Any help or grants to purchase a wheelchair?

kayleighannie

I’m 23 and am chronically ill. I recently gave into using a wheelchair however the one I’ve been given off the NHS is so heavy I can’t push it on my own which means I’m unable to use it to it’s full potential and use it at work/out and about without someone else pushing it. I recently had my hours cut due to my illness and I don’t receive any help from the government, is there any grants or help I can get to purchase a wheelchair for myself but one I can actually use. Thanks in advance! X

poppy123456

HI and welcome,

Sopme links here may help you further. https://www.disability-grants.org/grants-for-wheelchairs-one.html

https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/wheelchairs/

You say you don't receive any help from the Government. Have you thought about claiming the disability benefit Personal Independence Payments. It's not awarded based on a diagnosis, it's how your conditions affect your ability to carry out daily activities based on the PIP descriptors. Evidence will be needed to support your claim, which should state how your conditions affect you.

A successful claim under normal circumstances can take several months, possibly longer now due to Covid19. Have a read of these links. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

kayleighannie

Hey @poppy123456 I’ve applied for PIP however apparently I’m lying and there’s nothing wrong with me. Yes those are the words of the man who done my initial assessment 😂. I’m awaiting a tribunal date, which I’m very anxious about, but I’m not convinced I’ll be awarded it as I’m only 23 and I still work (reduced hours) they see me and think there’s nothing wrong even though I have so much evidence proving otherwise. 

poppy123456

Regarding your Tribunal. Try not to focus too much on the assessment, that's all done and dusted now. HMCTS won't be interested in any of that. Focusing on this will only weaken your case. What you need to do is state where and why you think you should have scored those points and then add a couple of real life examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you.

Lots of people work and claim PIP. Providing the work you do doesn't contradict the reasons why you're claiming PIP then there shouldn't be any problems.

Also with the evidence, less is often more. Sending large amounts of evidence isn't helpful. Good luck and i hope you have a decision that's right for you.

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community, I too am a wheelchair user and agree the NHS ones are very hard to propel yourself unless it is a completely flat even surface.

Have you had an assessment from wheelchair services as I think they can offer vouchers instead of the chair.

Also you can get power packs for manual wheelchairs making them electric, go to as mobility specialist shop to enquire.

If you are awarded PIP then you can use your award to join the mobility scheme to get suitable chair or lease one yourself.

Also some are available second hand at much cheaper proce

Richard_Scope

The NHS wheelchair services can also provide lightweight everyday wheelchair from the manufacturer, Quickie. They are not top of the range but are much more mobile than the standard wheelchairs.