DLA is it worth me applying?

asandwhen · 6 November 2008 at 9:07AM

I have been told I may be entitled to DLA as I am deaf (in 1 ear) I have been deaf for over 25yrs since I was a young child (Had mumps which caused irreversable nerve end damage).

I work full time and am married with a child. I do have some problems with everyday things but I try not to dwell on them and try to find ways to deal with them. I have a special door bell and telephone and have a cross hearing aid (I dont like using it as it has terrible feedback). I have recently been seeing a consutant ear, nose and throat specialist to try and get a bone anchored hearing aid which is supposed to be much better for single sided deafness but have recently been told that my NHS trust wont fund it.

I am wondering if anyone thinks that I might be entitled to DLA as this may help me fund the BAHA (bone anchred hearing aid) myself.

hamstercheeks_2 · 6 November 2008 at 9:13AM

i reckon you have to be registered as disabled which you would have to go through your doctor to do. if you are, I definitely think you will be

asandwhen · 6 November 2008 at 9:14AM

I am registered disabled - I am registered with social services (adult care servcies) rather than my doctor though - they are the ones who came out and fitted my new doorbell / telephone.

hamstercheeks_2 · 6 November 2008 at 9:22AM

well you should be entitled to DLA - why not try http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/
also you say you are under adult care services - do you have a carer? there is also a carer's allowance that can be claimed.... I think...

asandwhen · 6 November 2008 at 9:28AM

I dont have a carer (apart from my wife

) I did have someone from social services come round to asses what I needed help with but I dont need a carer - I think I may only be entitled to the very basic DLA as I try to be very independant and not let my disability affect my life too much thats why I have never claimed anything like this before but I have come to the point now where I think if I am entitled to it I should get it. I do feel a bit guilty though as I do work (have done since I was 13) and never had to claim any benefit before (apart from CTC) but I am being told that DLA is not means tested and it doesnt matter if you work.

hamstercheeks_2 · 6 November 2008 at 9:36AM

i would advise you get in touch with your disability rights advisor at the local CAB, they should be able to check if you are entitled. They;ll also be able to advise if you should put your wife down as helper rather than carer and she may be to able to claim some kind of benefit.

SuziQ · 6 November 2008 at 11:52AM

DLA isn't dependant on your being registered disabled or having a certain disability-it depends on your care or mobility needs.

Disability Living Allowance - sometimes referred to as DLA - is a tax-free benefit for children and adults who need help with personal care or have walking difficulties because they are physically or mentally disabled.

Please do get help filling out the forms if you decide to apply as it's very easy to get it wrong and lose out even when you have a good claim.

It seems grossly unfair that your trust refuses to fund a BAHA- the postcode lottery for certain medical treatments etc is really ufair. Have you contacted your MP to see whether he could campaign for you on this,why should you have to fund this yourself when it could make such a huge difference to your quality of life? I really hope you get a result one way or another.

asandwhen · 6 November 2008 at 1:23PM

Thanks for your support - I am going to make an appointment with the CAB to get some help filling it out - I have already got some letters from my Dr dating back 10 years saying I have irreversable hearing loss.

In regards to the BAHA I was devistated when I was told they wouldnt fund it - The consoltant blamed it on me being deaf for so long and coping reasonably well - He said that if I had had a car accident and just gone deaf they might have paid for it as I wouldnt know how to cope being deaf !?!?!

I do have private health care (through my wifes work) but they also refused to pay for it as it is a hearing aid.

The only thing left for me to do is fund it myself £8000 approx - If I get DLA then it can go towards repaying the loan I get out to pay for it (£8000 loan is about £165 per month) minimum DLA is £75 so will be a big help. Do you think I should mention on the dla application form what I will use the money for or not?

asandwhen · 6 November 2008 at 8:15PM

I am having real problems getting any information to send off with my application - I have got a hearing test form from 1996 along with a letter to my GP outlining my hearing loss - also another letter dated 1997 to my GP from the audiology department saying they are discharging me due to not being able to do anything else for my hearing. Will this be enough or do I need more? I have tried contacting social services but they keep promising me a phone call back but never call back - They will have some information about when they came out to my house to asses any help I may need around the home.

Should I hold out for this information from social services or just send the info I have got.

mcspanna · 6 November 2008 at 8:34PM

Hi asandwhen,

There's no such thing as being 'registered' disabled any more (or there shouldn't be!) I'd recommend you pop over to the disability and dosh board. There's a thread on there (started by yours truly) which explains the definition of disability under the disability discrimination act (which removed the registered disabled thing in 1995) and also a thread started by a guy who works as a decision maker for DLA applications...he's not around this week but is happy for people to post questions about DLA for when he returns.

HTH

mcspanna

SuziQ · 6 November 2008 at 8:40PM

asandwhen they do state that any evidence you send has to be recent ie dated in last 6 months. However you could put the details of your specialist and GP or any other professional who has knowledge of your condition and how it affects you. Then let these people know you are applying so they are prepared. With my son I gae the senco at his school and his paediatrician-my GP would have been pointless as he hasn't seen him for over 2 years,he is very healthy and attends the specialist for everything to do with his disability.

DLA is it worth me applying?

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