Dla question for mother in law

spartacusthe1st

Ok,she is registered deaf at the doctors and has a hearing aid,she is worried about sending off the claim form. Will she have to attend any interviews or medicals?and how much do you think she will get?
She is 60.
She earns £50 a week cleaning and in her mind doesn't deserve this benefit.But I think if she eligible then she is entitled to it!
Thanks

Torry_Quine

What actual care and or mobilty needs does she have as that is what the decision is made on. She could well have to have an interview if the information on the form is deemed insufficient to make a decision.

spartacusthe1st

She doesn't really need any care...a family member said she might be able to get it because she is registered deaf.

McKneff

DLA has a very high criteria at the moment.

It is for care and mobility, does she have care and mobility needs.

I dont think that just being deaf (sorry, I really dont mean 'just', it must be difficult for her) would meet the critieria on its own.

spartacusthe1st

I have her form,should I even bother sending it?i don't want her to get a letter saying she has to go to interviews etc,coz she won't go!
It sounds like she won't get it anyway?thanks

Torry_Quine

spartacusthe1st wrote: »

She doesn't really need any care...a family member said she might be able to get it because she is registered deaf.

Then I doubt very much she will get it as it's not given on diagnosis alone but needs.

Muttleythefrog

Hmm yes.... DLA is often tricky to get. Ideally you'd have supportive medical evidence or HCPs who would verify problems if contacted. It is unlikely she'd be called for medical... people can be but not typically. If you've a good case there is a good chance they'll seek supportive medical opinion from her doctor or the like as they seem also not to commonly make awards based on application form alone. But to be honest... and thinking on my feet here... it doesn't at face value seem like she has any particular needs that would lead to an award of DLA... DLA isn't awarded according to diagnosis but effects of illness or disability so I'm always cautious in saying with any certainties in terms of entitlement. This link here is perhaps a good place to start because it will guide also as to the thresholds for qualifying and the problems that a claimant may have that count in assessing entitlement... it explains all the terms used etc.
http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/questions/dlagatewayquestions.asp

mealone

She has a hearing aid?

It very, very unlikely she will get DLA for being hard of hearing in one ear unless she has no hearing in the other ear.

spartacusthe1st wrote: »

Ok,she is registered deaf at the doctors and has a hearing aid,she is worried about sending off the claim form. Will she have to attend any interviews or medicals?and how much do you think she will get?
She is 60.
She earns £50 a week cleaning and in her mind doesn't deserve this benefit.But I think if she eligible then she is entitled to it!
Thanks

LLouiseR

If £50 is her only income she could be entitled to claim other monies.


However there's a useful leaflet on action for hearing loss (formally RNID). They briefly go through each question on the form and explain where its relevant and ask questions to prompt you and help you complete the forms.

http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/supporting-you/factsheets-and-leaflets/benefits.aspx

Its not obvious how much help your mother in law needs just by being diagnosed as deaf. For example, she may hear with her hearing aid, but my grandfather finds wearing one all day difficult and has to take it out. Also, he complains about the backround noise in crowds, even though he hears its still difficult to follow converstations and understanding announcements on a trainstation would be impossible! so hearing aids are not ideal and their limitations / problems need to be fully explained.

Also get your GP's support.
You can go to your local CAB if you want to discuss a claim further

Hear-Hear

The best way to look at DLA in this case is to compare it with vision difficulty and spectacles. The use of specs in itself does not lead to qualification for DLA. As per post #2 above, it is the "care and or mobilty needs" that trigger the award. So, if she still has such "needs", even when using her prescription glasses, then DLA (lower rate) may well be awarded.

Similarly,the use of hearing aids does not in itself trigger the award, but if when wearing her hearing aids, she still has additional "care and or mobilty needs", then an award may be granted. A good basis to start would be confirmation that she has profound hearing loss (95dBHL or worse) in both ears. Her audiologist can advise on this. The form will then ask her to demonstrate what "care and or mobilty needs" and she still has, even with the hearing aids in use. An example might be needing assistance for - say - crossing roads safely, without a companion. Essentially, the award would be to pay for the costs of someone to accompany her whenever out and about.

Edit: Have just read the post from LLouiseR above. The link is brilliant. Explains DLA for D/deaf and Hard of Hearing in a really straightforward way. There's 16 pages in it, but it's well-written, and in fairly plain English.