Mobility Car Rules - is this genuine?

vickiec70

Hi anyone out there who can answer this question...

My question is 'Is there a hole in the benefits system?'

The situation is...

11 year old boy able bodied, socialises well with Asberger's syndrome, receives DLA and qualifies for getting a car on mobility because he needs driving to school, clubs etc.
Mother has Lupus and arthritis, receives DLA and qualifies for a mobility car.
Father, fully able bodied, no disabilities, works full time.

So, boy has car that mother drives, mothers car is driven soley by father to go to work etc. Can this be right? Is there a hole in the benefits system that allows a family to have 2 mobility cars when 1 of the recipents is only 11 years old? Or can this only be done if there is 'underhandedness' going on?

Thanks

From angry/bewildered tax payer who sees able bodied father using mobility car inappropriately or am I bitter!

mspig

I do know that you are not allowed to use a mobility car for a partner to go to and from work, it has to be used to help the disabled person, or something that will help them or be for them.

Also we were told that as my son(5) has ASD and had mobility problems we would have to wait to see if we qualified for higher rate mobility before we would be allowed a mobility car, we can't get one for the care part of DLA or the lower rate of mobility.

calleyw

As mspig has said it it only to be used for the disable person. And not for husband/wife to use for jollies like going off tyo work.

But if they where taking the person who the DLA is for to the Dr's, shopping etc then it should be ok.


Yours


Calley

chopperharris

I dont think that would slip through the net.

If (a) gets a mobility vehicle for (c) sons needs then a/b wouldnt get the 2nd household vehicle in theory....but they would still get the money anyway ie high rate mobility component.

If (a) has care needs themselves at 35 hours or more a week and claiming for it , yet is looking after autistic son when husband is at work whom is supplying (a) care?

If husband is "working" then no doubt that might be dodgy too.

But as posters have already said if father is driving to work with a mobility car assigned to another persons needs then he is doing so illegally.Two accounts of fraud really , because no doubt the road fund licence is also disabled class....these kinds of fraud will be treated harshly when found out.

Unfortunately theres no real detection in benefit fraud investigation , its almost always luck and being reported by someone thats peeved.

Titch89

I thought they only got the mobility car once they reached 16, providing that they meet the rules (medical condition, eye sight requirements, etc) for driving?

Conor_3

vickiec70 wrote: »

Hi anyone out there who can answer this question...

My question is 'Is there a hole in the benefits system?'

The situation is...

11 year old boy able bodied, socialises well with Asberger's syndrome, receives DLA and qualifies for getting a car on mobility because he needs driving to school, clubs etc.
Mother has Lupus and arthritis, receives DLA and qualifies for a mobility car.
Father, fully able bodied, no disabilities, works full time.

So, boy has car that mother drives, mothers car is driven soley by father to go to work etc. Can this be right? Is there a hole in the benefits system that allows a family to have 2 mobility cars when 1 of the recipents is only 11 years old? Or can this only be done if there is 'underhandedness' going on?

Thanks

From angry/bewildered tax payer who sees able bodied father using mobility car inappropriately or am I bitter!

For a start:
1) The cars are awarded under the Motability scheme. Motability IS A CHARITY. It has nothing to do with the DSS.
2) In order to get those cars, they have to hand over ALL of the mobility portion of their DLA award.

In short, its basically the same as leasing a car but you pay for it by handing over your DLA award and the charity only charge that amount per month.
This means that a car on mobility can be used as the people you're complaining about are perfectly legally.

The only thing you have a valid complaint about is the use of Disabled class taxation on one of the vehicles as its being used for other purposes.

Conor_3

Titch89 wrote: »

I thought they only got the mobility car once they reached 16, providing that they meet the rules (medical condition, eye sight requirements, etc) for driving?

No. My SIL has a car on mobility for her son who is the recipient of the DLA award. He's 12 and she's had it since he was 9.

calleyw

Titch89 wrote: »

I thought they only got the mobility car once they reached 16, providing that they meet the rules (medical condition, eye sight requirements, etc) for driving?

Found this here

Is there an age restriction on the contract hire scheme? The DWP can award the HRDLA to the ages of 3 - 65. You need to be in receipt of the HRDLA before your 65th Birthday to be able to apply for a car on the Motability scheme. For under 16's the permitted drivers named on the Certificate of Motor Insurance are the only ones allowed to drive the car. You can select up to two drivers, one of whom may be yourself, this does not apply to anyone under the age of 16. Only one permitted driver can be under the age of 21, and drivers under the age of 25 are restricted to cars up to the Association of British Insurers Car group 8.

Conor_3

calleyw wrote: »

As mspig has said it it only to be used for the disable person.

Is wrong. The car can be used for anyone. The only thing that can't is the tax disc.

tigtag02

Titch89 wrote: »

I thought they only got the mobility car once they reached 16, providing that they meet the rules (medical condition, eye sight requirements, etc) for driving?

Nope, Conor is right and the above is not the case at all.

calleyw

Conor wrote: »

This means that a car on mobility can be used as the people you're complaining about are perfectly legally.

The only thing you have a valid complaint about is the use of Disabled class taxation on one of the vehicles as its being used for other purposes.

But as most mobility cars will have the disabled road tax if they do in this case then what they are doing is in the wrong.

Sorry I should have made there clearer.

Fancy a new car maybe I should husband to cough up his higher rate Mobility DLA and not get the disabled class taxation

Then I can drive it too and from work :j

Yours


Calley