PDSA scsheme

Poppycat

Apparently we may come under the pdsa scheme as we get a small amount of council tax.

They gave me two practices in my area, one doesn't do pdsa the other say they dont do boosters under the scheme (I have no problem paying for that) I also have to wait a month before coming under it, they charge £25 to join and also they said because I only get a small amount not full I may not come under it. PDSA say that as long as I am in receipt i should come on it, I am confused about what to do.

Kimberley

The more benefit you get the more help you get (I think) If your on full benefit then you will get free treatment, if your on part benefit then they will pay some towards the treatment and you pay the rest. I may be wrong

Poppycat

PDSA told me that as long as I am in receipt regardless of how much council tax benefit I get, I should come under it, the only difference would be if I was living alone and get a 25% discount of council tax which I am not.

Hapless_2

We tried to get help for one of our pets many moons ago through PDSA, I told them the vets they recommended I wouldn't ask to do anything as they made a pigsear of a pets treatment before hand. But as it was the nearest we would have no choice.., except it wasn't the nearest the nearest one was less than a mile from our home, this one was 2 miles away!

Trying_to_Budget

Hi Poppy

I used to work as a VN at a PDSA Petaid Hospital. You are right that you need to be in receipt of Council Tax Benefit (or Housing Benefit) to qualify, BUT it doesnt matter how much. As you say the 25% discount doesnt count as its not a means tested benefit. Have you been on the PDSA website?
Its https://www.pdsa.org.uk and gives details on eligibility and also if you have access to PDSA services (and where they are) in your area. Theres a number you can ring for info.
It can be confusing, because there are only so many PDSA Petaid Hospitals in the UK (which just cater for PDSA clients) and in other areas where there isnt a Hospital, PDSA services are offered through Private Veterinary Practices (some areas also dont have any help from PDSA). If you are in the catchment area of a Hospital, its more straightforward. You register with your proof of benefits at the hospital normally at the time your pet needs treatment. Accessing PDSA treatment at a Private vets is different. (These are PDSA Petaid Practices). You normally have to register before your pet is ill and registration is done differently too (I believe, I never actually worked at one of these practices).
Its also only recently (in the last 18 months or so) that the PDSA introduced 'preventative' treatments to its services (e.g Vaccinations, neutering, selling flea/worm treatments etc). It used to only treat sick or injured pets and ask for contributions towards this. Preventative treatments are charged for. Because its only a recent thing, this might be why Petaid practices (private Vets) arent doing this.
Hope Ive helped and not confused you further!

Poppycat

Thansk for your help I did ring PDSA, there's no pet hospital in our town, just a PDSA shop and apparently to vets practices one of which doesn't do PDSA despite being told differently.

We are in receipt of a small amount of council tax but that shouldnt change things as the PDSA told me as long as you get it and dont get the 25% discount of being alone.

I just wonder why the vet practice ask for £25 to join, thought the scheme was to meant help people on low incomes.

I have no issue with being charged jabs for boosters.

Trying_to_Budget

Hi again

Although I dont know much about how the PDSA Petaid practices work, I didnt know they charged (especially that much) to join. It might be worth checking this out with the PDSA, to see why this is. The PDSA will be paying them to treat your pet, so I would want to know why they are charging this fee.

Trying_to_Budget

Ive just checked out the PDSA website again. I cant find anything about a joining fee for Petaid Practices. You have to pay a £3 admin fee to the PDSA and it asks that you contribute towards your pets free treatment (which is the same as PDSA Hospitals, but the amount is left up to you). You can find this info by clicking (From homepage) on 'Eligibility' then 'PDSA Today' then the 'Veterinary practices' link.

HTH

lil_me

Because of where we live we're not entitled to PDSA support, several people in my area have found this out pressuming the would be (there is even a PDSA shop locally)

If you go to a vet who will provide cover under the PDSA scheme rather than at one of their practises they usually charge to join and the animal can't be treated for any known conditions.