Eligibility for PIP with Hearing Loss. Your PIP Questions Answered.

If your hearing loss leaves you struggling with specific tasks, you could be eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) — whether you’re claiming other benefits, working or have savings. These are non-means tested benefits that you can claim if you have a disability or long term physical or mental health condition. 

At Regain Hearing, we often get asked if we know the PIP criteria and understand that carrying out a PIP application can be daunting. If you are confused about eligibility for PIP, we’ve outlined some of the basics you might need to know here in this handy guide. 

What Is PIP?

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit payment made by the government to help people living with conditions that make life more challenging. The payment consists of two parts — a mobility part and a daily living part. You could be eligible for one or both of these, and there is a lower and higher rate of PIP payment. What you are awarded will be based on specific criteria and depend on how severely your condition affects you. 

The weekly rate for the daily living element of PIP is either £61.85 or £92.40 for the higher rate PIP payment. Additionally, you may be given a mobility PIP payment. The weekly rate for the mobility part is either £24.45 or £64.50 if you meet the PIP criteria for the higher rate. This amount is tax-free, and income or savings do not determine the amount you receive.

What Are the PIP Criteria to Make a Claim?

PIP is available if you need help managing everyday tasks related to eating, drinking, bathing and using the toilet, dressing or undressing and making decisions about your finances. You may also be eligible for mobility assistance even without a physical disability; this could include supporting navigating routes outside of the home or having difficulty getting around due to cognitive conditions like memory issues and anxiety.

The PIP assessment for the degree of difficulty you have carrying out daily tasks and with your mobility reviews:

• If you can carry them out safely.
• The length of time it takes you to complete the task.
• How often does a medical condition or disability impact your ability to complete a task?
• Whether you need help from other individuals or extra equipment.

Eligibility For PIP

According to GOV.UK: 

• You can get PIP whether you’re working or not.
• To claim, you must be aged 16 or over and usually not have reached the State Pension age.

You must also have a physical or mental health condition or disability where you:

• Have experienced difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for three months.
• Expect these difficulties to continue for at least twelve months.

Usually, you must also have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for two of the last three years minimum and reside in one of these countries when applying.

Can I Get High-Rate PIP for Hearing Loss?

Depending on how severely your hearing loss affects you, you may be eligible for high-rate PIP for hearing loss. You may also be eligible for PIP with mild to moderate hearing loss if you require hearing aids or other technology, such as assistive devices, to help you communicate. 

PIP criteria are all about how your disability impacts your life, so it is essential to mention how your hearing loss affects you as a separate point, even if it seems very minor. It is advisable to mention any applications you need to use, such as subtitles on the TV, in your application and assessment. 

How to Claim PIP

You can check eligibility for PIP online, and the fastest way to start a claim is to call the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). You can also request someone else do this on your behalf. Before making this call, check out the How To Claim PIP page on the GOV.UK site to find all the details you’ll need to have ready and available.

After this call, you will receive a “How Your Disability Affects You” form to fill in, and you need to send this back within one month. This could be followed by a face to face or video or telephone assessment with an independent medical professional if they feel they need more information from you. This is why we recommend putting as much detail and time into the form as possible to provide adequate insight into how your hearing loss affects your life. If you need assistance or are unsure about any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the PIP enquiry line.

Following this, you will receive a decision letter from the Department of Work and Pensions. This will notify you if your claim was successful and how much you will receive. You can dispute the decision if you are not satisfied with the outcome. 

For more information, go to the PIP guide on GOV.UK, or you can download a printable version.

If your hearing loss is causing you to struggle, contact Regain Hearing today and take a step closer to solid hearing health. With a team of trained audiologists, we can provide hearing tests in your home or at our hearing clinics in London, Essex and Kent.