Hi,

I have to admit I feel like I'm being a real scrounger for even asking this question... but I'm really in a pickle... so please don't judge me for being an expat trying to milk the system...

I'm EU, B Permit and I've been here since July 2009. Been unable to work since November 2009 due to mental health issues (I wish I knew what, they keep changing the diagnosis on me!).

I get social aid (revenue d'insertion), they pay my rent, give me money for living costs and pay my health insurance. It's fantastic and I know it's fantastic and that I'm very fortunate.

But...

I wear glasses. I have very poor eye sight and I have a problem with the muscles in the corners of my eyes which causes double vision. To correct this, I have to have special prisms in my lenses. Plus I have to have the 'thin' lenses because otherwise they would just be too thick (as it is the edge of the lenses are 1 cm thick, with thin lenses and small frames). All this is expensive. Plus I have to have my eyes checked every year because my vision deteriorates so rapidly.

So last March, when I'd just got out of hospital, I went to the opticians and got my eyes checked and got some new glasses. Insurance paid something per lens - about 100 fr, Social services paid something else per lens - about 250 fr - and my parents paid the rest (I think about 500 fr).

A year later, and I need a new eye test. Haven't been yet because I know I won't be able to afford to pay for new glasses... and I've been wearing glasses for 13 years and I've NEVER not had a change in my prescription. So I'm not holding out high hopes that my vision will suddenly have stabilised.

What do I do? Insurance won't pay anything for another 2 years, even if Social Aid give me the same as before, it won't cover the costs. I haven't got any savings - Social Aid are generous, but they're not THAT generous...

Any ideas? As I said at the start, I don't want to scrounge... and I've been given an awful lot as it is... but I need my glasses to live a normal life. And I can't afford to pay for them!

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Edited to add:

Just to clarify, I haven't spoken to my social worker about this yet. I feel bad because I'm already trying to fight the bizarre rule that says 'You were in hospital last month so this month we will only give you a third of the usual amount for living costs...' Even though the hospital sent me home every weekend at generally 2 days during the week so I didn't get 'institutionalised'. I'm hoping that I can find another solution so I don't have to say 'And also... I need more money for glasses'.

I would contact the person who is responsible for all the things you are getting covered, ie the rent, the monthly chunk of cash you get to live on, and ask what is one to do if you need a new pair of glasses and insurance is not paying, there must be a clause for that situation...

You might be stressing too early, though. For that test, you go to an eye doc, that is covered by insurance, no? It's only the glasses you have to pay. So, have your eyes checked, then decide. If you will have glasses done here or a trip to UK is needed.

If the system does not allow you to get a new pair of glasses, and you really need them, you are without an income here, really, maybe you could think if it wouldn't be better to be back in the UK for you? Are glasses so expensive there too? Could you get some kind of income there? Some little job?

No matter what, good luck, I have an eye condition that is pretty freaky and horribly expensive, too. I see you on Wedn 23rd, I'll keep the tread updated.