The most recent figures from the Scottish Government show that there are estimated to be around 850,000 people living with hearing loss in Scotland, the equivalent to one in six of the population.
It is projected that this figure will double in the next 20 years and there can be delays of up to 10 years in people addressing their hearing loss.
Across the UK there are 12 million adults with hearing loss, but surprisingly, just 30,801 receiving support for their condition through the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance if they have reached State Pension age - which means millions more could be missing out on crucial support worth up to £627.60 every four weeks.
PIP is being replaced in Scotland by the Adult Disability Payment, which will follow the same eligibility criteria, but will take a more people-centred approach.
The first rollout started at the end of March for new claimants living in Dundee, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles, with the next phase set to launch in Angus and North and South Lanarkshire on June 20 - find out more about this here.
PIP is a benefit delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) designed to help cover the extra costs you may face if you need help with daily tasks or moving around.
The latest DWP figures show that on January 31, 2022 there were almost 2.9 million people across the UK claiming support through PIP, with just over one in three claimants (35%) receiving the highest level of award.
Of that total, 305,279 people living in Scotland are now receiving financial support of between £24.45 and £156.90 each week.
The benefit is paid every four weeks so this amounts to between £97.80 and £627.60 every payment period.
Those figures also include 30,801 claimants across the UK receiving PIP for a hearing condition.
This includes:
- Scotland claimants: 2,489
- England claimants: 26,420
- Wales claimants: 1,894
Main hearing loss conditions
The DWP has 15 main hearing conditions which are being supported through PIP, but within each of these categories are a number of other hearing-related conditions, so it is not a definitive list.
Conductive hearing loss
- Chronic secretory otitis media
- Chronic suppurative otitis media
- Conductive hearing loss - Other causes / type not known
- Conductive hearing loss due to Trauma
- Mastoiditis
- Otitis externa - chronic
- Otosclerosis
Sensorineural hearing loss
- Deafness - congenital
- Labyrinthitis
- Menieres disease
- Presbyacusis
- Sensorineural hearing loss - Other causes / type not known
- Sensorineural hearing loss due to Trauma
Other hearing conditions
- Mixed hearing loss
- Other diseases affecting hearing and balance
Find out if you should make a claim for PIP by looking at the criteria set out by the DWP below. If you have reached State Pension age, find out more about claiming Attendance Allowance here.
Who is eligible for PIP?
If you are over 16 and under State Pension age, you could be eligible for PIP.
You do not need to have worked or paid National Insurance contributions to qualify for PIP, and it does not matter what your income is, if you have any savings or if you’re in or out of work - or on furlough.
You must also have a health condition or disability where you:
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have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for three months
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expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months
The DWP will judge the eligibility of your PIP claim on a period of 12 months, looking back for three months and forward for nine months - they must consider if your illness changes over time.
You usually need to have lived in Scotland or the rest of the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply.
PIP daily living and mobility test
If you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP:
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preparing, cooking or eating food
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managing your medication
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washing, bathing or using the toilet
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dressing and undressing
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engaging and communicating with other people
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reading and understanding written information
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making decisions about money
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planning a journey or following a route
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moving around
What is classified as ‘help’ for a PIP claim
You are classified as needing help to do an activity if you need a person or a device to:
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Do it for you
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Do it with you
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Remind you to do it
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Watch you do it to keep you safe
You may also be classified as needing help if you do an activity yourself but:
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You are not safe
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You cannot complete the task well enough
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You cannot complete the task often
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It takes you a long time
PIP test scoring criteria
The PIP scoring criteria awards points for a statement which applies to you for each activity
The DWP will decide which statement best fits your situation most of the time. You will get a set amount of points ranging from 0 -12 for each activity.
The total number of points you get for each group of activities will decide whether you are entitled to PIP, and how much money you will receive.
To get the standard rate daily living component, you need to score between 8 to 11 points in total for the daily living activities. You need 12 points to get the enhanced rate.
To get the standard rate mobility component, you need to score between 8 to 11 points in total for the mobility activities. You need 12 points to get the enhanced rate.
How is PIP paid?
PIP is usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid every week.
PIP will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account.
PIP payment rates 2022/23
PIP is made up of two components - daily living and mobility.
Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you.
You could receive the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:
Daily living
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Standard rate - £61.85
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Enhanced rate - £92.40
Mobility
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Standard rate - £24.45
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Enhanced rate - £64.50
How you are assessed
You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need.
Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments - it's important to be aware that there is no choice here, it's up to the health professional and DWP.
Adult Disability Payment assessments will not involve face-to-face assessments, unless this is preferred by the claimant - find out more about the changes here.
You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here.
How do you make a claim for PIP?
You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the GOV.UK website here.
Before you call, you will need:
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your contact details
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your date of birth
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your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits
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your bank or building society account number and sort code
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your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
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dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital
Once you have contacted the DWP, they will send you a document to complete which consists of 14 questions. This includes space for any additional information you feel is relevant to your claim.
The questions focus on how your condition affects you, so put as much detail in as you can to help the assessor understand your physical or mental health needs.
If you have difficulty filling in your form or understanding the questions, contact your local council and ask for help or Citizens Advice Scotland.
We have a breakdown of all 14 questions here and you can take an anonymous self-test online at Benefits and Work to see how many points you would be awarded for each response.
There is also an online PIP toolkit with examples of all the questions to help you answer fully with the most relevant information, find out more about this here.
Even if you don't qualify for financial support, you could be eligible for a National Entitlement Travel Card, which offers free or reduced travel across Scotland on most public transport links.
For more information about PIP, visit GOV.UK here.
To keep up to date with the latest PIP and Adult Disability Payment news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group here, follow Record Money on Twitter here, or subscribe to our twice weekly newsletter here.
