RNID have just released new research on deaf people's experiences of claiming DLA and AA.

This follows on from a report produced a number of years ago, called can't hear can't benefit.

Have a look here, for the full report or the report summary:
http://www.rnid.org.uk/howwehelp/our_services/rights_and_welfare_advice/who-benefits

doesn't surprise me at all.

once did a DLA for a 19 year old - father & his side of the family all congenitally deaf - had to go to tribunal, and (hearing) mother was then going to use my work to benefit the rest of the deaf family members by applying for DLA for them as well. don't know how well they got on, didn't hear the results of all of those

but the original decision from teh DWP on the DLA app - well! no comment...

We have (Casework Team) dealt with hundreds of cases in our six years since we formed, we have lost one, which was then taken to Commissioner and an award was achieved. We therefore still hold a 100% success rate.

We (as many others do) constantly request a significant improvement in the Decision Making (DM) process, to be fair some changes have been made, such as the re-writing of the guidance hearing impairment in adults (NDCS cover the child/children side) but that has not necesarily changed or improved the decisions being made.

We frequently see crass and unrelated comments from DM's, such as "good eyesight compensates for loss of hearing". In addition to qutoes taken from Caselaw which we rely upon, being mis-quoted. Lets hope this report finally does something to improve the DM process.

"Lets hope this report finally does something to improve the DM process"

nice idea...

Apparently not - we received information today about 5 identical DLA claims, on a Social Service referral to a local advice agency. All 5 people have a profound and pre-lingual hearing loss and sign language is first language.

Guess what ? 4 different decisions and one outright refusal !!

there's a surprise ... not!