Grants for hearing aids?

Ginny5

Hi, I’m a newbie on the site, so my first time posting. I’ve had RA and Fibromyalgia for 7 years now, causing huge changes in my life in that time. My hands are badly affected, and I’m now disabled; I am 69 (tomorrow!) Just to add to the mix, I’ve had to start wearing hearing aids, and couldn’t manage the NHS ones, with having to change batteries, switch on and off etc so had to buy private ones. I’m wondering if there are any grants available for the cost of this? I am on PIP and get my state pension but paying for them was not easy. Any advice would be most welcome! Thanks.

helpline_team

Hi @Ginny5

Thank you for posting on our Chat to Helpline forum and welcome to the Online Community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope that will be your experience too. I am sorry to hear that you are struggling with your hearing in addition to living with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Fibromyalgia for the past 7 years. Both these conditions limit daily activities and can drag you down.

You mention that your hands are badly affected making some practical daily tasks more difficult, including managing hearing aids and batteries. It is a pity you needed to go privately to get hearing aids that you can manage. It may be worth asking your GP or rheumatology team for a referral to a specialist hand clinic for an assessment and advice about splints, exercises and gadgets to help make life easier.

When you choose to pay for private treatment it is helpful to research typical costs of hearing aids and any aftercare – you can pay anything from £500 to £3,500 or more for a single hearing aid. It may help to shop around to see what types of hearing aid are available from different providers.

Turn2us provides advice and help with financial support and grants available. Tel: 0808 802 2000 Your local branch of Age UK may also be a helpful source of advice and support.

If you would like to have more replies to your post, you are welcome to repost on our Living with Arthritis forum which is a positive and supportive space where you can ask questions and share experiences with others. You are also welcome to call our Free Helpline if you would like to talk about your arthritis informally and in confidence. Tel: 0800 5200 520 weekdays 9am - 6pm.

I hope you find the information given below of some help.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/living-with-arthritis/cost-of-living/

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/

Please keep posting and let us know how you are getting on and I am sure that others will connect with you to share their support and experience as well.

Best wishes,

Fiona, Helpline Advisor