DWP owes 12 million people with hearing conditions £434 a week

James Rodger

11 July 2024 at 0:21 pm·2-min read

12 million people with hearing conditions could be due £434 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Attendance Allowance is money for people over pension age who have care needs, according to the DWP website.

At present, 8,616 individuals above the State Pension age are receiving either £72.65 for the lower rate or £108.55 for the higher rate of Attendance Allowance each week due to a hearing condition. You may have care needs if you need help with activities of daily living, such as getting dressed, going to the toilet or having someone to look after you so you do not hurt yourself.

There are 15 primary hearing conditions being supported through these disability benefits. Conductive hearing loss is listed, from Chronic secretory otitis media and Chronic suppurative otitis media to Conductive hearing loss - Other causes / type not known and Conductive hearing loss due to Trauma.

Mastoiditis, Otitis externa - chronic and Otosclerosis are also listed. Sensorineural hearing loss is also listed - from Deafness - congenital and Labyrinthitis to Menieres disease and Presbyacusis as well as Sensorineural hearing loss - Other causes / type not known and Sensorineural hearing loss due to Trauma.

Other hearing conditions include mixed hearing loss and pther diseases affecting hearing and balance. Attendance Allowance could include help outside the home. It does not matter if no one actually gives this help, as long as you can show you need it. You can have any type of disability or illness, including sight or hearing impairments, or mental health issues such as dementia or depression.

Attendance Allowance does not cover mobility needs. To claim Attendance Allowance, you must have needed help with your care needs for at least 6 months. (If you’re terminally ill, you can make a claim straight away.)

Attendance Allowance is paid at two different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability. Attendance Allowance is not a means-tested benefit so your income and savings are not taken into account when assessing if you qualify for the benefit.