HELP is on the way for deaf people in East Lancashire who are missing out on valuable disability benefits.

A new advice pack on applying for Disability Living Allowance -- DLA -- is being launched in the county by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, following recent research which claimed that sufferers in Lancashire are losing out because they cannot access the benefits system.

Just 9.7 per cent of severely and profoundly deaf adults receive DLA, compared with 30--70 per cent of people with other disabilities.

DLA helps meet the extra costs incurred from being disabled, and deaf people may qualify if they need help with day-to-day communication support -- for example, a sign language interpreter to accompany them to the doctors.

The institute is launching the advice pack to help deaf claimants in Lancashire with the application process, as 93 per cent of deaf claimants surveyed said they found the DLA form difficult. In particular, deaf people whose first language is sign experienced difficulty filling it in.

James Strachan, RNID chief executive said: "The process of claiming DLA is failing deaf people in Lancashire. They are missing out on a valuable benefit which helps towards the additional costs of communication and enables deaf people to lead independent lives.

"Where the claims process is inaccessible, we want it opened up to deaf people. Our campaign and advice pack are positive steps but it is up to the Government to make changes if they want to ensure the DLA claims process is deaf-friendly."