hi all, I am desperate to get more mobile
and was wondering if anyone has any advice on the possibility of getting a grant or help with purchasing a powered wheelchair .i am unable to access the buses or anything from my home. and I’m feeling rather trapped within my home.
I am apparently not entitled to mobility payments. and only receive attendance allowance.which is gone for 3hrs physio therapy. at home.
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I know this is probably not a lot of use but there is a second hand market. Prices there can be better, Don’t be in too much of a rush. It is too easy to waste money.
You might find someone willing to give you a lift to a group meeting. Or push you in a wheelchair to a local green space. Check out local groups and see what you can find.
I use a small scooter which will carry me a few miles out and back. Though I had to find the money for that myself. A second hand scooter or wheelchair might be worth looking at.
Good luck getting mobile. It will make a big difference to your life. Now the weather is improving some way of getting out is an aim worth working towards.
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I assume you are not working so are ineligible for Access to Work. Are you ex-forces? Forces charities may help with grants.
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Its the age thing @Janetb
After 65 mobility payments, PIP and the rest are no longer paid.
One is supposed to survive on Attendance Allowance alone, which has no mobility provision.
I suppose one is supposed to just sit in a chair and wait to die, as tidily as possible, with little fuss, of course. Beware the kind doctor with the hypodermic and good intentions.
Try Age Concern perhaps?
giving up gracefully?
keep on keepin’ on
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You could try the 2nd hand market as I often see them for sale.
I wonder also whether you should speak.to your local council as ours often advertises different grants that arecavailable for all sorts of things. We also have a local charity housing association by us that gives out grants for that sort of thing. Don’t know if you would have something similar in your area.
Also try Citizens Advice as they might know where you can apply to & the Stroke Association helpline could also have some contacts for you to try.
0303 3033 100
You could also try an OT referral through your GP & see if it something they might help with.
Best wishes
Ann
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thanks Ann I have been searching for months.and found not much help
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hi Bobbi, yes I have always gone down the second hand route with pretty much everything I have owned.as I was always able to repair and adapt anything after years in the Engineering and construction
sector.i would not consider a used power chair as the repair and maintenance in this are is almost non existent.so you are at the mercy of the local dealer.to guarantee and service it. I agree they just want you to fade away quietly. but I have no intention of doing that. thanks for your reply
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no I am quite badly disabled, do can’t work.
I did from the age of 15 untill 68, but that doesn’t seem to count for anything nowadays.
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every thing would require a Taxi.everything is so spread out here and miles apart.
unfortunately am surrounded by steep hills
so pushing me would require a superman.
the bus stop is only about 100yrds away but
beyond my ability to walk to .and my dear wife couldn’t possibly push me in my chair
in fact the walkway is so steep and full of pot holes and falling apart it is dangerous for able bodied people to walk up . never mind a wheelchair.
so I’m a bit snookered.
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Have you checked you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to?
Try GOV.UK, Citizens Advice or Age UK for advice.
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yes Jan my wife has I’m afraid apparently we are too old.over 65.
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You may be able to claim Pension Credit which is a gateway to other benefits.
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If you are snookered, would getting help from carers be an option?
Maybe the carers can take you out?
Is there any community transport - mini buses that you can use to take you out.
Not the same as being your own boss, but nevertheless it can get you out and about and also give your wife some relief?
Just thinking out loud.
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Where I live we have Dial a Ride and other community transport schemes.
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I agree with the others, that a mobility scooter rather than a wheelchair, would be useful. It really depends on how much use you have in your arms and legs. If you can control the handle bars (just one good arm & leg required) a scooter will give you freedom. Go for a robust one to cope with the road conditions. There are second-hand ones all over the place. Do you have a local ‘Next Door’ app to cover your area? Scooters appear on mine weekly. Local charities may be able to assist. Some suppliers may let you pay in instalments. Most of all - do your research! Compile a list of scooters that best suit your needs.
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the carers stopped last year . I’m not sure about community buses il just keep looking for options I suppose
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i really only need to get to the bus stop I need something that I can,with my wife get on a bus, fold down for taxis and family day trips ideally a scooter and a chair.but space and finances won’t cover that I am not getting any money for mobility etc.
the search continues
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I’m only entitled to attendance allowance.
which covers 3hours physio treatment.
so basically we survive on state pensions.
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It seems you are in a really tricky situation.
I am not in anyway an expert on financial matters and especially benefits as the rules are quite often difficult to understand. I myself have fallen foul of failing to comply to the rules you are required to follow in order to [continue] to receive benefits. My example is about JSA (Job Seekers Allowance) and I qualified only for the contibutions based allowance as I had more than the minimum savings to qualify for finance based JSA. I only applied for it to keep my NI (National Insurance) credits going to qualify for state pension (at the time this was 20 years+ away as I was only in my mid-forties. But to complete the story, they stopped my JSA because they claimed I did not apply for a job that they said I should apply for (this despite I had applied for OTHER jobs which I was more qualified/experienced for). The point I am trying to make is that the DWP workers were “incentivised” to get people off the unemployment register and that is what they did. I had to appeal and re-appeal and take them to a tribunal. The whole thing took over 2 years (that element of the JSA is only paid for 6 months anyway). I was already working during the appeals process (taking time off to attend tribunal etc). In the end, the judge agreed with me and said I had been fully compliant and my JSA should not have been stopped and I should not have been sanctioned.
I won the appeal, but it took a further six months and lot of chasing the DWP because by now they had ARCHIVED my claim !!! I did get the money that I was owed, but the hassle was way too much and I was made to feel “guilty” for only claiming what I was entitled to. It was and still is an awful experience.
Back to your situation as I don’t know your details, I must say I am surprised and shocked you are living off state pension with only Attendance Allowance (AA). I don’t see why Carers were stopped, though my guess is at the annual review (I assume you had one) it was decided you no longer needed the level of help support you were getting and so they cut off some/all of the support you were getting. Since AA is not means tested you still get it but again, I believe there are some criteria that you have to meet to continue getting it.
It is all very dreadful and I can only suggest you seek expert help to make sure that you have not been unfairly denied the support you need. Perhaps you should contact your local MP and see what they have to say.
I wish you all the best.
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thanks, but we have taken advice from a family member who works for the benefits system.and basically we are over 65 and have a tiny amount of savings.and I mean tiny. so we are not going to get anything.
so much for working from 15- 68 years old.
perhaps I should use my money to Pop over to Calais, and rent a dinghy and throw my passport overboard.and all my other British identity.
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