Action on Hearing Loss – formerly RNID – is deeply concerned that, under the government’s tough thresholds for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), profoundly deaf claimants face losing out on essential support to live a full and active life.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants who are profoundly deaf currently qualify for middle rate care and lower-rate mobility but, under the announced PIP thresholds, they would not qualify for the mobility component and only the standard rate of the daily living component.
Managing Director of External Engagement at Action on Hearing Loss, Sherine Krause, says: “We’re delighted that the government has listened to our concerns and halved the qualifying period for Personal Independence Payments to three months. However, the government should recognise that their proposals currently don’t take into account the everyday needs of profoundly deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users, who will find it more difficult to attend health appointments and miss out on accessing training or employment opportunities when their support is cut.”
Contact for general media enquiries:
Senior PR Officer for Action on Hearing Loss, Alan Dalziel, telephone: 020 7296 8388 or email: alan.dalziel@hearingloss.org.uk
Notes for editors:
- Action on Hearing Loss is the charity working for a world where hearing loss doesn't limit or label people, where tinnitus is silenced – and where people value and look after their hearing.
- For further information about Action on Hearing Loss or to become a member, visit www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk, contact the Action on Hearing Loss Information Line on 0808 808 0123 (freephone) or 0808 808 9000 (textphone) or email: informationline@hearingloss.org.uk.