Mother's fight for mobility help

Madison's mother says special cases should be given allowances

A Flintshire mother is fighting for the right to have a mobility allowance to help her care for her sick toddler.

Rebecca Hayward, from Hope, says she needs help getting 16-month-old Madison to hospital for treatment for a rare illness which causes deformed limbs.

The Department for Work and Pensions said children did not qualify for such allowances until three years old, which was a "sensible dividing line".

But her fight has been taken up by Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami.

He said Madison deserved "compassion" from the state.

Mr Tami has written to John Hutton, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, asking for the current guidelines to be changed for certain cases.

Madison was born with Disorganisation-like Syndrome, a rare illness which causes deformed limbs and organs.

Life is awful when you know you can not just step outside and take her somewhere in the car Rebecca Hayward

She was born with one kidney, a defective heart and a disfigured right leg - which is due to be amputated in September.

Her mother, Rebecca, 38, claims disability living allowance, but said she is not yet entitled to the mobility component - which would enable her to lease a car - because of Madison's age.

Ms Hayward, a single mother, said: "There should be a change in the rules to cater for individual cases.

'Awful'

"Yes, Madison is under three years old. But I have known since she was six months old that she would be losing her right leg at some point.

"She is going to be severely disabled and I need a car to take her to hospital for appointments. I have had to hire a car for the last eight weeks to get her back and forth.

"Madison is a wonderful child, always smiling, but life is awful when you know you can not just step outside and take her somewhere in the car.

Mark Tami said Madison deserves some "compassion"

"I can not understand why we have to wait until she is three, when it is very obvious she is a serious case now."

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: "Entitlement to the higher rate mobility component is primarily based on an inability, or virtual inability, to walk.

"It is the view of our medical advisors that whilst most children will be able to walk by the age of two-and-a-half, many will be unable to walk any significant distance until age four. "We believe that by age three, the extra costs associated with disability become more significant and represents a sensible and generous dividing line.

"The care component of disability living allowance remains available to severely disabled children from the age of three months."

MP Mr Tami said: "To qualify for the mobility component a child has to reach three years of age, yet in Madison's case it is clear she would be severely disabled upon reaching her third birthday.

"I am demanding that alterations are introduced that enable certain cases to bypass technicalities in the system.

"Madison is a lovely child who deserves the compassion and help of the state."