A rant....why does a hospital visit cost so much???

[crowsashes]

dont forget because your benefit is backdated you can also apply for a refund on your hospital appointment costs.this is for travel to appointments and various other bits. it might be worth checking out especially if its £35 a day to park a car!

http://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/Healthcost ... costs.aspx

[Big Al]

I can't read half of that it sounds even more complicated than French red tape! but I'm pleased for you and hubby that yesterday is over and hope that the treatment will help him, and glad you are getting the benefits that you deserve.

Nah it's supposed to "sound" difficult to stop people getting whst they are entitled to.... either that or you have been in the land of the frogs too long.....

[Milims]

If you do apply for DLA remember to fill the forms out based on how he is on his very worst days - otherwise you just won't get it! We had it for my OH for about a year but the they took it off him because we filled in the review forms and said that there is no problem with food preparation, shopping and such - of course not I do it all so he has no problem!

[fran]

Afraid I can't help with advice, but I am glad things went okay. Am sending a big hug for you and one for you hubby.

[oldjerry]

If you do apply for DLA remember to fill the forms out based on how he is on his very worst days - otherwise you just won't get it! We had it for my OH for about a year but the they took it off him because we filled in the review forms and said that there is no problem with food preparation, shopping and such - of course not I do it all so he has no problem!

The CAB will fill in this form for you too....they do it all the time. Jerry.

[Susie]

Yes, the CAB will fill the form in - I used to do it for people. Glad things went not too badly

[battybird]

Thanks everyone..Lots of info Big Al...thanks! Unfortunately OH has a big pride issue and will not claim DLA as he feels he is not disabled or not enough!! On good days he can do DIY, his mobility is ok'ish when he is not dizzy and he never needs a wheelchair. I know that DLA is for worst days but he hates to be called disabled! We went to a work focused interview (!!) and the advisor suggested DLA and OH replied that he will get better soon so no point claiming...he may well be right, so cannot stop him hoping! His ESA is not income related just contribution which means we dont get a lot of the additional help. We have a property in Portugal which counts as savings even though it is a partly converted barn and very hard to sell in a static market. However I think my rant was really more to do with the difficulty of getting help when you are on the borderline ...loads of help if you get the benefits. And also the difficulty of finding the way round the system when one is emotionally vunerable. Seem to have to fight for information about many issues and transport to specialised hospitals is hard to organise and became the last straw.
I am booked to go to the CAB next week so hope that they will assist about the possibility of backdated ESA. They might even persuade OH that DLA is an option he could accept!
All better onceI had a moan!! Onwards and upwards! Just wait 2 years to see if gamma knife has worked (95% success rate!!), sort out the facial paralysis in the meantime (or surgery in 2yrs if not) and then we can finally move on. A lot of people dont have that hope!

[oldjerry]

Taking DLA is just recouping a small amount of the tax you've both shelled out since the year dot.Even if you fall below the tax threshold and don't pay too much to the revenue in income tax,you've still paid 17.5% on every non food item you've bought.It's not a hand out......it's a payback.I realise that decisions about money don't seem too high up the priority scale,at the minute,it's just that you don't need to worry about money as well.Best Wishes.

[StripyPixieSocks]

I know exactly what your OH feels when it comes to labelling yourself as disabled but the fact is... he is... as I am and it's a hard thing to swallow but at the end of the day he's entitled to it and you need it to pay for hospital visits.

It took me 4 years to admit I was disabled as I too don't feel like I should qualify as disabled but I do (even though it still sits uncomfortably with me). I know there are people out there who tar everyone with the scrounger brush but really, they are just being ignorant and perhaps that's maybe another reason why your OH doesn't want to apply for the benefits that are rightly yours!

Anyway... (((HUGS))) to you both