KathyC

[quote user="Âme"]luck with the request for equipment. Re: reinstatement of DLA, no forms from the Exportability Team, just a letter saying they will contact OH when further info is available and that he does not need to contact them again. Any comments/suggestions?! [/quote]   I didn't realise that you were trying to get DLA reinstated; my husband's AA application is a new claim so I suppose the process is different. I think that people in your situation are being dealt with first.

[quote user="Burgundy Maid"]obtained the paperwork for DLA from the Exportability Co-ordinator, Room B120D, Pension, Disability and Carers Service, Warbeck House, Warbeck Hill Road, FY2 0YE     e-mail:- [email protected] When I telephoned them I was told I had to see my GP here in France and get copies of the 'necessary papers' and a report from my GP on my health and conditions which I would then have to have translated into English; but not to hold my breath as nothing has been agreed. Coral [/quote]   That's strange as we phoned up about the possibility of applying for AA from France and they just sent us the forms and told us that if a positive decision was made then the claim would be dated from the date of the phone call. Nothing was asked for in the way of GP's reports although, naturally, his details were asked for on the forms.This was in November last year.

[quote user="Iceni"] It is very, very noisy. Difficult to know how to quantify but imagine smallish quantity of ball bearings in a metal dustbin being shaken very, very violently. But I survived (I think). John  [/quote]   In my case they put headphones on me playing French muzac; the noise might have been better! On top of this, the headphones slid off down my head and made me even less comfortable. However, I do agree that it's a painless process, if sometimes uncomfortable and noisy.

I had an MRI scan at Perigueux just before Christmas and I was definitely given a prescription to collect before I went for the scan.   Mine was for my breasts and I had to lay face down with my arms by my side with my boobs in holes in the table. (There's comfy!)I found it very difficult to breathe in this position, particularly when I had to keep still. If you're a bit claustrophobic I'd ask your GP for a couple of tranquillizers to take beforehand. I was getting quite panicky when the Valium kicked in, for which I was very grateful. I think that if I'd been lying on my back it would have been much easier. Bon courage!

[quote user="sueyh"] Make sure the mutuelle covers dentist and opticians as we have paid out about 1000 euros for dentistry (essential - non cosmetic) in the last two years and only got the CPAM money back and this was from a well know english mutuelle! Suey [/quote]   But you'd have to pay that in the UK anyway and dentistry costs are much cheaper in France. Many people put aside the extra that they save by having a non dentistry policy and do the same for optical costs.

[quote user="susie"] Hi Cooperlola, Yes, you are right about the company (CA) didnt know that they could not ask the questions. This is very difficult, I am in good health but as the lady at Newcastle told me today I will probably be able to go on my husbands E121January 2010 which is when my E106 expires as long as the French agree, she has given me a direct telephone number to call them if the French authorities disagree. But my husband will need on-going maintenance cancer treatment, twice a year, so before I take out any insurance how do I know what extra level I will need, if that makes any sence to you. I cannot get head  around more than 100%. Susie [/quote]   Apologies for muddying the situation even further, but if your husband is having ongoing cancer treatment then he may well be able to be assessed as an ALD which will give him 100% of his cancer care and, in this case, 100% will mean exactly that.

[quote user="suein56"][quote user="susie"] I cannot get head  around more than 100%. [/quote] As our assurance agent explained it to us you should not need more than 100% for normal health cover, including hospital cover - unless you live in a very expensive area eg Paris, where the 'dépassements honoraires' charged by some specialists can be mindblowingly expensive - but for glasses/dental cover then it is probably wiser - at our age - to have 200% cover. Sue [/quote]   I agree with you. At the risk of repeating myself, our GP is conventionne as are all likely specialists in the area, so at present I don't see the need for more than 100% cover. I fully appreciate that this can change in the future but I believe that if one monitors the situation then one can always upgrade in the future. Having had private dental care in the UK for many years (who can find an NHS dentist these days!) we're used to budgeting for this and came over well stocked up on glasses .

Etap hotels accept dogs as well and are my favourite along with B&B. They're both somewhere between Premiere Classe and Kyriad/Campanile in level.

[quote user="cooperlola"] I normally never read the Chatterbox board on TF - I only really post in the health section under the fhi banner.  However, following the weird round robin, natch, I looked in. Kathy C, may I say I thought you held your own very well in the face of some truly outrageous posts. I salute you.[:)][B] [/quote]   Thank you very much for that. I'm sure you can understand why I'm gradually making the move back here from there - computer willing!

Sorry to interrupt but why are we discussing British food on a money saving forum? Rather the opposite in most ways.

[quote user="rusheslake"]We leave our kettle on the wood burner all day & evening to make tea/coffee saves oodles on the electric kettle.[/quote]   Just interested; how do you get it to boil?

[quote user="Will"] Sorry to disappoint you, but I know that he was banned from there some time ago. Seems rather stupid, because he was one of the few who was able to partake in a heated discussion without resorting to personal and racist insults, which seems to be the sort of conduct that the admins are objecting to at such length.   [/quote]   You're quite right, along with most of the more interesting "old guard", he's gone.

[quote user="tegwini"] I agree with you Sprogster &  5 Element, it might be a marketing ploy. Most of us are curious & have had a look at TF even if we have never posted there.  IMO the quality of the posts in the one topic I looked at  was not good.  Not just the language either.  Mostly not debates, just rudeness, and some very bossy. Something I think the Mods objected to.   And there are only a few posters keeping going a topic now reaching dozens of pages,  and  very boring.  Most repeating themselves endlessly,  something OH accuses me of, but I  try not to do this here ! Tegwini [/quote]   I'm more active on the other side than here, partly because it's become so quiet here and partly because this site freezes my computer on a regular basis. I do think that things have gone downhill over there since FE closed, mainly because  FE members have transferred in and seem pretty different from the normal TF crowd.

[quote user="NormanH"][quote user="KathyC"] [quote user="powerdesal"]If its AI I feel left out, no e mail. [:(] [/quote]   If it's from TF, then so do I! [/quote] Although we disagree on every Forum on which we meet, I would never think so low of you to imagine that you were a member of that Forum [/quote]   Oh dear - I think I've just sunk without trace!

[quote user="Sunday Driver"] My 'normal' route: Visit doctor.  Blood pressure/lung check followed by a ten minute chat about the world and it's ills.  Obtain ordnance. Visit lab.  Chat up the nice receptionist.  Have blood taken.  Scrounge lollipop for not being a baby. Test results arrive by post the next morning. Carte vitale and mutuelle covers everything.  No cash changes hands. We did have a nurse come and administer some injections following our car accident.  Her 'needlework' was so rough we called her The Darts Player......[;-)][/quote] That's the way it works where I live as well; sans lollipop!  

[quote user="Ron Avery"]Not sure about that Kathy,   I'll check with my DWP source who does ESA interviews who was telling me recently  I thought, about the IB/ESA claimant who had done drugs since 15 and was now 23 and totally unable to do any sort of work due to his mental state.[/quote] You may be able to claim Incapacity Benefit if any of the following apply to you: your Statutory Sick Pay has ended, or you cannot get it you are self employed or unemployed you have been getting Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and have not gone back to work for your employer because you are incapable of work you were under State Pension age when you became sick You must also have been: paying National Insurance Contributions unable to work due to sickness or disability for at least four days in a row (including weekends and public holidays) unable to work for two or more days out of seven consecutive days getting special medical treatment or you must: be aged between 16 and 20 (or under 25 if you were in education or training at least three months immediately before turning 20) have been too ill to work because of sickness or disability for at least 28 weeks have been too ill to work before you turned 20 (or 25 if you were in education or training at least three months immediately before turning 20   As you can see, there are certain exceptions for young people, which would cover the case you mention.

[quote user="powerdesal"]If its AI I feel left out, no e mail. [:(] [/quote]   If it's from TF, then so do I!

[quote user="Ron Avery"]   On another point someone wrote that people have "paid" for these benefits, quite how is not stated, but a very large percentage of those on IB in the UK have never done a days work in their lives and therefore paid no taxes or NI so how have they paid for them? [/quote]   Whilst I agree with much of the rest of your post, I must take you up on this point. IB is a contributions based benefit so people must have had the appropriate contributions credited at the start of a claim. Someone who's never worked would be unable to claim IB and would have to claim IS instead, and I doubt that there's any chance of that becoming exportable.

[quote user="powerdesal"][quote user="teapot"] [quote user="powerdesal"]Whisky + hot water + sugar + lemon juice + a paracetamol dissolved (optional) It works for me. [/quote] Swap the sugar (refined white sugar weakens the bodies resistance to fight off illness) for honey, Manuka honey if possible. Or Suck a fisherman's friend! but that's a different story [:-))] [/quote] I prefer bee honey for choice, what does a 'Manuka' look like   [:P] [/quote]   Expensive!

[quote user="connolls"] Hi again, Thanks for support and thoughts, Sorry to say Cathy that that's not possible, because despite the C.P. not being eligible for tax purposes etc in France we are still legally "married", we might be expecting a little spell in the Bastille or the the local UK prison for bigomy !! Just out of interest does anyone know of a english speaking solicitor local to Bellac area (87290) where we could do a French will, as far as I know an English will won't cover the French property for my partner as the house is in my name only. Thnaks.     [/quote]   Could you not "divorce" in the UK and then enter a PACS in France?

[quote user="cooperlola"][quote user="KathyC"] Presumably people here before November 2007 will be able to stay in the system anyway. [/quote]The problem is, Kathy, that we cannot presume this.  The agreement by the Health Minister to allow those already here to remain in the system, refers to E106 holders only.  In spite of several letters from FHI and approaches to the minister by the UK Embassy, on this subject, she has subsequently kept stum or denied the possibililty that there is any chance of E121 entitlement being lost.  As we know this is rubbish.  If the assessments result in ICB E121s being withdrawn, then the right to reside could evaporate at the same time.  The  only upside is that after 5 years' residence this will no longer matter, but FHI is certainly of the opinion that some people (who may well have health problems still in spite of being deemed fit for work) may be caught out in this way.   [/quote]   Thanks for the correction. I thought that it was ALL holders of E forms who were included.

From the DWP website "From 27 October 2008 Employment and Support Allowance applies to new customers, replacing Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on incapacity grounds. Existing customers will initially continue to receive their existing benefits, so long as they continue to satisfy the entitlement conditions." Emphasis mine.   Edit: Most forums (what do they know!) think that the implementation will take years for existing claimants, with a General Election thrown in for good measure. Presumably people here before November 2007 will be able to stay in the system anyway.

[quote user="glacier1"]I do not know about you guys, but being here in France for 4 years now I really do miss some British products found in UK supermarkets.  You can get some things here but they are sold individually and are expensive.  I miss a good cup of Yorkshire Gold Tea, or Crumble Mix for making a summer crumble, or stupid things like bisto gravy powder down to dried peas for pea soup.  Things sold here just do not taste the same!  My question is, has anybody found a website selling UK goods at competative prices and delivered to France?  Or does there exsist a company already established here?  Thanks! [/quote]   I always wondered who bought the crumble mix from Intermarche; now I know! Dried peas are available all over the place, like most pulses.

[quote user="NormanH"]They weren't pre-existing, it was years after I first took out my Mutuelle. I agree completely about the logic: it struck me as strange at the time, though of course it could be said that they still have as much to pay out on all the non-ALD costs. Just because you have cancer doesn't mean you don't go to the dentist. All the same, there was a noticeable rise in the cost just after my first stroke. It can also be argued that there are 'spin-off' problems not directly related to the ALD, but made more likely. Falls, accidents in the home etc..I am definitely more clumsy and likely to burn myself, and have twice broken bones. These costs (including X rays etc) are not covered by the 100% for the original  problem, so the Mutuelle picks up a bigger tab. I have since tried 'shopping around'  (for example on the Figaro site I quoted elsewhere)  but don't find anything as good any cheaper, so perhaps they are gradually coming into line. Thanks for the impetus of this topic though. I will see what I can negotiate. [/quote]   I meant pre existing  the renewal of the policy rather than pre existing to taking it out at the start.

[quote user="NormanH"][quote user="cooperlola"]DR, as the state pays 100% for ALDs, thus your complementaire (which does not have to be a mutuelle, btw) pays less.  Hence a discount for ALD sufferers is quite normal and is offered by many companies.  Shop around, it could be worth it. [/quote] My premium went UP after I got my 100% cover on 3 ALDs, so I don't think this is always the case.. [/quote]   How did they know? We've never been asked and I thought it was illegal for top up insurers to charge more for pre existing conditions.