| Archive for A Forum For Carers |
| Speeds |
How can we make life fair?I am not talking about the things we cannot change but what about decisions that are make in a blanket fashion but do not benefit the ones it should.I received a reply fro the government petition for CF and presciptions. I will not say I understood it but I sorta got the message that the answer was no. But this is where I start. My hubby broke his neck and as it was deemed negligence on the part of the MOD he got a settlement. He is entitled as well as that to War Pensions DLA (Which is double normal DLA) and free prescroptions for life regardless of ehat the prescription is for (so long as it is for him and not me which was another bone of contention when I had to pay my drug charges for IVF which was due to Dom needing the intervention HMMMM). However, hubby works full time. No he is not earning what he should be but he is earning a good salary and part of it is his choice not to go for a higher paid job. Obviously on top of this he is entitled to council tax reduction (as we have adaptations and rooms that are for him only). He gets certain things VAT free. He gets some car park charges free as well as free road tax (OK a necessity as public transport is still virtually impossible for him without paying a carer to help). He does not pay to attend Chelsea football as disabled tickets are free for him and he gets very reduced or non existent costs if he watches away games. What is so funny about this is a few years ago Chelsea used to make my hubby buy two season tickets as THEIR policy was that a wheelchair user had to be accompanied by a carer - regardless of if they needed one or not. I wrote to the club regarding this discrimination stating that if they wanted Dom to have a carer with him when ulitmately he could go by himself then they should pay for the carer - i.e. carer ticket is free. That was used for a while but then they went to disabled person and carer free. Now I know we are lucky - but what I cannot understand is how a person with CF cannot be given free prescriptions. I also know that when I was working in the 1990s in transplantation that it was madness as patients on dialysis had free prescriptions but as soon as they had a transplant they had to buy their drugs - which - if they had stoped taking would have sent them straight back on dialysis. Surely all chronic conditions should have free prescrptions or at least only pay for one item for the first year or something. Also all these other aspects - I am sometimes embarrassed when we go to, e.g. a museum. We end up paying virtually nothing to go in but a family with 5 kids behind and the parents both working have to pay an arm and a leg - very weird. Other things - for me - swimming at our local pool stipulates - no child under 8 is admitted without an adult. So why is it then that when I take my son (who is disabled) aged 6 that I get in free? There are no other concessions for others who are on benefits or low income. Now don't get me wrong - if a child under 8 needs to have 2 adults to take them in to be safe - and also over 8 cannot go by self then of course - the second adult goes free - common sense for safety. I am all in favour of equal rights but I am also worried that equality in some (please I know not all) cases are becoming extreme. Disability etc policies vary so much from one place to the next and are cnfusing. Why can there not be a standard disability/entrance policy per establishment type? Anyway - very incoherent rant over - hopefully some of you may see where I am coming from and may post your thoughts on this too. |
| pixie |
I can see where you're coming from and I have never understood some of the reductions/concessions either.
I suppose it's a line that has to be drawn somewhere with free meds. It would have to be completely revamped in order to change it so that people with chronic conditions would benefit. What would be classed as a chronic condition though? As well as CF, transplates etc. alcoholism is classed as a chronic condition as well as drug dependency. These are self inflicted but still classed as chronic along with ME, Fibromyalgia etc. which are not self inflicted. I think the government would have to spend too much to sort it all out before any sort of consistency can be found. It's the same with most things, the people who are prepared to help themselves and not completely rely on the benefit system seem to lose out to the people who would rather sit on benefits. At our swimming baths if your on benefits you can get a free pass. I'm not sure if that applies nationwide but it has always been the case here. Do you have your cinema card (CEA Card) so that you get in free as a carer? Here's a link to the thread about it. http://disabledkids.myfineforum.org/about15.html |
| Speeds |
Thanks Pixie
We have everything because I do apply for it. However it is the line drawing that I never understand - agree with you about those chronic conditions - yes it would be difficult. |
| pixie |
It's just so hard in general for people with disabilities and their carers.
I don't really know what would make it better as there are so many things that would help but one thing would not help all. I think we should all live free and have free heating, hot water, food, clothes, car................ Nice to dream. |