PIP Points

I reviewed the PIP health assessors report and noticed that although it was recommend that I should be awarded points under communication descriptors because I had a significant hearing loss and used a hearing aid. I was awarded no points for this.

I wrote to DWP advising that I should have been awarded points under this descriptor as per recommendation and it is possible they may have overlooked this.

I had a phone call from DWP and was advised although the health assessor had recommended points on account of my significant hearing loss and the use of a hearing aid it was decided no points to be awarded because I only use one hearing aid not two. I was even told quite cheekily that because appeared to hear clearly and understand the DWP process of awarding points this suggested I did not warrant any points for this descriptors anyway. Interestingly, the officer was not aware that I was wearing my hearing aid and using a phone with amplification whilst talking and neither did he ask me.

I asked the DWP officer that I believed points were awarded on the basis of the health assessor’s recommendation and this was mandatory. However, the reply I was given over the phone was that it was ultimately DWP discretion as to whether points should be awarded or not irrespective of the health assessor recommendation.

Is this correct and DWP ignore a health assessor's recommendation. ?

Gordon,

I did not have an explanation from anyone from DWP when they made the award as to why they were not awarding any points under he communication descriptor. As mentioned I noticed this and contacted DWP it was only after my contact that someone from their office phoned me to explain why no points were given

I wear one hearing aid but have significant hearing loss, more in one ear. I find it difficult to hear conversations whether it is outdoor/indoor and there is a lot of noise around me. It is for this reason I wear the hearing aid, prescribed by my ENT consultant, as it significantly help me hear better than i would without it. I was even wearing this at my assessment and this was noticed by the health assessor hence her input about my significant hearing loss.

I was told over the phone that because I appeared to hear clearly and judged to understand what was being said to me it was automatically an indication hat DWP were justified in not awarding any points. The person on the phone was not able to see that I was wearing a hearing aid and using an amplified phone. This is found very upsetting especially as I already suffer from Depression and Anxiety and currently having counselling. Can DWP make comments like this over the phone?

Harendra

Gordon,

I hearing is severely restricted when not wearing hearing aid and that is why I had to wear the hearing aid at the assessment. The assessment room was very quite and so without any background noise I was able to communicate. I did make it clear that to the assessor that in noisy lace my hearing is restricted a lot. The assessor took this into account on the report quite clearly state that my hearing is significantly restricted and recommenced points (2) to be awarded as you have stated.

However, DWP are saying that this not acceptable as I not wearing two hearing aids and they would only award points if someone is wearing two hearing aids not one.

Are points only awarded if someone is wearing wearing aids as opposed to wearing one? I think this this issue that needs clarified.