Mobility query can other family members HAVE the car

pug_in_a_bed

I work in the charity sector and a lot of our service users have cars through the scheme. I have had to deal with a number of families who have, in my opinion, been abusing the system by having the car for their own use many miles away from the service users home, this has been something that's come up time and time again.

The indignation I have had to put up with when informing families that the car needs to be for the use of the disabled person has been unbelievable. There was one case where mum has the car in scarborough but her son was living in manchester and paying out for travel when the car should have been used by support workers for his benefit.

In another case, the parents informed me that they would only return it once they had been on holiday in it.

When the car is returned in good condition, there is also a £250 bonus; I'm dealing with an issue at the moment where the parents are insisting they are entitled to this money, not their disabled child.

In January a new rule came in which means all the drivers must be living within 5 miles of the disabled individual that the car is meant for; this applies for all new motability vehicles and any that are re-leased. Hopefully this will tackle the problem somewhat.

Despite these negatives, I find that when the scheme is not abused it works well for the individuals involved, its a shame some spoil it for others.

kingfisherblue

Yes, it was a new car earlier this year - I would have beenn happy to keep my previous car, though, and applied for an extension (which was granted for six months only). I believe that the idea is that a new car costs less in terms of repairs, but I would be quite happy with an older car, although I would prefer it to be a Note due to its suitablility.

I agree that many people would prefer second hand cars to be a part of the scheme, due to high costs and depreciation. It makes sense to me. All I want is a car that is reliable, suitable for my son's needs (including boot space for his wheelchair), not too greedy on petrol, and a garage fairly close by so that I can get there easily, if necessary (in my town or a nearby town). As I have said, my preference is a Note - it ticks all the boxes. I wouldn't mind if it wasn't new. Maybe the governemnt should read MSE!

kingfisherblue

Pug, I don't know how registered drivers can get away with not living near the person whom the car is for. I am glad that this loophole is being plugged - I wasn't aware that it was happening (or even that people would try it) until I saw a news report a few weeks ago. It makes sense that if the car is for a disabled person's use, the driver has to live nearby. It shouldn't just apply to new/re-leased cars, though, all current cars on the scheme should be checked (although this is probably too expensive).

pug_in_a_bed

I think its just such a massive scheme they haven't been able to reign it in without this change, I've called up and reported people but motability have been very umm and ahh as to what they can do, so hopefully the change will give them more power.

Dognobs

http://www.motability.co.uk/main.cfm?type=NI&ObjectId=2779 I still think 5 miles is alot You can travel alot in 5 miles! And how is this checked???

24skins

Second-hand cars wouldn't save any money, the cost to the taxpayer would remain the same, only motability would be left with the nightmare task of matching up clients to vehicles (when was the last time you saw a nearly-new WAV?) and the used vehicles it sells off to the general public would disappear. Motability runs at a surplus, it's clearly providing value for money.

Clients who use HRM as a travel payment - as we do - can often take advantage of subsidised bus and taxi fares and so cost the taxpayer twice, but miss the ire that is directed to motability customers as we don't have a brand new car on the driveway.

Dognobs

I don't think anybody begrudges the disabled getting cars as it is paid for out of benifit anyway. However the abuse of the system is rife, My nextdoor neighbor has one leg in his 60's. His single parent daughter works at heathrow does not live with him but has a nice new astra to drive with disabled tax, I have NEVER seen him in the car he gets picked up 3 times a week buy a bus service for clubs etc. I reported this over a year ago and nothing has happoned. And in the last few months the car now has a GB sticker on it so she is taking it to europe!

gravitytolls

My in laws did exactly this. They promised to pay MIL the money each week, which of course didn't happen. They used more than the allotted mileage allowance, burnt the interior of the driver door, and ended up not speaking the them for 18 mths when she refused to let them get another.

What did we do? Nothing, because they'd already persuaded them to sell their home and buy a mobile home for their garden, so they could 'look after them'. We had advised against signing up for it, as had other rellies, but MIL felt obliged.

You are in the same quandry, you have advised, but the brother is likely to take advantage regardless, but if you tell him it's fraudulent and he doesn't listen, then what? You could contact the authorities, but he'd figure it was you, would that cause a huge rift? Would it cause your mum such upset as to be detrimental to her health?

You see this is, I suspect, how fraud goes on, the disabled person is the one likely to suffer most, which no one wants.

sunnyone

24skins wrote: »

Second-hand cars wouldn't save any money, the cost to the taxpayer would remain the same, only motability would be left with the nightmare task of matching up clients to vehicles (when was the last time you saw a nearly-new WAV?) and the used vehicles it sells off to the general public would disappear. Motability runs at a surplus, it's clearly providing value for money.

Clients who use HRM as a travel payment - as we do - can often take advantage of subsidised bus and taxi fares and so cost the taxpayer twice, but miss the ire that is directed to motability customers as we don't have a brand new car on the driveway.

There are many nearly new WAVs available, motability sell them among others, I bought one last year as it was the only way I could afford a drive from powerchair Paravan.

FBaby

kingfisherblue wrote: »

I would be working and therefore able to pay for a car.

Maybe you would, but not every parent of a disabled child would be if their child wasn't disabled. I don't think it is fair to allocate benefits on the basis of what might be if the situation was different.

People go on about how these is little fraud going on with DLA. There might not be in terms of the rules or the enforcement, but there is plenty morally. How can anyone think is acceptable to get a brand new car just because they have a disabled parent they go and see once a fortnight, or get them a bag of shopping whilst they are shopping for themselves? It makes me sick to think that anyone could stoop so low just to get materialistic things. What happen to the notion of caring for one's family just because they are family? I dare to thing what those people's kids will be like....