There is a range of welfare benefits available for people who are deafblind. Below are details of the main benefits that deafblind people access, in England and Wales.

You can find out more about the full range of benefits available by visiting the Directgov website for more information.

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free non means-tested benefit for disabled people who are aged over 65 years and who need help in looking after themselves.

For further information visit our Attendance Allowance page. 

Disability Living Allowance & Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is designed to meet the extra cost of having a disability, and all deafblind people are encouraged to claim it if eligible.

For more information, see our DLA page.  

DLA is being phased out and will be replaced by the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This will affect everyone with a disability between the ages of 16 – 65, whether they are in work or not. Those who are currently over 65 will continue to receive DLA. DLA started to be replaced by Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in April 2013. See our PIP page for more information.

Higher rate mobility component

Changes to the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) higher rate mobility component from 11 April 2011, mean that some blind / deafblind people may be entitled to an extra £30 per week.

Find out about what the changes to the higher rate mobility component may mean for you.

Incapacity Benefit and Employment Support Allowance

Incapacity Benefit (IB), Income Support (claimed because of a disability) and Severe Disability Allowance are being replaced with a new benefit called Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Everyone claiming these old benefits will be reassessed over the next two years.

From May 2011, the Government aims to be reassessing around 11,000 people per week. The only people excluded from this process will be those who are due to reach state pension age by March 2014.

Find out more details on our Incapacity Benefit and Employment Support Allowance page.