S2C Forum Archives
Main Section => Workshop Wisdom => 602's Musings => Topic started by: w3526602 on June 03, 2021, 07:55:53 AM
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Hi,
Wrong side of 80, both knees hurt, I don't "DO" walking, if I can avoid it, and only take about 12" (300mm) strides when forced.
Barbara already has a Blue Badge. I want one too.
I expected to have to make a written application, but Google tells me I have to telephone.
What are they going to ask me? What can I tell them? I haven't consulted, nor even met a GP, at our local Health Centre since we moved here, three years ago, though I did meet a "heart doctor" when I complained that my heart was beating too fast at 70bpm. He seemed amused.
In recent years, I've had a hole drilled in my head, a pair of "new eyes", and a hernia pushed back in. The recent photograph of my eyes showed no cause for concern.
Forewarned is fore-armed. Are they going to ask me any trick questions, like "When did you stop beating your wife?"
602
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They are not out to trick you.
Every council area seems to have a slightly different system.
There is no national standard or process or register that I know of :shakeinghead
Just phone up and ask. I'm sure you'll qualify. You'll need a passport type photo to go with the application.
It seems all too easy these days for people to get a blue badge - the privilege is abused so often :shakeinghead
The blue parking spaces at our Sainsbury's are always full.
I always park as far as poss from the shop, in a quiet spot, less likely to get the car bashed.
I use a trolley as a zimmer frame (and a battering ram).
PS
Have you had chance to go to John Lewis yet ?
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My Mrs's has just filled it out online And will be notified in about four weeks.
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You have to be a diesel.
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You have to be a diesel.
For what?
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Pretty sure in Rev'd Awdry's Thomas books it was stated that "coughs and sneezels spread diseasiels"
I've got my coat and already off down the path...
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Hi All,
Thanks. I guess I'm going to have to phone to find out. But it would be nice to have some idea what to expect.
Hmmm! MK Council have been moaning about their loss of revenue from car parking during lockdown. Well, a Blue Badge won't help that, but it might encourage people like me to visit the shops and spend some money. Not me, it won't.
My daughter says that she prefers to work from home.
602
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Mrs got notified today that she qualified. So paid her ten pounds and it's in the post on its way to her. Only did the online form on Monday.
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I had to go to a local health center in other villiage to be seen and git asked to walk a bit to see my level of ability and three steps later she got my chair and said yes sorry but we been asked and had it set out to do these this way ,since then I applied online to renew just had to upload a recent picture and was three years it due to end in oct so will have to apply again .
If you look at the gov.co.uk site you can apply there plus the questions are straight forward .
Hth
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Hi,
Today, Barbara received notification that her Attendance Allowance is due to expire.
Huh! She can't walk, can barely stand, I have to lift her feet into bed, and twice recently we've had to call an ambulance crew to get her back into her chariot when she fell getting off the WC. Both times it took the ambulance crew a long time (2 hours) to get her onto their inflatable cushion. I'm thinking we need gantries round the ceilings, and an electric bath winch in every room. Or a lightweight version of a jib-type engine crane.
It's a horrible application form. How do I get her into a photo booth? ... asked he, innocently
602
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I totally understand where your at, it’s not easy to care for someone but worse when it’s a partner , the needs you require should be done by getting a home Occupational health I think from social work to come do a assessment of your current situation and look at what you require to make life easier , such as the ceiling hoist rail from bed to toilet to chair I’ve see them in place and used them with a client whom was able to use them with a remote controlled box . Things like stair lifts jousts etc are what they there to see if you have or need .
I hope you get all the help you need from them.
The new firms to apply fir pip is a nightmare I had to go to cab but second time round got them to come to me as health had gotten worse etc so worth contacting them to get help to fill out forms if you having difficulty.
Photo fir blue badge I took mine on iPhone and used a app I found to crop and it to correct passport size and did it online and uploaded it so if your able that’s a option.
I’m sure there’s a home help that could go the photo which the cab could let you know who can do it for you .
Hth
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Hi Lurch,
Thanks for your input.
I contacted the Council, asked about a Disabled Facilities Grant. Lovely lady (Occupational Therapist) came round, watched Barbara "go through the motions". At that time she could still walk with a stick, although getting from sitting in her armchair, to sitting on the loo, a distance of six metres, bungalow, took her six minutes..
The lady then asked to see our bank statements. It only took a matter of seconds to declare that Barbara was "NOT ENTITLED".
Disabled Facilities Grant requests over £1,000, are means tested. It seems that we have "means".
I have found a private Occupational Therapist, about two miles away, who will come to look at Barbara and write a report ... for £650. Barbara? She says "NO WAY!" I understand that SSAFFA will pay for such an assessment.
Barbara phoned SSAFFA, who asked what she wanted. Barbara gave them a list. MISTAKE. "Too much!" was stern reply. Perhaps if Barbara had only asked for ONE thing?
It's a minefield working through the grants that are available, especially if you are over 65. You have to already be in receipt of other benefits, all identified by their initials.
I think my next move will be to contact Beneden (Civil Service Health Insurers). Beneden no longer pay for new knees, but will subsidise the cost down to a smidgen over £10,000. They paid for my "new eyes", our only claim in about fifty years. I don't think Barbara is robust enough to undergo replacement knees ... maybe five years ago. She is a "tough cookie", but this is destroying her.
I'm prepared to fight, but not from a position of ignorance. I need knowledge to fight with.
602
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Perhaps go back to SSAFFA and start from a position of asking advice on what might be available via "the system". They only have limited resources so a long list of "wants" might have indeed been "too much" for them - but possible via other sources ?
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Hi I don’t know about the grants system but say I need a new stopper rubber fit my stick which I did few months back , I connected the hospital occupation health dept bit that deals with items such as the rubber foot for the stick , I got delivered two new walking sticks and excuse was that’s how they come !! Hand rails, wheelchair repairs or replacement plus other items I believe they can send you a items book of available items that you may need, they supply and fit free of charge or assemble such as wheelchairs .
I know once your over 65” such benefits stop such as pip and your suppose to survive on pensions and your savings , so when you for example request the need of a ramp then only apply for that only from the social work occupational one at a time not several unless the home assessment deans you need certain items and they organise for them to be delivered and fitted etc so I do suggest that you do ask fir anther home assessment since her health has gotten worse and the need of help has increased since last assessment done they should do this upon your request free of charge .
The results from when it was last done to now will be taken into account along with what current help you have and to what you will now need now and possibly in future needs remember when your being assessed or giving a answer to a person or in a form it should be answered as if it where her worst day on everything as it has to be at that level so you have the right help for when and I hope never does have any bad days , for anther example is a question such ad how far can you walk before it becomes to sore - answer zero I’m in pain before I start and it gets worse each step - I git told it can’t be zero I said it is and that’s my answer my worst day is I can’t walk as to sore .
I wouldn’t pay for a independent assessment as they may not accept it maybe worth even contacting cab and get advice from them how to proceeded and who to contact .
Home aid if I remember provide door bell lights fir the hard of hearing sane with phone a loud speaker so you can hear calls it also lights up , different items are available for folk free to be able to continue living at home safely.
Sorry my writing and spelling is poor plus big finger small keyboard and auto spell checker doesn’t help .
I hope again this is of some help mate
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Hi Gene and Lurch,
Thanks for your replies, which sort of concentrate the mind. They suggest that the first port of call (telephone) will present you with "Doctors Receptionist Mentality".... their object is to reduce the workload at the first sift.
So, for best results, one should ask what "They" would suggest, rather than telling them what "You" want? My problem is that I went to all the wrong schools. My headmaster kept telling us that his job was to turn out people who would "benefit society". Barbara seems to have gone to a similar school. I doubt that she has ever visited the Dole Office. For those who know about such things, she was interviewed for both CO and EO vacancies. Accepted as a CO (Cabinet Office) and then as an EO (Customs & Excise) three weeks later. She resigned four years later, to accompany me to Malaya. After our return to UK, and birth of our daughter, she phoned her old boss, and after a couple of weeks was sitting in her old desk. About four years later, she got herself pregnant again, and resigned (without working the Maternity Leave "scam", which was worth several months salary. Honesty does not pay.
Another phone call put her back in her old desk.
Come the "Housing Boom", we sold our house in Surrey, at a 100% profit, bought a new car and new caravan, loaded all our worldly goods, and headed for Barbara's parents place in Swansea, to unload, before setting off on a six month tour of Scotland. While Barbara was loading the car and caravan for our adventure, I wandered into the embryonic DVLC (at the end of Barbara's father's garden) to ask about the chances of a job when we returned. I started work as a CO the following Monday. (I was qualified for acceptance as an EO, but that took another two years). It was several years before we got to Scotland.
I think it was 1986, that I wandered into Personnel Office, to ask about Barbara's chances of getting a job. Within a couple of weeks, she was in charge of a team in Driver Enquiries, retaining her previous seniority, grade, point on the pay scale, and pension. She later passed the HEO promotion board, and later still the SEO board ... which never came to pass, as the Director wanted her as the DVLC delegate on a Deputy Prime Minister's "Task Force", with all delegates being equal, but retaining their current rank and pay scale. Equal? Barbara remained an HEO, while all the police delegates were Chief Superintendents. In theory, Barbara was equivalent to James Bond (007) a Navy Commander, RAF Squadron Leader, or Army Major. Unfortunately, she was on a different pay scale. She let the other delegates buy the drinks in the hotel bar.
I sometimes wonder if the police delegates "pulled strings" ... she was twice pulled at 115mph (Honda CRX) on the M4, and told not to do it again. Or maybe the police drivers were already aware that she has a DISABLED marker on her driver's licence?
I have watched Barbara and a police sergeant standing in the middle lane of the M4, traffic passing both sides, wagging fingers in each others faces. It ended when the sergeant told me ... "Get your wife out of my sight, and I'll say no more about this!"
Now married for 56 years, and I still wake up screaming.
602
PS, I will try to bring her to a pub meet, so others can enjoy my challenges.
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Hi,
One of the obstacles is ... Barbara.
When asked to demonstrate, she tries to show HOW WELL she can do things. I think she went to all the wrong sort of schools.
602
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If you live in North Wales rest assured my sister is long retired and your chances of getting a blue badge are greatly improved.
Alec
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If you live in North Wales .... your chances of getting a blue badge are greatly improved.
Hi Alec,
When I lived in Wales, I frequently heard references to Westminster's Money ... perhaps jokingly.
602
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Anyway, to answer your actual question John, each Council runs the scheme in their area so, a link to Milton Keynes on the subject.
https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/highways-and-transport-hub/parking/disabled-parking-blue-badge-scheme
and under the "Automatically qualify" bit:
1. People who automatically qualify for a badge
You are automatically eligible for a Blue Badge if you are over two years old and meet 1 of the following criteria:
Receive the higher rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance; or
Receive 8 points or more under the “moving around” activity for the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP); or
Are registered blind (severely sight impaired); or
Receive a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement (WPMS); or
Receive a lump sum benefit from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (within tariff levels 1 – 8). You must also have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.
Receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP)and have been awarded 10 points (Descriptor E) for planning and following a journey. Please complete the Hidden Disability Blue Badge form.
:tiphat
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Hi Gene,
Thanks for that.
Barbara's blue badge has expired without her ever using it. When I needed taxiing to the hospital, to have my retina photographed (eye-drops, so couldn't drive), she was already incapable of getting out of the house. My daughter asked a work colleague (bank manager ... and a JP :agh) to chauffeur me to hospital, and push my wheel chair (I don't walk "distances" any more, it hurts ... more that a few yards, I take the car).
I've seen my GP once since moving here three years, and that was about a patch of some sort of up-market, "municipal" warts, on my back.
We can see no reason why Barbara cannot drive, it's getting out of her wheel chair, and into the car, that is the obstacle. She would be unable to get into the back of a taxi ... and probably the front passenger seat of most other cars, she needs the steering wheel to use a "struggling bar". I guess we are going to have to call in a new car dealer, ask about adaptations.
Receive 8 points or more under the "moving around" activity ...?
Most disabled benefits are not available to "OVER 65s".
Barbara cannot stand unaided. She can struggle out of her armchair, twist and drop her bum into a wheel-chair, then from wheelchair to shower chair, or WC, or bed, and return. She manages her kitchen duties, from her buggy, although I have to get involved with heavy sauce-pans and oven dishes (two hands needed).
Can she be assessed for the Mobility Component, even though she is not entitled to the Benefit? Or do you actually have to receive the benefit?
There is a firm (practice?) of Occupational Therapists, a couple of miles away, who charge the wrong side of £600 for a home visit ... they mentioned that SAFFA had paid for somebod's assessment. But is there any point? Will a private assessment over-rule the LA's own assessment? And if not, what's the next move? The cost of such an assesssment is a "mere bagatelle" (whatever that is) compared with what we've spent already ... eg:- £70,000 Equity Release used as a First Mortgage (4% FIXED RATE), to move into a bungalow (moving from South Wales to the East Midlands costs)£8,000 to lift the access into the front door (but that included paving the front garden too), £1,000 to convert the door from living room to French Windows, to give a straight run from living room into bathroom ... I don't know what the electrically operated arm chairs, and similar double bed cost. (I say what I want, and she says "Yeah or Nay".
Anybody got any suggestions for a NEW wheel-chair friendly car, that won't break the bank, and needn't impress the neighbours.
602
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PS,
I just found this when looking for car seat lifts .... https://www.motability.co.uk/products/adaptations/prices/
Once you have found a price that suits you :-X go to their main website, to find out what it is. :stars
602