Phone Assessment/PIP Text

Toby2007 said:

Hi does anyone know if you receive a text of dwp to say you have been awarded 
Thank uou

@Toby2007

I have severe / profound hearing loss, Like you, I explained that I couldn’t hear traffic approaching and that I can’t understand what people are saying so need someone with me (in case something goes wrong, if I need to buy a ticket, communicate with staff or if there is an announcement).

 The DWP decided that I needed help with unfamiliar journeys but not on familiar journeys.

 At MR, I explained that no-one can see round corners, round bends,through parked cars, buildings etc or over hills or bridges. However, where people with normal hearing can rely on their hearing to alert them to any approaching traffic that they can not see, deaf people can not do that. If they can’t see the traffic approaching they don’t know it is there and we can only look in one direction at a time and traffic could be approaching from 2,3,4 or more directions.

 I said that this does ,not change whether I am crossing one road to go to the local shop or many roads on a longer journey.

The DWP changed their decision before it went to tribunal and awarded me enhanced mobility for needing someone with me on familiar journeys.

 So if the DWP decide you only need help on unfamiliar journey, please consider doing a MR (mandatory consideration) and explain that not being able to hear traffic applies to any journey you make, as do the communication difficulties if using public transport.

If you have not already done so, give a real life example where either you had a near-miss or where your partner has had to intervene to keep you safe near traffic. It is not just about crossing the road, think about navigating car parks on foot at the local supermarket, walking down roads with no pavement, having to step into the road because the pavement is blocked off and not hearing bikes, scooters or mobility scooters approaching from behind when walking on the pavement.

If you don’t use public transport because you can’t manage without someone with you (rather than because you choose not to use it) give a real life example of what happened the last time you tried to travel on your own or where someone had to help you sort out a problem.

About the award length, I was awarded a 10 year award. I explained that I have had hearing loss since X and it is not a condition that is going to get better. Therefore it will be present in 10 years. I asked the DWP to consider a 10 year award and got it. So it is worth doing a MR if you do not get a  10 year award.