Do you have extra costs because you or your child is disabled?

GlasweJen

KFB is correct, you can get tints on the NHS, £4.10 per lens in Scotland but again most opticians will swallow the rest of the advertised price.

Only issue is you must have the tint all the time or pay out of pocket to top up to reactions. You can apply for a spare pair of glasses using your local health boards "discretionary additional glasses" form, in my area (Scotland) it's for health needs only - Down's Syndrome with a tendency to fall would qualify - particularly if it's a complex prescription.

Chorlie

Ok where to start:-


House

Needs wheelchair accessible therefore needs to be bigger, with ramps, downstairs loo, adapted kitchen, a stairlift, adapted bathroom (shower, loo etc) electric bed.


Car

Bigger car to fit wheelchair (estate), has to be automatic which can use more fuel, hand controls and extra fuel costs for hospital appointments etc.


Insurance

Travel insurance, car insurance (due to bigger car & adaptions)


Wheelchair

Having to buy a new chair about every 5yrs (NHS Voucher covers about 25% of my last one)



These are just the bigger ones that cost £100's or £1000's more. But there are all the smaller items like having to buy certain types of clothing / shoes to stop rubbing or wipes and other hygiene products with may only cost £1's or £10's but add up over the year/s

Indie_Kid

Thanks. I was told last year I'd have to pay for my tints - despite being severely photophobic.

On that note - light bulbs. I'm the only one who uses 15 watt light bulbs. Everyone else in the house uses 40, I think.

GlasweJen

Do costs related to adult disability count?

I can't get any help from things like the family fund so need to pay out for lots of things that a child's family would get for free.

GlasweJen

IK I'd be changing to an optician who also does low vision tests (your health board should have a list), sounds like your optician doesn't have a clue.

An A voucher with prisms (assuming split across both lenses) and tints here is £70.90. In specsavers that would get you a pair of £69 glasses with thin (1.6) lenses at no cost and there would be an anti reflection coating on your tint.

Jellybro

My son is autistic.
I spend lots on wipes, as he often soiled himself.
Nappies as he is not dry at night.
Lots of washing... Wet bed, soiled/ wet pants and trousers.
Clothes with no buttons, pockets hoods or labels, or pay for someone to alter them.
Petrol for the car, as he is not a happy/ eager walker.
Private swimming lessons, as he is too confused and overwhelmed to be in a class.
My ds is 10.

elsien

lynnemcf wrote: »

My DH has just been fitted with custom made shoes due to a problem with his left foot. However, it seems that he is only allowed one pair of shoes on the NHS, and to buy a second pair is almost £500. Wish I could find out more about his rights to have more than one pair of shoes!

Pair and a spare in our part of the world, although they are expected to be repaired till they die completely. Ask your GP?

Ms_Chocaholic

Jellybro wrote: »

My son is autistic.
I spend lots on wipes, as he often soiled himself.
Nappies as he is not dry at night.
Lots of washing... Wet bed, soiled/ wet pants and trousers.
Clothes with no buttons, pockets hoods or labels, or pay for someone to alter them.
Petrol for the car, as he is not a happy/ eager walker.
Private swimming lessons, as he is too confused and overwhelmed to be in a class.
My ds is 10.

A friend got her nappies from the NHS for free, I think they were delivered 3 monthly. Are you in England?

kittykat17

I used to spend £10-15 a week on pads for my mother. The NHS would supply the nappy type but she wanted the pull-ons because she 'wasn't a baby'. Our local nhs wouldn't supply these. I also had to buy wipes, creams for her bottom, kylie sheets for the bed - would buy four every 6-9 months. Again were not supplied by our local nhs trust (Northumberland) although other trusts do supply them.


I used to have to do at least two wash loads each day just for mum's things. Also had to use the dryer most days.


Heating and hot water had to be on pretty much constantly - apart from an hour or so each day I only had the heating on in mum's bedroom and the lounge.


Also, mum's clothes had to be replaced regularly due to excessive soiling and washing. For the last few years she only wore jogging bottoms that I bought at Primark for approx £3 each pair.


Luckily most of the equipment she needed was supplied by the council or NHS trust.

Liyl

My daughter is cerebral palsy,needs 24 hr care,i have dual fuel with swalec direct debit £184 per month.I could not claim warm home discount rebate because her name is not on the bills.She doesn't have capacity, I'm a pensioner when i received my state pension they take carer's allowance off you.I have to put the heating on to shower her even in summer. I must praise DWR CYMRU for the discount on my water bills due to extra showering, and bedding and clothing to wash.