01/2023 19:52

Where would I stand then?

I can hear a smoke alarm if I’m right near it. Only with my hearing aid though. Wouldn’t hear it if I didn’t have it in.

Train tannoys. I could hear something was being said, but I wouldn’t be able to tell you what was said.

Neither would get you any points for PIP - as neither issues fit within the scope of PIP activities.

What would is as per my previous comment upthread relating to the need for an aid to bathe or shower safely. So you would have to take your hearing aids out to bathe/ shower. Therefore an aid would be required to bathe/ shower safely. The aid being a flashing light in your bathroom linked to a smoke detector.

Galactico · 06/01/2023 20:13

Soubriquet · 06/01/2023 19:52

Where would I stand then?

I can hear a smoke alarm if I’m right near it. Only with my hearing aid though. Wouldn’t hear it if I didn’t have it in.

Train tannoys. I could hear something was being said, but I wouldn’t be able to tell you what was said.

Regarding not having the hearing aid in, unless you have a reason (like chronic ear infections, deformity of the ear canal etc), then it’s expected that you wear it. The exception is when showering.

Do you know what your loss is classed as? Moderate, profound etc?

Soubriquet · 06/01/2023 20:55

Severe.

I obviously don’t wear it whilst I’m sleeping or showering. I cannot hear anything when that happens. So no fire alarm, nothing.

Galactico · 06/01/2023 20:56

Soubriquet · 06/01/2023 20:55

Severe.

I obviously don’t wear it whilst I’m sleeping or showering. I cannot hear anything when that happens. So no fire alarm, nothing.

are both ears affected?

Soubriquet · 06/01/2023 21:17

Yes. I’m 100% deaf in my right ear. Can’t hear anything out of it at all. I’m 80% deaf in my left ear. I wear a hearing aid in my left ear

FatGirlSwim · 07/01/2023 01:42

morningstar15 · 06/01/2023 20:13

Neither would get you any points for PIP - as neither issues fit within the scope of PIP activities.

What would is as per my previous comment upthread relating to the need for an aid to bathe or shower safely. So you would have to take your hearing aids out to bathe/ shower. Therefore an aid would be required to bathe/ shower safely. The aid being a flashing light in your bathroom linked to a smoke detector.

Show quote history

They do fit within the scope of pip activities.

Being unable to hear a smoke alarm comes within the preparing food descriptor (need an aid, or supervision to carry out the task safely).

Being unable to hear the train tannoy comes under ‘planning and carrying out a journey’.

FatGirlSwim · 07/01/2023 01:46

GG2022

I’m not a PIP assessor. I am a welfare rights lawyer and what I do is pip appeals.

There may be internal guidance for assessors, but the published guide for assessors says none of what has been asserted by the other poster here.

Case law says differently. I can’t reference the cases without looking them up, but I can say that I have had clients with unilateral hearing loss awarded pip, and that the hearing aid is an aid.

TheShellBeach · 07/01/2023 05:03

FatGirlSwim · 07/01/2023 01:42

They do fit within the scope of pip activities.

Being unable to hear a smoke alarm comes within the preparing food descriptor (need an aid, or supervision to carry out the task safely).

Being unable to hear the train tannoy comes under ‘planning and carrying out a journey’.

Show quote history

Thank you for this.
It is just further evidence that DWP assessors are inadequately trained.
Have you seen the AMA thread which is current?

SouthCountryGirl · 07/01/2023 11:59

How likely is there to be a fire alarm going off that you'd need to hear it?

TheShellBeach · 07/01/2023 12:08

SouthCountryGirl · 07/01/2023 11:59

How likely is there to be a fire alarm going off that you'd need to hear it?

That is not relevant.

HoneyDragon · 07/01/2023 12:29

Well if there’s an emergency alarm going off I’d quite like to know if that’s ok? I mean that’s kind of the point of alarms.

oudie · 07/01/2023 13:49

SouthCountryGirl · 07/01/2023 11:59

How likely is there to be a fire alarm going off that you'd need to hear it?

I can't believe someone has actually asked this Shock

Soubriquet · 07/01/2023 15:07

SouthCountryGirl · 07/01/2023 11:59

How likely is there to be a fire alarm going off that you'd need to hear it?

Well I don’t know. If im alone in the house, and the fire alarm goes off, it would be nice to get out of the house in case of…I don’t know…a fucking fire!!!! Hmm

SouthCountryGirl · 07/01/2023 15:45

So a fire is really likely to happen 50% of the time? Get real

It has to be reasonable for it to happen.

Original poster
SomeCommonThing · 07/01/2023 15:46

SouthCountryGirl · 07/01/2023 11:59

How likely is there to be a fire alarm going off that you'd need to hear it?

By this logic, why bother to put batteries in the fire alarm at all?

OP posts:
Eilan50 · 07/01/2023 16:59

Well I don’t know. If im alone in the house, and the fire alarm goes off, it would be nice to get out of the house in case of…I don’t know…a fucking fire!!!!

@Soubriquet I don't know if you're aware but there are special smoke alarms, door bells etc through RNID which are flashing lights, vibrating pads for under pillows. They do a range of aids so people who live alone can still be safe

Soubriquet · 07/01/2023 17:03

Yeah I understand that. But I can’t afford them. I’m looking at around £100 for an alarm.

Original poster
SomeCommonThing · 07/01/2023 17:03

Eilan50 · 07/01/2023 16:59

Well I don’t know. If im alone in the house, and the fire alarm goes off, it would be nice to get out of the house in case of…I don’t know…a fucking fire!!!!

@Soubriquet I don't know if you're aware but there are special smoke alarms, door bells etc through RNID which are flashing lights, vibrating pads for under pillows. They do a range of aids so people who live alone can still be safe

Your local fire service should have a safe and well team who can also support with adapted alarms for hearing loss. If that's of any use to anyone.

OP posts:
Original poster
SomeCommonThing · 07/01/2023 17:04

It may not be the same with every fire department though

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread