Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that all people with hearing loss have access to (a) Relay UK, (b) video calls with captions, (c) a video relay service and (d) in-person transcriptions services when applying for Personal Independence Payment.

When applying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) there are two different types of service offer available to claimants who are deaf or hearing impaired.

We offer Video Relay Service, a third-party sign and talk solution which allows sign language to be used to aid communication between a claimant and DWP, via a third party. There is no transcript of the conversation, but calls are recorded.

Information is provided on Gov.UK:

British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service

If you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet

We also offer a service known as Relay UK. This is a text relay service for people who cannot hear or speak on the telephone and includes captions. The full conversation is transcribed in real time as it happens.

Information is available on Gov.UK:

Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 917 2222