DLA - keeping mobility?

Ettenna

The wheelchair is one issued by NHS. Maybe I have used the wrong words - it doesn't turn it into an electric wheelchair, it just assists the pusher, especially up hills. It is designed to go on the tilt in space wheelchair but the pct may not fund it as an addition. My daughter is not able to push herself at all, she doesn't move.

GlasweJen

I would check with the pct before buying as I was told I wasn't allowed to put anything like that on my chair. I can self propel but the strain of doing it isn't good for me and I can't have an electric wheelchair because I black out.

shirlgirl2004

They probably just want to check she isn't in hospital because then she wouldn't be entitled to DLA. I didn't mean you needed to justify claiming to me, my mini rant is at the system not aimed towards you. It's hard being there for someone in your DDs position and the last thing I want to do is make you feel bad when you have so much on your plate so please accept my apology.

sunnyone

Jen is correct, the NHS wont allow their chairs to be altered in any way unless its done by them, they wont even allow a small bracket to lock down a wheel chair in a WAV.

Why dont you ask for a assessment to get carer controlled powerchair? Then if she ever gets to the stage where she can safely use a powerchair alone it can then be easily changed so that she can control it herself (sorry if Im misunderstanding but most people Ive seen in neuro rehab wouldnt be allowed to have a self controlled NHS powerchair.)

Its a shame she has missed out on contributions based ESA in youth (if she was young enough that is), it was reppealed in the welfare reform act, she wasnt ill/disabled before it became law/was she in education before her accident/illness and was young enough to qualify for it was she?

Before it was repealled anyone under a certain age in full time education up until they became sick/disabled was allowed to claim contributions based IB/ESA even though they hadnt paid the needed national insurance contributions, it made it a bit more fair for those born disabled/sick or those struck down with disability/sickness in their teens/early twenties.

sunnyone

Sorry my last post dosnt seem to make much sense, even to me!

shirlgirl2004

sunnyone wrote: »

Jen is correct, the NHS wont allow their chairs to be altered in any way unless its done by them, they wont even allow a small bracket to lock down a wheel chair in a WAV.

Why dont you ask for a assessment to get carer controlled powerchair? Then if she ever gets to the stage where she can safely use a powerchair alone it can then be easily changed so that she can control it herself (sorry if Im misunderstanding but most people Ive seen in neuro rehab wouldnt be allowed to have a self controlled NHS powerchair.)

Its a shame she has missed out on contributions based ESA in youth (if she was young enough that is), it was reppealed in the welfare reform act, she wasnt ill/disabled before it became law/was she in education before her accident/illness and was young enough to qualify for it was she?

Before it was repealled anyone under a certain age in full time education up until they became sick/disabled was allowed to claim contributions based IB/ESA even though they hadnt paid the needed national insurance contributions, it made it a bit more fair for those born disabled/sick or those struck down with disability/sickness in their teens/early twenties.

Forgive my ignorance but does a wheelchair have to have a lockdown bracket to use a WAV? We had planned to buy a WAV for my relative but if he'd need a new non NHS chair then it might be opening a can of worms that needs to be kept shut!

FBaby

I just wanted to warn to the fact that a neuro rehab facility is more likely to be considered as hospital care (even if community hospital) than care home.

Ettenna

They did ask if she was in hospital and I told them exactly type of place it is.

It was the OT at the rehab place who said about the power pack option. I will have to ask her about it again.

sunnyone

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

Forgive my ignorance but does a wheelchair have to have a lockdown bracket to use a WAV? We had planned to buy a WAV for my relative but if he'd need a new non NHS chair then it might be opening a can of worms that needs to be kept shut!

Some WAVs use manual ratchet straps to tie down the wheelchair which means every journey you have to to get down and attach four straps to the wheelchair and manually tighten them up which is a pain so I have a automatic lock down system which cost over £2000 on top of the price I payed for my WAV.

Most NHS wheelchairs are not suitable to use in WAVs though, they are not crash tested and neither are many of the WAVs so you pays your money and you make your choice :eek:

Grants are available from motability if your relative qualifies for the scheme but I know little about them, I do know that they wont fund anything like I have though because they will only fund the very cheapest option and you cant then pay for a upgrade or anything (understnadably so as its a charity) so you are stuck with pot luck.

shirlgirl2004

sunnyone wrote: »

Some WAVs use manual ratchet straps to tie down the wheelchair which means every journey you have to to get down and attach four straps to the wheelchair and manually tighten them up which is a pain so I have a automatic lock down system which cost over £2000 on top of the price I payed for my WAV.

Most NHS wheelchairs are not suitable to use in WAVs though, they are not crash tested and neither are many of the WAVs so you pays your money and you make your choice :eek:

Grants are available from motability if your relative qualifies for the scheme but I know little about them, I do know that they wont fund anything like I have though because they will only fund the very cheapest option and you cant then pay for a upgrade or anything (understnadably so as its a charity) so you are stuck with pot luck.

Thanks. TBH if he was injured in a crash it would probably kill him which would be a relief for him no doubt.

We wouldn't be eligible for mobility and wouldn't want to be tied in to a contract when he has the funds already. He wouldn't be using it that often maybe a couple of times a month as there are other issues which makes him leaving the nusring home difficult.