DLA, disability, mobility

wizard1uk

after appealing to get DLA for my husband who had his left lower leg amputeed by a careless driver , we have now got mobility higher rate and care lower rate until may next year, but what no one has told us is what we entitled to now he has it,
we are struggling with a heavy self propell wheelchair and live on a hill, if we could get a electric mobility scooter, we cant afford a automatic car so where do we get aductations for our car, so really difficult to find information, any help or advice would be most greatfully recieved

kingfisherblue

Your husband can use the mobility component of his DLA towards either an electric scooter or a car. If you choose a car and it needs adaptations, but you cannot afford them, speak to someone at www.motability.co.uk - they can sometimes help with funding in cases of hardship. If you have a mobility car, the only thing you pay for (apart from possibly needing to pay an advance payment or adaptations) is petrol. Insurance, RAC membership, servicing, repairs, etc are all included - but you do not own the car, you only lease it in most cases. I think you can arrange to buy the car but I don't know how this works. Your biggest problem may be that the award is only for a short time. You usually need it to be for two or three years. It's worth a chat with Motability - they are very helpful and can advise you far better then me.

You could also enquire at your wheelchair assessment centre to see if they can provide an electric wheelchair. I don't know if all NHS trusts offer them, but when my son was measured for his wheelchair, I was offered the choice of manual or electric (I had to point out that with his learning disability, he would not be able to master the controls easily and it was far safer to stick to a manual chair!)

Good luck x

TOBRUK

Hi wizard1uk, I would advise you to go to a mobility centre so they may assess exactly what you need. I went to one and after an assessment they had adapted vehicles there which they took me out for a drive so that I could get used to the adaptions, they also got me in touch with the specialist garage who then adapted my car. Here is a link and also on this website is a number for you to phone to the assessment centres:

http://www.mobility-centres.org.uk/New%20Info%20Services/New%20Info%20Driving%20Adaptations.htm

Rather than go down the motability route, I bought a second hand car and had it adapted - the car is 14 years old now but still going strong. If your husband does get a car he will have to get in touch with the DVLA (they made changes to my licence) an also the insurance.

Hope everything works out.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

You can get car tax 'exemption'. Contact the DLA people and they will send a form. You can then go to the Post Office, change the car's taxation class to disabled, get a new 12 month tax disc and can claim for a refund of the unused months from the DVLA.

Then there is a Blue Badge from the local council, a Disabled Freedom Pass for the days when driving isn't an option, a disabled parking space outside your house if you don't have a driveway and, depending on where you live, exemptions from various tolls and congestion charges (most details in the book that comes with the Blue Badge).

You may be able to self refer (or get your GP to do it) to see an Occupational Therapist through the council's social services. They can give extra advice, possibly provide equipment and give you some more pointers as to where you could go for more help.

Quite a lot to be going on with, I hope some of it helps.