Discounts,Public transport,PIP& Carers what am I/we allowed to apply for/get?

Bunny1995

Hiya, it's me again haha hope you are all doing well!

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction or talk from experience but to cut a long story short I have been diagnosed with an incurable illness that affects me greatly& makes me disabled & I am in receipt of PIP, but only for daily living even though I require a wheelchair&faint and use mobility aids and depend on my carer-it is frustrating, as I have no idea why they haven't given me mobility component,I have mentioned this on my recent paperwork so hopefully they will listen to me this time around.

 Anyways,Maybe I am mistaken or misinformed? But because I only get the daily,I'm not entitled to a freedom pass?(1st question)

I can't drive because of my illness neither does my carer drive and it becomes quite the expense if we have to pay for two fares everytime I go doctors or tests etc. I read somewhere that carers can accompany ther person they look after on public transport for free but maybe I read that wrong?

I already have purchased a disabled persons railcard but I think that's only for overhead train journeys across the country etc and it gives me&my carer 30% off which is pretty handy at times.

Is there any other discounts or carers concessions that I should know about?(second question)

I know about the CEA card and disabled railcard but that's just about it.

Sorry my questions/post were a bit long.
Thank you very much for your comments and replies in advance! :-)

poppy12345

For the bus pass you will need to have a look on your local councils website because all local councils have their own criteria for these. Sometimes if you've been refused a driving license because of a medical condition this may entitle you to one. My local council do not give a free bus pass to those claiming a disability benefit. My daughter has a learning disability and this qualifies her and because she's unable to travel alone her bus pass is a companion one, which allows someone to go with her for free but this is only because she's unable to travel alone. If she was able to go alone she wouldn't have the companion bus pass.

You carer will have free or reduced entry into different attractions but for this you will need to check the wedsite of the attraction you're thinking of visiting because again they are all different. Some will allow free entry while others will allow a reduced entry fee.

if you have hospital appointments there is the NHS healthcare travel costs scheme but this depends on what other benefits (if any) you claim. Your PIP award doesn't have anything to do with the criteria for this. Details here. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/

Spoonie_Turtle

You can probably apply for a Blue Badge under the 'subject to assessment criteria, although it is similar to the mobility assessment in PIP in principle but you never know, might be worth it. 

Most councils include Blue Badge holders in the groups automatically entitled to a bus pass, but a carer pass is subject to strict criteria and you'd most likely prove you absolutely cannot travel by bus alone and need your carer with you - if you need them to push your wheelchair that doesn't appear to count, from what I've read (I guess they assume you can navigate fine with a hypothetical powered wheelchair, even though they're extremely difficult to get on the NHS).  You'd have to prove you need their help with other aspects of the journey

Regarding PIP, did you request an assessor's report?  Did the decision letter give any reasoning for not scoring enough points for a mobility award?  Did you get any points at all for mobility?

If you haven't already, it may be enlightening to read the assessment guidance for PIP which explains the principles that should be taken into account - reliability, repeatability, safety, time taken, what counts as an acceptable standard.  It also has specific guidance for each activity assessed.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria#mobility-activities

What do you mean by recent paperwork, have you had a renewal form?

Bunny1995

Wow!:-) I see some familiar posters here! Thanks so much to the both of you! 
It just seems pretty overwhelming and sometimes difficult.

I am unable to travel alone due to the unpredictability of my illness but like others have stated just because a carer pushes the wheelchair or is there for support doesn't always mean qualification to get a disabled freedom pass.

I am unsure what a blue badge is, I assumed it's for drivers only? I cannot drive neither can my carer but I will do some homework on this blue badge thing.

The renewal form was what I filled out recently stating that I need a carer to help me with mobility and I cant walk too far.
I guess my fears have always been they will take away my PIP even though I have clear illness that makes me physically disabled and I can only assume they refused to give me the mobility component because I can walk a little with a stick even though most the time I need wheelchair or mobility aids it's pretty confusing for me as I'm pretty new to all this and I don't really know any or many disabled or carers.

Many thanks you both have been most helpful and wonderful!

poppy12345

A blue badge is something that you use to make parking easier when out in a car, so it may not be worth you applying for that if you never go in a car. Information here. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-blue-badge-scheme-rights-and-responsibilities-in-england/the-blue-badge-scheme-rights-and-responsibilities-in-england

My local council criteria for the bus pass doesn't include a blue badge and neither did my previous local council.

If you look at your local councils website you will see the criteria for the bus pass. Though it's unlikely that your carer would have free travel as well.

With the mobility part of PIP for the moving around part it depends on how far you can walk and can you do this reliably, safely etc etc as indicated by Spoonie above. Please do take some time to have a read of the links posted above.

Spoonie_Turtle

Worth mentioning that the Blue Badge is for use whenever you are in a car that needs to park and you'll be getting out, making use of the disabled parking space - so e.g. if you take taxis to appointments (especially if they wait, to take you back home again) or go out with a friend somewhere.  It usually costs £10 and lasts for 3 years, but if you won't get more than a couple of uses out of it, you may not feel it worth the hassle if your case is not clear-cut and they would have to assess you.

That said, if your council includes a BB in their bus pass criteria, it may still be worth it [I defer to poppy's experience and revise my previous comment to 'many' councils rather than 'most'!].  Definitely look up your council's criteria though, so you can make informed decisions about both the BB and a bus pass.

Sncjw

What council are you under?

In regards to other discounts it depends on the place you go to. We are going to Edinburgh in November and we have already been before but you can get carer ticket for the castle, holyrood you can get carer I think but not sure and discounted consesionary rate.

Camera obsxura my partner got carer ticket free and the whiskey experience my partner got carer ticket for free.

There's boat trip which my partner will get free carer ticket. 

We often email or contact them in some way in advance or have a look at the website. 

Also local theatres may give free carer ticket to a show. 

Newly_retired

How recent is your PIP paperwork? Have you had a decision since you completed your review form? It may not be too late to challenge the decision? 

If you could get some help with this eg from an advice centre, Welfare Rights, Citizens Advice etc, you may manage to get the decision changed to give you the Mobility component.

or is it is a while and your condition has got worse, you could inform DWP and they will send you another form and reassess you. If you can find out more about the criteria for PIP, or even better, get help from someone with experience, you may be more successful.

Bunny1995

Thanks so much all for your comments,suggestions,advice and kindness! I really do appreciate it! 

I definately have to have a good read at the criteria about the mobility side of PIP. I guess I never wanna question or push for something because I'm new to all this and worry that they will take it all away from me if I push for the mobility component. I guess because I've heard some horror stories from people in the past.

I will consider the blue badge definately in the future I never knew that it could be used for taxis and the like.

poppy12345

Bunny1995 said:

I definately have to have a good read at the criteria about the mobility side of PIP. I guess I never wanna question or push for something because I'm new to all this and worry that they will take it all away from me if I push for the mobility component. I guess because I've heard some horror stories from people in the past.

Before reporting a change of circumstances you first need to get some further advice from an agency near you to see if you do qualify. Reporting a change of circumstances will prompt more forms being sent to you and the whole process starts again, so yes your existing award is at risk by doing this.

Naturally, on any internet forum you will mostly only read the horror stories because if someone's had a decision they're happy with, they have no questions to ask so we don't hear their story.