Motability - Can I use my 'sons' car to go to Uni?

tiamai_d

My son (6 years) is now in receipt of high rate mobility DLA and we are thinking of getting a larger car from motability. BUT, I'm confused. I use my car to get to and from Uni as well as the shopping, school runs, days out, hospital trips, going to the shop and what not.

So how does that work with a motability car that is for a 6 year old child? Obviously he will not be in the car all the time with me, since he has school and is usually in bed by 7pm.

Or does it not matter since he's not old enough to drive anyway?

GlasweJen

The car should be used for things that will directly benefit your son. How will he be getting to and from school while his car is at your university?

I've heard parents say that using the car for work benefits the child as without the car the household income would decrease but university is stretching it a bit IMO.

Ziggazee

The DLA Customer doesn't have to be in the vehicle, but the vehicle must be used for the "benefit" of the disabled person at all times.

tiamai_d

He goes to and from school by taxi. School run for me is the before/after school club.

So, if he does end up wheelchair bound 24/7 and requires an adapted car, I'd have to run 2 cars? One for him (drop him off then back home to swap cars) and one for me?

tiamai_d

Is the asda shopping of benefit to the customer? Only if I buy him biscuits probably.

GlasweJen

You're best writing to motability and asking them about it, I say writing as a written reply would be valuable if you're ever called in for an investigation.

At all times you should remember that the car is not your car, or a family car but your sons car, your sons transport needs should be met by the car and if you being at university hinders your sons mobility needs then using the car for university is not suitable. If you are required to be "on call" for your son (more than the parent of a non disabled child would be) then it may be arguable that it benefits your son as it allows you to get to him quickly.

ETA of course Asda is benefitting him, unless you starve him lol!

Richie-from-the-Boro

tiamai_d wrote: »

My son (6 years) is now in receipt of high rate mobility DLA and we are thinking of getting a larger car from motability. BUT, I'm confused. I use my car to get to and from Uni as well as the shopping, school runs, days out, hospital trips, going to the shop and what not.

So how does that work with a motability car that is for a 6 year old child? Obviously he will not be in the car all the time with me, since he has school and is usually in bed by 7pm.

Or does it not matter since he's not old enough to drive anyway?

- ask motability in the case of Motability, or :
- the DLA in the case of a disabled tax disk, and :
- get it in writing if you can

You see both Motability use and the Blue Badge systems rules are being considerably tightened in this 2012 year. The real issue for you is if for example you had an accident or God forbid a serious and costly accident and were at the time using the car inappropriately such that in those conditions your insurance was invalid .. .. .. you might wish you had checked first !

.Q. who pays for the school run ?

tiamai_d

Which school run? To breakfast club - I do. Breakfast club to school and back again (special needs support unit) the council pay for that since there is no school local that can provide him with the extra help and support he needs. Also, he has an older brother at the local school and I can't be in two places at once.

Blue badge is clear, only for when he is in the vehicle. Realistically I don't think its worth applying for it anyway. There is plenty of parking available at his usual 'haunts'.

carerof3

When my son first went to residential school (aged 7), we already had a car from motability. Obviously while he was away, for six weeks at a time, I wasn't always using the car for him and my other son was LRM. They said I could keep the car, as I had to drive him to and from school at start & end of term (60 miles away) and during the holidays. I had to pay for the Tax Disc though, as the rules for that were less lenient and I wasn't actually using the car for him. I couldn't say I was shopping for him, if he wasn't here.
Having said that, he is now 21, so this was some time ago and the rules may have changed! When he went to 52 week care locally, so they would have said I could catch a bus, I bought a car and used the HRM to help pay for and maintain it.

tiamai_d

When I asked on the phone they weren't that fussed. So long as I was dropping him off and collecting him from childcare on my route they can't see an issue.

24skins

tiamai_d wrote: »

When I asked on the phone they weren't that fussed. So long as I was dropping him off and collecting him from childcare on my route they can't see an issue.

I've always wondered about this too - I don't actually drive so it's a moot point, but if i did get a Motability car in behalf of my son, would I have to have a separate car/take the bus to work while he's at school? Also, my son goes to his dad's one night every two weeks - would I have to hand the car over with him? His dad is a bankrupt gambling addict who doesn't pay maintenance so I'd take issue with him having the car at all, but then that might not be my decision to make.