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ESA - Hospital travel expense claims ?

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6 years 7 months ago #195719 by melannie
ESA - Hospital travel expense claims ? was created by melannie
In Scotland for starters, I doubt at the moment that makes any difference anyway to rules and regulations by both Governments, but just saying.

What I need to know is, if someone on normal standard ESA who lives alone in a council house and receives full housing benefit (rent is paid for by dwp/taxpayers in other words, thats what I mean, (I think) and pays council tax ( but receives the normal full council tax benefit/discount so that the council tax isn't too much to pay), cant think of anything else, just the usual household things that apply to being on ESA and has been on normal ESA for years (not in a work related activity group to help get back to work or attend job centre every now and again for anything, none of that, just normal ESA,........On no other Benefits either , unemployed, no kids etc.

Can a person in Receipt of this/these benefits claim for very costly travel to and from an extremely difficult hospital to get to, I.E if fully healthy would have to take several bus/train journeys back and forth, don't even think there are those public transport routes available from house to hospital.

First day for day care Operation on the eye (Glaucoma Disease), if had a car could not take it as can't drive after OP (wouldn't be able to see), Taxi journey only option there and back home same day or else they wouldn't discharge from hospital because you can't see (eyes) and just been operated on obviously so they tell you either preferrably have someone pick you up in a car which wasn't possible or get Taxi or no discharge, so they (Hospital staff) agreed and said ok for Taxi under strict rules that someone is waiting at the house for the drop off which was all sorted out prior ok and fine, so nurse helped find and get into Taxi etc.

Next day, (just hours later really) very early hours of morning much less than 24 hours later, in extreme pain in the eyes and head & sickness all night long, something not right etc :( , obviously can still only see a Blurr, called the hospital, doctor eventually phones back to house and says "get to the hospital quickly (within 2 hours)" as he was going to have to leave his own house very early (he was on 24hr call for emergencies, specialist eye doctor/consultant).

Taxi again and Met the doctor as described at the hospital, there for several hours, discharged again but still not able to see proper and told best to get taxi again, so same scenario again, Taxi.

In other words, because it's the eyes you can't go wandering around looking for several buses/trains in the middle of nowhere for obvious reasons (the hospital is in the middle of nowhere in the countryside).

Got cost Receipts from all Taxi Drivers.

The doctor wrote a letter to back up everything about the travelling and to say no way could patient possibly have been wandering about half blind in pain etc as a result of the OP and only way possible to get round this was to either have someone pick up in car or Taxi back and forth. Plus have the discharge notes.

Later same day after back from hospital something still not right, still feeling very sore and just something not right still vision all blurry, had to get to an Opticians shop quickly and able to get a lift there and back at the cost of the car owner, have paperwork for that too.

So, the big question is, is it possible to claim these expenses back for Taxis or even if someone had to pick up in private car (a neighbour or friend for example) as this may go on and on (you never know the second), hope not, Glaucoma is a very nasty disease and any complications have to be dealt with as quickly as possible or you can go blind instantly, Glaucoma is nicknamed "the silent sight thief" and comes with a lot of other problems.

Anyway, this saved probably thousands of pounds to the public purse as emergency ambulances could have been called if I wanted to, well certainly definitley for the visit the following morning, the public purse was spared that.

Ok, will leave it at that and see if someone can come back to me with some details hopefully.

Thanks.

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6 years 7 months ago #195734 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic ESA - Hospital travel expense claims ?
Melannie

Do an internet search for "scotland reclaim hospital travel expenses".

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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6 years 7 months ago #195756 by David
Replied by David on topic ESA - Hospital travel expense claims ?
Have you applied for HC 2 certificate ?
www.gov.scot/Publications/2009/09/01130638/1
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6 years 7 months ago #195788 by melannie
Replied by melannie on topic ESA - Hospital travel expense claims ?

David wrote: Have you applied for HC 2 certificate ?
www.gov.scot/Publications/2009/09/01130638/1


no David, but now you mention it I will look into it, I'm guessing it's a forum you have to contact someone to get ?? But who ?

"I read the link online and I see these words "HOSPITAL TRAVEL COSTS
If you are eligible to receive free prescriptions you may also be eligible for help with necessary travel costs.
The maximum you will pay if you live in the Scottish Highlands and Islands is:
Scottish Highlands and Islands £10.00"

Not in the Highlands or islands, so I don't know what that £10 thing is, put it this way the taxis were all exactly £10 each way journeys and then to the optician was to get someone who was kind enough to run up and down and promised a few pounds for petrol in return that still isn't paid either.

Have all paperwork and receipts etc to back everything up like mentioned in post above.

so, who is it that needs contacted, the NHS hospital said they didnt have a clue, they said probably contact the dwp or something ?

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6 years 7 months ago #195791 by melannie
Replied by melannie on topic ESA - Hospital travel expense claims ?
Just looking, is it not an HCS1 forum that's the right one ? I'm unsure now, hmm :unsure:

See here >>> www.gov.scot/Publications/2012/05/9246/18

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6 years 7 months ago #195841 by David
Replied by David on topic ESA - Hospital travel expense claims ?
I would ring patient services for their help

If you have any queries about how to fill in these forms, or what to send, you can call Patient Services of the Business Services Authority on 0845 850 1166,
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