Taking a chance that somebody on here MIGHT know something useful -you usually do! :) My mother in law is disabled and she is just getting worse with her pain so that she now no longer feels able to use a walking frame indoors. She has an old electric wheelchair (she cannot use a normal one on her own, she doesn't have the strength for it, but gets pushed in one when she has to go out) which she said she will now have to use indoors as it's the only way to get around, to the bathroom etc. But it didn't work, so a repairman from the mobility shop came to fix it and he said it was too old to repair, she will have to buy a new one. A new one is £4000 and there is now way on earth she can afford that. Is there any way she can get a grant or something toward the cost of a new one as she really needs it?

The British Red Cross supplies disability aids around here for those who can't afford to buy their own. :)

If they are in the U.K., disabled people can receive either a mobility allowance, a mobility car or an electric wheelchair from the State.  If your MIL is not receiving one of these, tell her to contact her local G.P. surgery and speak to the Health Visitor there.  I believe the Red Cross supplies only in the short term.  New ones are available for just over  £1000.00 to buy if you look in the right places :)

If they are in the U.K., disabled people can receive either a mobility allowance, a mobility car or an electric wheelchair from the State.

DLA(which includes a mobility payment is only payable to people under 65 & to get a car or wheelchair on a three lease the mobility component has to be awarded at the high rate for life

Oh dear. She's 79. She does get the highest rate and have done for many, many years.

Check that it is Disability Living Allowance & not Attendance Allowance, DLA can only be claimed if you are disabled before you are 65. If she was getting the care part of DLA before 65 & now needs mobility help for the same disability she could now claim the mobility part. If she gets Attendance Allowance only then she cannot now claim DLA(mobility)

It is DLA and she's had it since about 1973. Thanks!

It's worth contacting Motability to see if they will accept the DLA(Mobility)payments for either leasing or buying a chair

Edited to add the link

Brilliant, will give them a call!

She should be able to use that money to buy a cheaper chair(after all it IS mobility allowance! :D)...I have 2 a big one for walking the dogs and a little one I put in the car to go shopping etc, no way should they cost £4,000!! You need to search around or get in touch with Motability for contacts(as has already been suggested). Scooter mart sell quite a lot of different ones. All the best, Dawn

Motability does include motorised wheelchairs now - I think it started last year (but not sure if this is just for outdoor electric scooters etc but worth giving them a ring). My OH uses a wheelchair on bad days and ours was supplied by our local health authority. It isn't a motorised one but I know they fit the wheelchair to the user. We had to go to the depot and were shown various types of wheelchair that they thought would be suitable for him and he made the final choice as to which was best for him.

We included the wheelchair in our house contents insurance as we are liable for any damage etc ( not if it is stolen and we have a crime number for it) so that is something to ask about if she is able to get one from her local HA.

We were told about this service by the hospice nurse and had to have a letter from our doctor stating that the wheelchair was for long term use and  not for a temporary condition such as a broken leg etc.

There is a disability help line number that is in the phone book and they might be another good place to seek advice.

if she gets the higher rate of dla she is allowed to purchase a scooter as my OH calls them, we looked into it for him, and on my motobility book last week that i get it had wheelchairs and large and small scooters in it for hire if you get dla,
carolann

My neighbours have for sale a scooter type wheelchair if thats of any use,
it belonged to her mother and was only used a handful of times
I,m sure they don,t want anywhere near that amount of money for it
I could find out more details if you want me to.
Sharon

Thanks Sharon, but I think it needs to be an actual electric wheelchair as oppsoed to the scooter as she needs it mainly for indoor use so it needs to be small enough for doorways etc.

I think that you will find that the electric wheelchairs are more suited to indoors as they have a smaller turning circle than scooters.  Make sure that you shop around because sometimes, if there is 'finance' involved, the wheelchair/scooter can cost a fortune unnecessarily!

No problem hope yuu get something sorted soon.

Might be worth a look in your local free ads paper; also ask your local Carer's Centre for advice; also ask her GP.

I do hope you get one soon.

I used to work for a mobility company and OH still does.  Please be aware that there are many companies out there that will rip people off with regard to cost of scooters and powerchairs.  We used to get people coming to us to part ex a scooter they had bought elsewhere for £5000 to find we were selling it for £2000.  If you need any advice as to what you should expect to pay PM me and I can get you some prices.  If you tell me what your needs are I can recommend certain powerchairs and give you the prices you should expect to pay. Stick with a small local mobility shop - don't go for one of the big nationals as they are the ones who regularly hike the prices up. 

I also used to do the paperwork for applications for Motability so feel free to ask for any advise.

Have you tried the British red cross, they offer a wheelchair hire service we were lent one a while ago whilst my daughters was getting repaired it was something silly like £4 a week, we only had to have a letter of referal from our GP which she duly printed off on a routine appointment. Otherwise could she not visit the GP and ask for an assessment which is what my daughter had and we got sent her chair a few weeks later. (from occupational therapy dept if i remember right :)