Mother launches campaign for blind son to get allowance for a Motability car
andrew isn’t classed as disabled under government’s rules
Published:
A mother yesterday vowed to fight to ensure that her blind son and every other blind person in the UK receives an increase in allowance to take account of the fact they cannot get about easily alone.
The higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance is paid to people who have difficulty walking, while blind people are paid less because they can get about on their legs.
The higher rate is worth £46.75 a week, while the lower rate is worth £17.75.
Sheila Herbison, 71, of Feddon Hill, Fortrose, on the Black Isle, said that her son Andrew, 49, is disadvantaged because he is not classed as disabled to the extent that he could claim a Motability car for someone else to drive.
Mrs Herbison, whose son has been blind for nearly 30 years, said: “We are very fortunate that we have a car and I can drive him. If we didn’t, Drew would have to pay for a taxi.
“If he was going from Fortrose to the hospital in Inverness it would cost between £17 and £20 respectively each way.
“Otherwise he would have to depend on someone else to take him and wait for him and take him home again and he would have to pay them.”
She said although her son could not drive a mobility car, it could be in his name and someone else could drive it.
Mrs Herbison said the Royal National Institute of the Blind, a charity supporting blind and partially-sighted people, were leading the campaign for people with severe sight loss to claim the higher-rate mobility component.
The government is considering whether to amend the law to allow blind and partially-sighted people to claim the higher mobility rate.
Mrs Herbison said: “Other people with disabilities who can drive can claim the higher rate and receive a mobility car so why shouldn’t blind people be allowed to?”
She said she was told by the DSS that her son was not classified as disabled because he can walk.
Although Mr Herbison has a guide dog, it can only guide him on routes that the dog is already familiar with.
Mr Herbison, who works at Blind Craft in Inverness, added: “On a day-to-day basis not being able to get out independently stops many blind people from doing basic things like getting their own shopping, meeting up with friends, joining local clubs. This has a massive impact on the quality of people’s lives.”
A spokesman for RNIB Scotland said: “We believe blind and partially-sighted people should be able to claim the higher mobility rate. Mobility isn’t just about being able to walk.”
To find out more about the RNIB campaign log on to www.rnib.org.uk
