One woman said she felt “angry and frustrated” in her fight to get transport funding for her brother, who has special educational needs.
Ben Miller, 19, has Smith-Magenis syndrome and has been given the right to be transferred to an educational facility in Leeds.
But his move to a care home in Wakefield sparked confusion over which council would pay for it.
Leeds City Council said it had reconsidered the application and confirmed that Mr Miller would receive transport assistance, as well as reimbursing him for his travel costs to and from the university since the start of term.
Mr Miller was born in Leeds and has chromosome 17 deletion, also known as Smith-Magennis syndrome.
His sister Vicky said this meant behavioral problems, problems sleeping and eating, and global developmental delays that affected his language and physical health.
She described him as a “funny, witty and good-natured young man”.
He lived with his mother, attended a technical school in Leeds, and had his taxi fare covered by the city.
Ben Miller suffers from ‘Smith-Magenis syndrome’ and his family said there was confusion over which council would pay for his transport to university. [BBC]
Miller’s mother was in the hospital for several months last year, and her sisters secured her a home in an assisted living facility in Wakefield.
Leeds City Council continued to pay for Mr Miller’s taxi rides from Wakefield to school until July, when he transferred to university.
However, while attending university, his transportation was suspended due to confusion over his home address.
Miller said it has had a big impact on her brother’s quality of life.
She said he needed a lot of care and they were spending all of his weekly personal finances on taxis to university.
She said it meant he couldn’t go out and “experience life.”
“With no means of transportation, all his money is spent on taxi fares.
“He wants to go out and go to the United shop and buy a United shirt, go bowling, go to the pub on Thursday quiz night and learn important life skills. I had to quit that to go to college.”
Mr Miller said it left them feeling “angry and frustrated”.
“So many families are facing, or will face, many challenges in providing their young people with the transportation they need to receive an education.”
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said after the incident was brought to their attention, a review of their records revealed that the application for transport support had been awarded Wakefield Housing Benefit, but not supported accommodation. He said that there was no mention of it.
“The application was therefore assessed on the basis that Ben is a resident of Wakefield and as a result his request for assistance was refused. Ben and his family have no doubts about our decision. I did not file an appeal or file an appeal.
“Having received information that Ben’s family home is actually in Leeds, we are pleased to have reconsidered his application and confirmed that he will be eligible for transport support.”
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