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

tiamai_d

joebolton wrote: »

Pay for the taxi yourself out of the DLA.You could still work or go to Uni.

I'll do that.

Is it okay if he still goes to the expensive shcool though? I'd hate for you to think I was wasting taxpayers money.

Absolutely hate it. I wouldn't sleep at night. For really real. Honest.

joebolton

tiamai_d wrote: »

joebolton wrote: »

3 chilren to a car.

The council allocated my son a school that was able to cope with his needs and provide him with an education. In a different town. They pay the taxi fares. I'd guess the view that by doing that, they will end up with a child who will grow into a literate adult rather than be unable to read or write later in life. Then the hope is that he can work and pay back into the system. I don't have the knowledge on how to teach a child with brain damage how to read when one side of his bran is unable to process information.

He now receives high rate DLA, not for his disability but for his kidney condition which has a negative impact on his disability. It is not used to pay for a car. It may be used to pay for a car.

Even if it is, how do you propose I be in two places at once?

I did indeed make a lifestyle choice to go to Uni. I could sit at home and wallow in misery while claiming all those wonderful benefits I;d get. But I don't, I work my pretty little butt of to be educated so that when my son is older and hopefully, independant I can return to work. The tax payer does not pay for me to go to Uni, I will pay it back later on. Same as every other student.

So, how is the taxpayer paying twice?

DLA Mobility is to pay for the extra costs.The extra costs here are the transport to a school further away.

It is obviously only me that is annoyed by this.Perhaps I am in the minority

We are not going to agree here, you both have your opinions, which you feel are right, and I also feel mine is right.

24skins

joebolton wrote: »

Pay for the taxi yourself out of the DLA.You could still work or go to Uni.

You are missing the point in that we have no say in the matter. When your child is given an out of zone placement due to disability the Council School Transport Unit takes responsibility for transport and you are simply informed of the arrangements. The council has a contract with the minibus company, we have no way of contributing even if we wanted to.

I work *and* go to Uni.

joebolton

tiamai_d wrote: »

I'll do that.

Is it okay if he still goes to the expensive shcool though? I'd hate for you to think I was wasting taxpayers money.

Absolutely hate it. I wouldn't sleep at night. For really real. Honest.

Do what you feel.

Byatt

DLA mobility is not paid just for costs to going to and from school; it relates to all aspects of a person's care. You have absolutely no idea of the impact a disabled child has on a family and the DLA believe me, does not cover it. It is there to help, and in the case of a child, the parent has to make the best decisions for all concerned.

As far as a taxi is concerned, the schools certainly don't want 70-100 parents turning up at their doors, trying to get their disabled child through the door, whilst coping with physical, behavioural and emotional difficulties. Usually, these schools are out of town, some distance away and have limited parking if any.

Yes, you are annoyed and you are entitled to your opinion as anyone is, but if it annoys you so much and in view of the fact you have now made your feelings known, perhaps walk away from this thread and use your valuable time helping people elsewhere.

Tigsteroonie

joebolton wrote: »

DLA Mobility is to pay for the extra costs.The extra costs here are the transport to a school further away. These are not the only extra costs incurred by the OP, I doubt the DLA award covers her costs.

It is obviously only me that is annoyed by this.Perhaps I am in the minority

We are not going to agree here, you both have your opinions, which you feel are right, and I also feel mine is right.

You may or may not be in the minority.

However.

The OP asked a question about whether she is permitted to use a Motability car for a specific purpose, a question that is relevant to the 'Disability & Dosh' forum.

If you wish to discuss the merits of being issued a Motability car, its usage, DLA awards and what they should be used for, can I politely suggest that you should start your own thread in the Discussion Time area of this forum.

Thank you.

3onitsway

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.

That is pretty much what they told me when I phoned them to ask the same question.
The car may spend most of it's time in my works car park, but I could be called at any time to go and collect him from school. To get the bus 11 miles home, collect the car and drive 15 miles to collect him from school seems a bit ridiculous.

Talking of ridiculous......... some people do come across as bitter/angry/jealous that they weren't blessed with a special child. Honestly!! Where is the rolleseyes smiley when you need it?

joebolton wrote: »

The council tax payer !

Why is the taxpayer funding you a free car, and then having to pay again for a taxi to take him to school.

I really cannot believe this is going on.

kingfisherblue

To the poster who is annoyed at children with special needs accessing school transport:

My son has attended a special school since he was 11. He attended a mainstream primary school until then, with 1:1 support. I used to take him and collect him.

At special school, my son has transport arranged and paid for by the local authority. His particular bus has around 12 children on, plus driver and escort. None of the children are in a wheelchair full time, although some, such as my son, do use wheelchairs whent hey are out.

There are about twenty buses, including specialist wheelchair accessible buses, that transport children from all over the borough to this particular school. There are also a few taxis.

Because my son has transport to school, it means that I can get my other son to his school. They both start at the same time, but I cannot physically be in two places at once. From my disabled child's point of view, it is an opportunity to socialise with his friends - he doesn't get much chance otherwise, as it is difficult for families with disabled children to have social lives at times. It is also his chance at gaining a low level of independence from Mum - ok, so he still has the driver and escort, but to him, it is a step towards being less dependent on me.

A family near me have a disabled daughter who goes to a different special school, which caters for older teenagers. Her bus passes my window at 8am each day. This then means that both mum and dad can get to their workplaces on time - the mother works in a school for children with autism and she has to be in for 8.30, which would not be possible without school transport for her daughter.

Many children who attend special schools do not receive high rate mobility. Low rate pays about £20 a week, which would not be enough to cover the cost of taxis to school each morning and home each evening, even if the accompanying parent used a bus to get home from school in the morning and to return top school in the afternoon (so that a taxi was only used when the disabled child is actually present). From where I live, a taxi to my son's school costs about £6 - £7. Bus fares for one adult would cost 2x£2.20, as Merseytravel do not issue companion passes. Of course, there is no guarantee that the disabled child has a free bus pass, so that would be 2x£1.10 for the disabled child, on top of the adult fare. Two buses, one from my neighbourhood to the town centre, and one from the town centre to the special school. Cost: £6.60 - very similar to the cost of a taxi, but far harder work, not to mention inconvenient. Without taking into account that the parent would need to return home or go into work after taking their child to school afterwards, that is a cost of around £13 per day. At £65 a week, it just isn't affordable. I concede that there are passes available for weekly or monthly use, but it would still be very expensive. I am, in this scenario, assuming that the disabled child needs someone to travel with them - most of the children at my son's special school would be unable to use public transport without the help of a responsible adult.

In some rural areas, public transport is scaerce and may not be early enough to get children to school on time. Even in more urban areas, timing can be a problem, especially if there is more than one bus to catch. There may be a long delay between two buses, or the time between may be so short that if the first bus is held up for a few minutes, the child could miss the second bus.

Not all parents drive - I know quite a lot that don't. Not all children with disabilities receive HRM. Most do not live near the special school - they live in all areas of a town, and sometimes have to travel from a different town because of the lack of a suitable school closer to home.

School transport supports local businesses. Many small minibus companies would, IMO, cease to operate without the security of a regular contract with the council. In my area, the contracts are put to tender every three years, and the companies have to remain competitive with their prices to win the contracts - but at least it is regular work. There is also employment, albeit short hours, in the form of escorts. My son's escort combines her job with another - that of lunchtime supervisor at her own child's school.

There are many reasons why transport to a special school is necessary. I'm sure that there are more than I have listed, but it is late and I am tired and cannot think clearly any more. Time for me to go to bed, I think

Denny_Crane

joebolton wrote: »

The council tax payer !

Why is the taxpayer funding you a free car, and then having to pay again for a taxi to take him to school.

I really cannot believe this is going on.

"Sigh"
Here we go again. yet another"daily mail" type reader who, does not understand how the Motability LEASE scheme works before spouting off.

The car is NOT free, its costs the Disabled person £200 a month Just like any other lease scheme, plus in many cases, a non returnable deposit at the start of the three year lease which is NEVER returned and after three years the disabled person (or their familiy in the case of a child) has to find the deposit once again.

It is a Lease schme in the same way as any other car lease scheme works (with the exception of no residual value in the car) such as Peugeots "Just add fuel" scheme but is taylored to disabnled people as insurance for example, is difficult to get for them and certainly impossible for adapted cars.

Of course you can use your sons disability car for your Uni visits, the same as any other person with a disabled child can use the car for work, as long as its for the benefit of the child and as you have already said on the way to and from uni you take the child to pre school, plus you need to be able to reach the child in case of emergency.

DO NOT let these sourpusses get you down, do NOT feel as if you have to explain or justify yourselves to people who do not understand the problems and hard work it is to look after a disabled child.

Soapn

If you've been provided with a car from mobility BECAUSE of a person's disability, then that car should be used to take the person to school(it's detailed on another thread)