Polio - The Late Effects Reality

Finances

Respondents were asked to state their monthly household income (not just personal income) and to rate this against that how well they were able to manage. (Note: 9 Respondents did not complete this section. Therefore, the percentages are calculated on 205 not 224.) As can be seen from the table below, 114 (56%) said they could only manage with some or great difficulty. 91 respondents (44%) said they could manage without difficulty, but it should be noted that this category contained the highest earners, 61 (30%) of the total sample, declaring a household income of over € 24,500 per annum. However, worryingly, 63 (31%) of respondents appear to be living at or below the equivalent of the statutory minimum wage level of € 6.35 per hour (experienced Adult worker – August 2003).

Table 25 –Ability to Cope by Monthly Income Group

Monthly household income €	Total No’s	With great difficulty %	With some difficulty%	Without difficulty%
Less than €508	19	32	53	16
€509 - €1,016	44	18	61	21
€1,017 - €1,524	44	11	46	43
€1,525 - €2,031	30	7	50	43
€2,032 - €2,539	18	0	50	50
€2,540 - €3,047	19	0	26	74
€3,048 - €3,555	5	0	60	40
€3,556 - €4,063	6	0	50	50
More than €4,063	13	0	0	100
Not sure	7	0	14	86
Total – Nos.	205	21	93	91
Total - %	100	10	46	44

Note: In order to calculate the number at or below the statutory minimum wage level, the working week was assumed to be 39 hours per week on 52 weeks a year, i.e. [((39 x € 6.35) x 52) /12 =] € 1,073 per calendar month gross. It should further be noted that the figures reported by respondents are net of all deductions, i.e. Income Tax, PRSI, etc.

When the number of respondents in receipt of benefit is examined it is hardly surprising that so many find difficulty in making ends meet, for some 153 (68%) receive benefit and in some cases more than one type. Amongst the respondents in employment 12 receive benefits.

Respondents, although voicing some concerns about being able to cope in old age, demonstrated that they have provision in place, in the main, although the 34 (15%) who replied they did not know what provisions there were, give rise to concern.

Note: The ratio between the genders is, once again, in general terms, a reflection of the 1/3 to 2/3 male/female split of total respondents.

Table 26 – Retirement Provisions & Benefits

Eligible Retirement Provisions & Benefits	Total No’s	Male No’s	Female No’s
Old Age Contributory Pension	90	35	55
Private Pension	61	24	37
Old Age non-contributory Pension	35	8	27
Other State Payment	14	3	11
Invalidity Pension	10	3	7
Don't know	34	11	23

Note: The total exceeds 224 as some respondents will be or are in receipt of one or more type of retirement provision or benefit.

Those with LEP, in the same way as many other disabilities, have additional costs that are incurred due to their disability, in comparison to the standard population. The fact that LEP is progressive means that those costs are going to rise in the years to come. At the time of the survey, the most frequently reported items of additional expense, as shown in Table 27 below, were communications and heat and light. These accounted for nearly half regardless of income group.

Table 27 –Abstract of Additional Costs attributed to LEP

Additional Costs	Total Nos.	Total %
Personal Transport	137	18
Public Transport incl. Taxis	55	7
Telephone (excl. mobile)	139	17
Heat & Light	162	20
Clothing	132	17
Footwear	142	18
Not sure / Not stated	19	3

As can be seen from Table 27, 25% of additional costs is accounted for by transport. Under Revenue Commissioner Regulations (Vehicles for People with Disabilities – Tax Relief Scheme, VRT 7, March 2002), persons with a Primary Medical Certificate are entitled to certain concessions, i.e. 0% VRT and full VAT rebate on new cars, rebate of duty on fuel for cars etc., subject to certain criteria being met. Therefore, respondents were asked whether they had applied for or were in receipt of these concessions.

Note: A full range of additional costs, broken down by income group, is detailed in Appendix A.

Out of all the respondents, 114 (51%) had applied for the concessions. Of these, 13 (12%) applicants had been refused; 9 (4%) of these had appealed and, at the time of the survey, 6 (3%) of those had been unsuccessful with the other three being successful.

Table 28 –Applied for Tax Relief on Vehicle

Applied for Tax Relief on Vehicle?	Total No’s
Yes	114
No	67
No - I don't have a car	18
No – didn't/don't know about	17
Not stated	8

Out of all the respondents, 114 (51%) had applied for the concessions. Of these, 13 (12%) applicants had been refused; 9 (4%) of these had appealed and, at the time of the survey, 6 (3%) of those had been unsuccessful with the other three being successful.

Verbal evidence to the OT’s would suggest that, in common with other national schemes administered locally, there are discrepancies in both the application and implementation of the Primary Medical Certificate procedure. One respondent reported that, when interviewed by the Public Health Doctor for ver ification of application, it was initially refused on the grounds that the applicant could not be paralysed in both legs as he was standing. This was despite the fact that the respondent was wearing full-length callipers on both legs and was supported by auxiliary crutches and lacked reflex action in the lower limbs.

It is apparent that both the terms of reference and criteria for eligibility to the Primary Medical Certificate should be reviewed and implemented on a national basis.