About this leaflet

This leaflet is for you if you are deaf and wouldlike to find out about benefits and services you may be entitled to.

You should read this leaflet if you want to find out about: 

You may be entitled to benefits because you have a hearing loss or for reasons that are unrelated to your hearing loss. Some benefits depend on whether you are working or have savings. There are some benefits you can apply for no matter what funds you have.

If you are deaf, you can get a lot of support from:

We use the term ‘deaf people’ to refer to deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people throughout this leaflet.

You can download a portable document format (PDF) version of this leaflet (opens new browser window).

Can I get help with equipment and services?

Yes. There are several ways you can apply for and get help,
at home, at work and in education.

If you need equipment at home

You may be able to get help with this from the social services department of your local authority or from an agency working on its behalf. It is a good idea to register with your local authority if you are deaf. If you apply for help, someone from your local authority, such as a social worker with deaf people or a technical officer, must visit you to assess your needs. You may be given equipment such as a loop system to hear music or the television more clearly, a textphone, a vibrating alarm clock, an amplifier for your voice telephone or flashing lights so that you know when your doorbell or telephone is ringing or your smoke alarm is activated. It may be possible to try equipment out first. See our factsheet Social services for deaf adults for more information.

If you need help at work

If you are deaf and you are in work, or looking for work, the government’s Access to Work scheme can help with the cost of equipment, communication support and changes to your working environment to provide access for you at work. If you are already in work, your employer has to pay part of the cost of the equipment. If you apply within six weeks of starting a new job, your employer may not have to pay anything. Access to Work covers the full cost of any kind of communication service. This could include interpreters, lipspeakers, speech-to-text reporters or notetakers that you need at work. Examples of equipment could include telephone amplifiers, textphones or loop systems. Contact Jobcentre Plus (see below) for more information about Access to Work or to speak to a disability employment adviser.

If you need help with education

If you are already in education or want to apply to do a course, you may be able to get communication services and equipment. Most disabled students – including deaf students – can get Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) to pay for communication services or equipment while studying in higher education. To find out more, contact your local education authority (LEA), Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) or Education and Library Board (Northern Ireland). If you are studying in further education, you usually won’t qualify for DSA. Instead, the college where you are studying should provide what you need. Different colleges provide different amounts of support. Contact your college disability or learning support officer for further details.

Further and higher education institutions in the UK may have to provide equipment and communication services as part of their duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act. For more information, contact RNID’s Information Line.

If you need help with transport

You may be entitled to free or discounted travel on local public transport. Contact your local authority for further information. You may also qualify for a disabled person’s railcard. There is a small annual cost but you will get a third off most rail journeys. For more information, click here (external link, opens new browser window) for the website or contact 0845 605 0525 (telephone) or 0845 601 0132 (textphone).

If you live in Scotland, anyone aged 60 or over and many disabled people can travel free on local buses and scheduled long distance coach services in Scotland. Contact your local authority or local concessionary travel scheme office to apply for a National Entitlement Card.

Benefits for disabled people and their carers

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Children or adults under 65 can claim DLA if they have a disability that affects their everyday life. It is paid whether you are working, unemployed or studying, and it doesn’t matter if you have other income or savings. DLA is not taxable and will not reduce any other benefits you are getting – in fact, it may even increase your entitlement to other benefits. DLA has two parts – a care component and a mobility component. If you are deaf, you may qualify for the care component if you need help with communication on most days. In addition, you may qualify for the mobility component if you need guidance or supervision out of doors. You may also get DLA if you have care or supervision needs because you have other disabilities. Read our factsheet Disability Living Allowance for more information.

Attendance Allowance (AA)

Adults over 65 can claim AA if they have a disability that affects their everyday life. If you are deaf, you can claim it if you need help with communication on most days. You may also get AA if you have care or supervision needs because you have other disabilities. Read our factsheet Attendance Allowance for more information.

Carer’s Allowance (CA)

If you care for someone who gets AA or the middle or higher rate of DLA care component, you can claim CA. You must be a carer for more than 35 hours a week and you must not be in education for 21 hours or more a week. If you work, you must not earn more than the current limit. If you are entitled to CA you may get an increase in or become entitled to other benefits. CA cannot be paid on top of some other benefits.

If you are unable to work because of a disability

If you are deaf and not working (or working fewer than 16 hours a week) you may be accepted as incapable of work, and allowed to claim Incapacity Benefit or Income Support rather than Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). Incapacity Benefit and Income Support are often paid at a higher rate than JSA. You may qualify for Incapacity Benefit if you have recently worked and paid National Insurance contributions, or if you are aged 16-25 and meet certain conditions. If you do not qualify for Incapacity Benefit you may get Income Support instead. Read our factsheet Benefits and incapacity for work for more information.

If you have been made deaf by your work or service in the armed forces

If you have become deaf as a result of exposure to noise or an accident at work you may be able to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. Read our factsheet Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for more information.

If your hearing loss is due to serving in the armed forces, you may be entitled to a War Disablement Pension, but there are strict rules about deafness. Some civilians disabled in wartime are also eligible. The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme replaces the War Pensions Scheme but only for those who have become deaf or disabled while serving in the armed forces on or after April 2005.

Read our factsheets War pensions and The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for more information.

If you are a low earner

If you have low earnings you may be able to claim Working Tax Credit to top-up your earnings. The amount you get will depend on your circumstances, but there are extra amounts for people who have a disability. You claim Tax Credits from the Inland Revenue.

If you have children

Child Tax Credit is paid to people who are responsible for at least one child or qualifying young person. How much you get depends on your income and your circumstances.

If you need help with your council tax or rent

Council Tax Benefit can help you if you are on a low income and are liable to pay council tax. The amount you get depends on your circumstances, including income and disability. Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you are on a low income. The amount you get depends on your circumstances, including income and disability.

If you are 60 or over

Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit for people aged 60 and over. There are two parts to Pension Credit:

Community Care Grants

Community Care Grants are discretionary awards to help people live independently in the community. ‘Discretionary’ means that you don’t automatically get them because you are disabled – you must meet certain conditions to receive a grant. Read our factsheet Community Care Grants for more information.

How do I claim benefits?

For Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or Carer’s Allowance, contact:

To claim Incapacity Benefit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Carer’s Allowance, contact Jobcentre Plus.

For Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and the Council Tax Disability Reduction Scheme, contact your local authority (details in your phone book).

To claim War Disablement Pension and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, contact:

To claim Pension Credit, contact:

To claim Tax Credits, contact:

Where can I get further information?

Citizens advice bureau (CAB)
Your local CAB will give free advice. See your phonebook for your nearest CAB or search www.nacab.org.uk (external link)

Directgov
For comprehensive information about benefits and allowances go to their website (external link, opens new browser window).

Disability Alliance
For a range of information about benefits.

Universal House
88-94 Wentworth Street
London E1 7SA
Tel/textphone 020 7247 8776
Fax 020 7247 8765
Email: office.da@dial.pipex.com
Disability Alliance website (external link, opens new browser window)

Law centres
Law centres provide free advice and representation. You can find details of your local law centre from:

The Law Centres Federation
Duchess House
18-19 Warren Street
London W1T 5LR
Telephone 020 7387 8570
Fax 020 7387 8368
Email: info@lawcentres.org.uk
The Law centres website (external link, opens new browser window)

Social Security Agency for Northern Ireland
If you live in Northern Ireland, visit www.ssani.gov.uk for information about benefits.

Welfare rights advice centres
See your phonebook to find your local welfare rights advice centre.

Further information from RNID

You might find some of our other factsheets or leaflets useful:

RNID Information, May 2007