The effects of dizziness, or balance problems range a great deal in severity. The effects of a single ear infection or bout of Labyrinthitis can be less severe in their effects than those conditions that cause recurrent attacks. Sometimes dizziness can impact on your ability to work, and this can be the result of either constant or intermittent symptoms depending on the frequency of the intermittent symptoms. It is best to have a letter from your GP or specialist explaining the nature of your disability. There are some guidelines in the Disability Rights Handbook as to when an intermittent disability can count as a permanent disability. This book is usually to be found in your Public Library. If you have any other health problems, especially those involving your limbs, or neck, then it would be helpful if your GP or Specialist could mention these in their letter, as they may interact with your balance problems.

Some doctors may fail to understand how disabling planning around an imminent attack can be. So if you, (the patient) cannot plan when you will be fit to work for any consistent period, it is helpful if you can tell your GP the actual frequency of your attacks. Hence from the patient’s perspective it is the threat of persistent imminent attacks that is also disabling, in addition to the more severe disabling attacks of vertigo, or of migraine, and imbalance, whereas the assessment will be based on the actual frequency of your symptoms.

However, some examiners may think that if you (the patient) can, for example walk 100 metres on the day of the assessment by the DSS, you can be deemed to be completely fit for work. Hence, in these situations, it is best to have a letter from your GP, or Audiological Physician, or ENT Specialist, explaining the intermittent nature of your disability, as there are guidelines that are cited in the Disability Rights Handbook, as to when an intermittent disability can count as a permanent disability.

There is also a very useful website provided by the Menieres Disease Society, which can give useful information on driving, and issues surrounding welfare rights. However you will need to join the society to obtain these. There are details on this and other aspects at www.menieres.org

There is also another good, (if highly detailed) web site at www.lasa.org.uk, which is an expert resource for welfare advisers, so is very detailed on such matters as the current courses available to update welfare advisers on new changes in the legislation on welfare rights. It also has a section on welfare and advice in community languages. So this is a must for practitioners, and patients, in multicultural communities.

This area namely Welfare issues and Disability rights, is very complex, but there are several advice lines which may be able to offer you further help.
The Benefits Line for people with disabilities (BEL) is a free advice line run by:

Department of Work and Pensions

Tel: 0800 882 200
Text phone: 0800 243 787
(Monday – Friday 8.30 am – 6.30 pm) (Saturday 9.00 am – 1.00 pm)

Northern Ireland
Tel: 0800 220 674
Text phone: 0800 243 787
(Monday – Friday 9am – 5 pm)

Disability Benefits Units / Disability Benefits Centres
The Disability Benefits Unit can give you the contact details for one of eleven regional Disability Benefits centres, or you can do a search on www.dwp.gov.uk

The Disabilities Benefits Unit is based at:
Government Buildings
Warbeck House
Warbeck Hill
Blackpool
Lancashire FYU OYJ

Tel: 0845 7123 456
Text phone: 0845 7224 433
Fax: 01253 331 266

Disability Living Allowance Branch (DLA)
This is a part of the Social Security Agency, which can answer specific questions on claims for DLA.

Disability Living Allowance Branch
Castle Court
Royal Avenue
Belfast BT1 1TZ

Tel: 028 9033 6556
Text phone: 0800 243 787
Fax: 02890 336 917

Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB)
Alternatively, your local CAB will give free advice. See your local phonebook for the nearest branch, or you can do an on line search at www.nacab.org.uk

Law Centres
The Law Centres Federation can give you details of the nearest local Law Centre. Law Centres provide free advice and representation.

Please ring 0845 608 1122 for your Community Legal service Help line, or E-mail info@lawcentres.org.uk their website is www.lawcentres.org.uk

The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID)
There are a number of other sources of advice, or advice lines, provided for people with Hearing Loss, including the RNID Information Line, who have a website at: www.rnid.org.uk. Or you can e-mail them at informationline@rnid.org.uk

This offers a wide range of information on many aspects of hearing loss and deafness. There is a very useful fact sheet called Disability Living Allowance Checklist. Information for deaf and hard of hearing people. There is also a RNID leaflet, called ‘Benefits and Services for Deaf People’. This leaflet is also available in Bengali, Cantonese, Gujerati, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu.

Your local council may also offer a Dial a Ride scheme, or other assistance with your mobility, which you can find out about through your local Town Hall. It is also important to ask your GP for help if you need transport to attend any of your appointments with Hospitals or Primary Care Trusts.

If you want someone else to look into your case, you can always try and see your local MP. Once again the information as to address of their surgeries, is available from your local Town Hall.

© 2003 Balance Interest Group