Long term incapacity benefit

pennyforthem

Is there any money available to get to a specialist medical examination ?
It is over 300 miles away and will require two overnight stays as it takes a whole day !

dmg24

If it is an NHS procedure you may be able to get help with travel costs. What other household income do you have, and are you on DLA?

pennyforthem

I am only on long term incapacity benefit.
A doctor has to refer you but dont think they are part of the NHS because the people that have the help line and all the services told me "It's notoriously difficult to access diagnoses on the NHS"

dmg24

pennyforthem wrote: »

I am only on long term incapacity benefit.
A doctor has to refer you but dont think they are part of the NHS because the people that have the help line and all the services told me "It's notoriously difficult to access diagnoses on the NHS"

Do you have no other household income?

Are you paying for the treatment?

pennyforthem

No I live with my parents. I think they are funded independently I dont have to pay.

pennyforthem

Sorry I should have said I am an adult living with my parents who are both pensioners and only one is in full receipt of pension.

McKneff

sorry dont mean to be nosy but why is it only one of them received pension.
If father is over 65 and mother is over 60 they should both be receiving state pension separately.

pennyforthem

Only one is in receipt of full the other is part. No info on financial help then !? It amazes me (although I dont know why considering) that it is so hard to get any treatment in this country (yes I am british) Im on long term incapacity benefit and have been for over a decade, you would think if they really wanted people to get back to working they would actually be giving medical help !? My only guess is that because it is for permanent disability status it is not in their interest ! But then you cant access the help either !

McKneff

To be fair, you are getting medical help, you are going to see this specialist arent you, wont that help with a diagnosis. As with us all you have to pay to get there, its just that yours, this time is a bit further away.

Presumably you dont want to tell us the nature of your disability.

You could apply for help with travel costs but i dont think you would be able to get hotel cost help.
Do you have savings for a couple of nights B & B.
Or could your parents help out.

andyandflo

pennyforthem wrote: »

Only one is in receipt of full the other is part. No info on financial help then !? It amazes me (although I dont know why considering) that it is so hard to get any treatment in this country (yes I am british) Im on long term incapacity benefit and have been for over a decade, you would think if they really wanted people to get back to working they would actually be giving medical help !? My only guess is that because it is for permanent disability status it is not in their interest ! But then you cant access the help either !

Do I understand it that you are looking to have a diagnosis of your ailment from a 'private' consultant - an expert maybe in his field? If so, why don't you go the route of finding out his name and searching which hospital/s he has an NHS contract with. Then get your GP to refer you to him under the NHS! Then, provided you are on low income, you can reclaim the travelling costs to see him/her. I live in Kent and found my specialist in his field working out of the main University hospital in Liverpool - 350 miles away. I receive travelling expenses based on using a car of £100.00 for each trip. This more than covers the cost of the fuel, and in fact using the many websites for late hotel rooms, it also more or less covers the night cost of a room. It may not be the Ritz, but who cares if you see the right guy.
For me I travel up there every 6 weeks for outpatients and tests/scans etc. I am certainly not out of pocket!

pennyforthem

Well I will not be able to go if I dont get the money at least for a very long time so no I will not be receiving medical help and the last time I stayed in a B and B it cost about £10-£15 I dread to think what it would cost now !
No dont really want to say what it is to be honest. To be honest the label of disability will not make a difference I already know no one does anything to help but the information on how to cope and the access to services would be very useful.