What expenses are disability benefits mean to cover?

bestpud

Hiya

Before I start, this IS NOT a benefit bashing thread!!! It is simply a question that I cannot find an answer to and I'm hoping someone on here will be able to put me straight.

Our local hospital has recently started charging blue badge holders. Many people are complaining as those on income support, incapacity benefit or very low incomes are able to claim back these charges, while blue badge holders cannot, unless of course they fit in the above category. This also means those getting DLA don't automatically qualify and this is causing a bit of a stir!

Now my thought is that these benefits are paid to people with disabilities in order to cover EXTRA costs related to their disability? Please do correct me if I'm wrong, but if that is the case, surely hospital parking comes into this category. Presumably the able bodied could use public transport, but DLA is provided to those who would NEED to take their car and the money is to cover things like this?

Wouldn't it be better to provide regular hospital goers (say once a week or more) with a permit for the duration of their treatment, regardless of their income or disability status? Surely that would be fairer? Then any other refunds would be for those on a low income, as not every person with a blue badge or claiming DLA is.

My main point is, I guess, that free hsopital parking should be for those who have to attend regularly and those on a very low income who may struggle to attend hospital otherwise. EVERYONE should be able to access health services in my opinion and neither disabilities nor money should be a barrier. It would seem the former is compensated somewhat but the latter isn't unless their local hospital allows them to claim it back. Personally I believe hospital parking should be free for all patients, at least, but realise this can be difficult in hospitals that are close to town centres etc.

Anyway, am I correct in thinking DLA is meant to cover such expenses, or am I way off track here?

Bestpud

bonnie_2

Yes it is, i use my daughters for this reason and also to cover extra help in maths and english, which is £116 a month for a tutor.We have to go to hospitals in london and chelmsford regular and have to pay the congestion charge and parking which can be £20 a time, she has at least one appointment a week and has to stay overnight next month and has an operation in july which could be a weeks parking plus the food whilst we are in there etc.

bestpud

Thanks for replying. I thought that was the case.

Our hospital allows parents to reclaim parking charges incurred when their child is in hospital though.

I think it's awful anyway that regular hospital visitors such as yourself cannot get free, or at least reduced, parking. I just believe that should be the case for any regularly attending patient, for the duration of their treatment, not just those in receipt of disability benefits.

It seems, here at least, it's only people with disabilities and blue badges who feel they should be entitled to free parking.

Bestpud

Fran

***Boardguide comment***

I have moved this as it is more of a Discussion topic.

Fran

For most people on DLA they have MOBILITY and/or care needs... at least. I don't think anyone unfortunate enough to have discomfort while moving should have to pay whether blue badge holder or not. I also don't think it's good enough that someone on DLA who happens to be on Income Support can then "claim it back". It's a hassle that many won't even bother/find too much effort... and why should people who are already disadvantaged have to go through even more hoops than they do already?

However it's down to your locality how the hospital operates, perhaps a case for getting MP's etc. involved?

Saucepot

The cost of a crutch, eye patch and parrot I believe as per 1617 index linked to 2007. I.e not the current cost of a crutch, eye patch and parrot but what it was in 1617 increased via compound interest on the rate of inflation.

bestpud

Fran wrote: »

For most people on DLA they have MOBILITY and/or care needs... at least. I don't think anyone unfortunate enough to have discomfort while moving should have to pay whether blue badge holder or not. I also don't think it's good enough that someone on DLA who happens to be on Income Support can then "claim it back". It's a hassle that many won't even bother/find too much effort... and why should people who are already disadvantaged have to go through even more hoops than they do already?

However it's down to your locality how the hospital operates, perhaps a case for getting MP's etc. involved?

It seems to be something that is happening across the country. I have to say the parking is a lot better at the hospital now so people were obviously abusing it before, but that doesn't make it right imo.

No, people shouldn't have to claim it back - they should be given some sort of ticket to display when their appt is made. The date and time of the appt could be displayed to prevent people from abusing it.

I just wonder if people would be better fighting it from a general patient point of view than a disability one. After all, anyone can get an illness and have to spend a lot of time going to the hospital, but never need a blue badge because it is curable.

It makes me switch off slightly when I see people arguing from a single viewpoint as though that is the only one I guess. Could just be me though!

Bestpud

ps thanks for moving it btw. I've never been in this forum before - looks good - I may be staying around!

MrSmartprice

Our local hospital has also started to charge blue badge holders. (It ma be the same one OP uses.) As a consequence, a nearby road with a side enrance to the hospital has become the unofficial disabled car park. Yellow lines were put there a few years back to prevent staff and visitors parking there, causing chaos in the hospital grounds.

The current situation is that the yellow lines have on them dozens of cars with blue badges. The designated disabled spaces in the hospital are usually less than half full. And there are many people hobbling around the hospital grounds on sticks.:o

lin473

I don't think this is just a financial issue either.
Getting my son ,who is very disabled ,anywhere is a major upheaval.
Anything that adds to the stress of this is a pain to put it mildly.
Making sure you have change for the machine before you set out as well as the 101 other things to remember to take,
Finding a machine that works,possibly in the rain,wheelchair in tow - etc etc.

Most people have no idea of the difficulties disabled people and their carers face on a daily basis and each person's experience is different.

I wonder why this is being introduced.
Is it to raise extra money,or to reduce the abuse of disabled parking at hospitals?
It is often very difficult to find a space at all and I have heard of some disabled people having to miss appointments as they have been unable to find a disabled space .
I wonder if the money spent administrating charges and claim-backs would be better spent on checking the validity of the disabled badges displayed and fining those who abuse them.
I try not to be judgemental as many disabilities are not obvious,but we all know it goes on.

Hapless_2

our hospital has always charged for the disabled, but then like many hospitals the parking is run by contractors.

bestpud

I think that's the issue. It's easier (but mostly cheaper!!!) for hospitals to contract the parking out to private firms and have nothing more to do with it!

It's not a fair system but they can just pass the buck, so don't let it worry them!