Mobility benefits

nannytone_2

teddysmum wrote: »

There is nothing, as was emphasised a few years ago, when media reported a lady who lost a leg at 66. She was wheelchair bound and her husband, who had arthritis had difficulty pushing her. They dreaded the time when their old car packed up, as they couldn't afford to replace it, so would end up mainly housebound.


We live between two very good bus routes, serving two local towns and actually stopping by our hospital's outpatients department, but for many people, on this estate, getting to the buses involves a steep hill.


I think that people with the same ailments as those who get PIP or DLA and keep it beyond 65 should be treated the same, as, at the moment, they are treated as second class.

no system is ever fair, but to take money off one person just because another can't get it isn't fair either.

it doesn't improve the life of the person who couldn't get it anyway and makes life harder for the person that has to lose it

Lanzarote1938

Stripeybat wrote: »

Lanzarote, I don't know if this would be of any use but has he looked into Macmillan? A relative was offered a lot of support and also a grant to cover their transport costs for radiotherapy as they don't drive. Just thought I'd mention it

I will look into this for him.

Having leukaemia makes him feel ill enough. The hour each way bus trips to the hospital for scans, bone marrow stuff, blood transfusions plus the chemo and to see the consultant are really using all his energy reserves.

Hopefully it will all be worth it.

Lanzarote1938

nannytone wrote: »

no system is ever fair, but to take money off one person just because another can't get it isn't fair either.

it doesn't improve the life of the person who couldn't get it anyway and makes life harder for the person that has to lose it

Thing is though nanny if my mate was under 65 and having IV chemo then he would qualify without any quibble. Just because he is a few years older is it right to deny him any assistance? Or are you saying he has leukaemia because he is over 65 so it is age related and therefore OK not to assist him.

nannytone_2

Lanzarote1938 wrote: »

Thing is though nanny if my mate was under 65 and having IV chemo then he would qualify without any quibble. Just because he is a few years older is it right to deny him any assistance? Or are you saying he has leukaemia because he is over 65 so it is age related and therefore OK not to assist him.

not at all.

i have already said it isn't fair.

but taking it from your friends neighbour, wont make your friend any better off will it?

its like saying i can't drive a car because i am blind, so that means you're not allowed to drive a car either!

the fact that i am blind isn't fair ... but it wont improve my life to make you suffer as well!

instead of moaning that others get it and shouldn't.... why don't you try campaigning and making a case for all to get it?

I've said it so many times ....

why is it, when people want to make things fair ...
it always means something being TAKEN AWAY from someone just because someone else can't have it.
its never about mbringing everyone UP to the same level

Lanzarote1938

nannytone wrote: »

why is it, when people want to make things fair ...
it always means something being TAKEN AWAY from someone just because someone else can't have it.
its never about mbringing everyone UP to the same level

I would think that it would be unaffordable burden on the taxpayer to give all older people who qualify for the mobility element with the present criteria post 65. However i do think that the mobility element should be removed from everyone at 65 and a different criteria then used to decide who over 65 should get the financial assistance. After all as I have read on these forums no one over 65 needs a life! Well not one that needs them to leave their home.

Thing is my friend hopefully wouldn't need it for decades as he won't live many more decades plus normally he is fit and fully mobile. The aim of all this expensive treatment is to return him to that happy state.

Detroit

nannytone wrote: »

not at all.

i have already said it isn't fair.

but taking it from your friends neighbour, wont make your friend any better off will it?

its like saying i can't drive a car because i am blind, so that means you're not allowed to drive a car either!

the fact that i am blind isn't fair ... but it wont improve my life to make you suffer as well!

instead of moaning that others get it and shouldn't.... why don't you try campaigning and making a case for all to get it?

I've said it so many times ....

why is it, when people want to make things fair ...
it always means something being TAKEN AWAY from someone just because someone else can't have it.
its never about mbringing everyone UP to the same level

Exactly so. If there was a multiple thank you facility, i'd be using it now.

kingfisherblue

Some hospitals have volunteer drivers who can pick up patients for appointments and take them home afterwards. Others have a 'sitting ambulance', which is a minibus that picks up several patients and returns them to their homes afterwards, but this can mean a long wait for many people. The hospital reception should be able to direct you to a number for bookings.

Lanzarote1938

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Some hospitals have volunteer drivers who can pick up patients for appointments and take them home afterwards. Others have a 'sitting ambulance', which is a minibus that picks up several patients and returns them to their homes afterwards, but this can mean a long wait for many people. The hospital reception should be able to direct you to a number for bookings.

He has tried the volunteer type thing although he was expected to make a contribution towards petrol costs, fair enough. However he had to wait up to 2 hours for the ride home. Feeling ill after chemo he doesn't want to hang around.

When_the_going_gets_tough

On the Macmillan website he can search for benefits advice in his area. They can help. In particular he needs to ask the adviser or his cns to apply for a Macmillan grant for help with the transport costs. Also there may be other charitable grants available. He can try the turn to us website to search for these.

oldtrout

Caz3121 wrote: »

there is an article here that seems to confirm there is nothing specific for mobility
http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN07160

Thanks for that link.