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Wales Online
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Killer whale warning for British sailors after orcas attack yacht in Spain
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Daily Record
2 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Pensioners with poor hearing could be due up to £441 each month
Make sure you or an older family member are not missing out on extra support through Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment. Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible? The latest figures from the Scottish Government indicate around 850,000 people in Scotland are living with some form of hearing loss and of those, 70 per cent are over 70 - some 595,000. Across Great Britain, there are believed to be 12 million adults living with a hearing impairment or deafness, however, just under 50,000 of them are receiving extra financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP). PADP is a devolved payment that has now replaced all new claims for Attendance Allowance north of the border. The benefit is administered and delivered by Social Security Scotland and not the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - full details on here. More than 9,500 people over State Pension age are now receiving either £73.90 for the lower rate, or £110.40 for the higher rate of Attendance Allowance each week for a hearing condition. Payments are typically made every four weeks, which amounts to either £296.60 or £441.60 per pay period. There are 15 main hearing conditions being supported through these three disability benefits, but this is not a definitive list as the benefit supports an ever-evolving list of conditions. If you, or someone you know, below State Pension age (66) has a hearing condition, you should consider making a new claim for PIP or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) - find out more here. If you, or someone you know is 66 or over, and living with a hearing impairment, you should consider making a claim for Attendance Allowance or PADP. Attendance Allowance is currently supporting nearly 1.7 million people across Great Britain, including 150,000 living in Scotland. Attendance Allowance and PADP are designed to help people of State Pension age with daily living expenses and can also help them stay independent in their own home for longer. It's important to be aware that unlike PIP or ADP, there is no mobility component for Attendance Allowance or PADP, these benefits only provides support for the extra cost of daily living. Number of Attendance Allowance claimants for hearing impairments, August 2024: Scotland: 890 England: 7,948 Wales: 690 Living Abroad: 26 Total: 9,575 Hearing conditions These are common hearing issues being supported through disability benefits, but if your condition is not listed, it doesn't mean it's not supported and may fall under the 'unknown' category. Conductive hearing loss Chronic secretory otitis media Chronic suppurative otitis media Conductive hearing loss - Other causes / type not known Conductive hearing loss due to Trauma Mastoiditis Otitis externa - chronic Otosclerosis Sensorineural hearing loss Deafness - congenital Labyrinthitis Menieres disease Presbyacusis Sensorineural hearing loss - Other causes / type not known Sensorineural hearing loss due to Trauma Other hearing conditions Mixed hearing loss Other diseases affecting hearing and balance Below is an overview of the benefit and how to make a new claim to DWP. Full details about claiming Attendance Allowance can be found on the website here. The guidance can also help someone decide whether they should apply for PADP, full details on how to claim from Social Security Scotland can be found here. What is Attendance Allowance and PADP? Attendance Allowance and PADP help with extra costs if you have a physical or mental disability or illness severe enough that makes it hard for you to look after yourself - it does not cover mobility needs. You do not need to have someone caring for you in order to claim. Who can make a claim? You should consider applying for Attendance Allowance or PADP if you have a disability or illness and need help or supervision throughout the day or at times during the night -even if you do not currently get that help. This might include: Help with your personal care - for example getting dressed, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering and going to the toilet Help to stay safe You should also consider applying if you have difficulties with personal tasks, for example if they take you a long time, you experience pain or you need physical help, like a chair to lean on. Attendance Allowance and PADP are not just for people with a physical disability or illness. You should also consider claiming if you need help or supervision throughout the day or night and have: a mental health condition learning difficulties a sensory condition - if you are deaf or blind How much could I get on Attendance Allowance or PADP? You could get either £73.90 or £110.40 per week depending on the level of care you need because of your condition, which is paid every four weeks and works out at £296.60 and £441.60 respectively. You can spend the money however you like and it could help you stay independent in your own home for longer. This might include: paying for taxis helping towards bills paying for a cleaner or gardener Can I claim even if I have savings and other income? Yes. Attendance Allowance and PADP are not means-tested so it doesn't matter what other money you have coming in or how much you have in savings either - there's no limit. It's tax-free and you'll be exempt from the Benefit Cap so you won't have money taken away from any other benefits. Will Attendance Allowance or PADP affect my State Pension? No, it won't affect your State Pension and you can even claim it if you're still working and earning money. How does Attendance Allowance or PADP affect other benefits? The other benefits you get might increase if you get Attendance Allowance or PADP, these include: Extra Pension Credit Housing Benefit Reduction Council Tax Reduction You can check your State Pension age on the website here. How do I make a claim? You will need to complete a long claim form when you apply for Attendance Allowance from DWP. It might seem daunting at first but help is available from your nearest Citizens Advice, so don't let the form put you off applying. If you'd prefer to do it yourself you can follow the Citizens Advice guide on how to fill in your claim form here. Full details of how to get the application form by post or over the phone can be found on the website here. Full details on how to claim PADP and how to get additional support with your application, can be found here. What happens if I am about to reach State Pension age? If you're thinking about applying for Attendance Allowance or PADP when you reach State Pension age, you might be better off claiming PIP or ADP straight away. Who cannot claim Attendance Allowance? You cannot claim Attendance Allowance if you have a Scottish postcode, you need to claim PADP from Social Security Scotland - full details here. You also won't be able to get Attendance Allowance if you already get PIP or DLA to pay for your care. If you apply for Attendance Allowance while getting DLA, the DWP will usually reassess your DLA award instead. You can renew your PIP or DLA when the existing award ends as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria. If your renewal is unsuccessful you can apply for Attendance Allowance instead.
Daily Record
2 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Dear Coleen: How do I tell my husband who I love that I'm a lesbian?
The thing that scares me most is him finding out and me losing him as a friend, which is something I couldn't bear. Dear Coleen I have always respected your advice and follow all your socials, and I'm hoping you can help me with the predicament I find myself in. I'm a closet lesbian and I'm married to my best friend in the world, my husband of 23 years. We have created a wonderful family t ogether, with four kids, who are all over 16 now, as well as two lovely grandchildren. However, I have got to a point in my life where I'm desperately unhappy pretend-ing to be someone I'm not. I hate living a lie, but I don't know how to tell my husband the truth. The thing that scares me most is him finding out and me losing him as a friend, which is something I couldn't bear. We genuinely love each other as friends and we also make a good team in terms of parenting and grandparenting. But I just don't fancy him, and I don't know what to do for the best going forward. Of course, I realise there's probably no easy way to resolve a situation like this, but any advice you can offer would be much appreciated. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Coleen says Well, you're right, there's no easy way out. I imagine what might hurt your husband the most is feeling that your entire relationship has been a lie, so think about how you talk to him about this and what reassurance you can give him. I have friends who were in this situation and married with a child. The husband finally admitted to his wife that he was gay and, happily for them, it did work out and they were able to stay close after the initial shock and a lot of talking. Naturally it'll come as a shock for your husband and your kids, and I think it would help you to talk to people who've been in the same situation. There's good advice online on coming out to a partner, as well as support forums, and you might find a local group. Try and straight In terms of telling your husband, I'm not sure there's a right way other than to do it with kindness and be prepared for a range of emotions. Give him space to express how he feels and answer his questions. If you're not being intimate with him, I'm guessing he might have already picked up that something isn't right. I think it is possible to be friends – you love each other and share a family – but it might take a bit of time to get there and work out your new relationship. Joint counselling might help. He deserves honesty and you deserve to live your life authentically. I wish you the best of luck.
