DWP owes Motability

stoob_2

Little background info -

Wife is on DLA HRM. she had a motability car.
Reassessed for DLA 19 Dec 2011.
DLA HRM taken away 20th Feb 2012.
Appealed ....
Motability collected car 27th March.
Won appeal .... HRM reinstated.
Ordered new motability car 5th May 2012 - order failed.

After many many hours on the phone to DLA and Motability, shee cant order a car until the arrears are paid. "Huh?" I said.
It transpires the DWP owes Motability arrears for the period between when her award was taken away and when the car was taken away. Ive been told by DWP that the arrears 'might' be paid 31st May as they only pay Motability once a month.

My question is, where does she stand? Is there anyway to hurry DWP up? Shes 100% housebound without transport, cant attend her doctors, or upcoming spinal surgery. At best, shes looking at Mid september (based on quoted 12 week car delivery time) so means she would not have left the house for just short of 6 months..

Thanks for any help.

DomRavioli

Unfortunately, there's not much you can do.

If she is on a means tested benefit (income based ESA), or on a severely low income, she could apply for a HC2 (help with health costs) and get transport to and from any hospital appointments paid for her. Otherwise, just grin and bear it, or buy a car yourself?

stoob_2

I would love to buy a car myself. Unfortunately my wife is unable to work due to being disabled to the point of being virtually chairbound, and even me doing 60+ hours a week, my income barely covers mortgage/household bills ...

But thanks for your reply..

kingfisherblue

Not all cars are a 12 week wait - it depends on what you want. Twice I have had a Nissan Note from Mobility and because I wasn't worried about anything extra, I was able to have both cars from stock. In both cases, I gave a preference on colour, but was willing to be flexible and have a second choice of colour. Last year it took just a week to get the car.

I know that some people need adaptations or larger cars, but if this isn't necessary, I would recommend a Note. It isn't too low or too high to get into and out of. It drives beautifully and has good visibility when driving. I can fit my son's wheelchair inot the boot easily, and still have room for shopping. Mine is the Tekna model, so it comes with a few extras and isn't the basic model. The rear windows are tinted, there is a built in Sat Nav, and there is plenty of storage.

You might find it helpful to look around all local dealerships and see what they can offer that is suitable and that can be deleiverred relatively quickly - ask what is available from stock. I found Citroen to have the longest waiting list last year - I was quoted eight months for a Picasso :eek:

In the meantime, presumably your wife will receive her HRM payment until her car is available - can you use this for taxis? I know it wouldn't be enough to get out and about every day, but at least she wouldn't be totally housebound.

Wicked_witch

I don't see anything in the post suggesting that the arrears were repaid to the OP.

Little_Mo_70

nogginhead wrote: »

If someone appeals against a decision and that decision is overturned at a Tribunal it is as the original decision has been changed.

Consequently if you read the OP's comments, they would have had the HRM backdated to Feb. In which case they have had the money and the use of the car.

Motability want the money that the OP has had - only fair!

Why should the DWP pay it out again?

I don't think the OP's wife has had any money.

DWP HRM payments to Motability stopped on 20th Feb as OP's wife failed DLA assessment. Therefore no payment made (to anyone)

As OP's wife subsequently (well done) won her appeal, the backdated payment is now owing, by DWP, to Motability. Until that payment is made her order for motability car is on hold. This is the essence of OP's posting.

Unfortunately DWP seems never in a hurry to make a payment, no matter how urgent the need, and it's nigh on impossible to speed things up.

On the brighter side, it's only 3 weeks away (if they pay up on time) Fingers crossed Stoob and Mrs Stoob:)

Little_Mo_70

Just a thought Stoob, and something that Kingfisherblue has already mentioned, the way round lengthy wait for car would be to order one with much shorter waiting time. Surely this would help your wife's situation somewhat?
Mo

stoob_2

nogginhead wrote: »

I'm confused over this. Why should the DWP pay twice for the same period?

HRM was refused as from the 20th Feb. HRM was reinstated at a later date and all of the arrears back to the 20th Feb were paid to the claimant!
Out of those arrears the claimant should pay for the car until the 27th March as they had the use of it and had the HRM to pay for it.

Asking the DWP to pay again is a little rich!

As stated, her HRM was stopped on 20 feb. Yes we had use of the car until the 27th March, but only because that was the date motability gave us for collection....
Oh another error of assumption in your post.....
HRM HAS been reinstated. No, NO ARREARS HAVE BEEN PAID TO THE CLAIMANT.

Consequently if you read the OP's comments, they would have had the HRM backdated to Feb. In which case they have had the money and the use of the car.

again ... my wife has not received ANY money

Motability want the money that the OP has had - only fair!

again ... my wife has not received ANY money.....

My wife has not received a penny since the 20th feb. As i stated in my original post, DWP will pay the arrears for the time we had the car after her award ended, and yes, those arrears will be coming out of her HRM payments backdated to the 20th Feb that she is yet to receive.....

...oh and just to clarify, my wife has NOT received any backdated money...

stoob_2

Little_Mo_70 wrote: »

I don't think the OP's wife has had any money.

DWP HRM payments to Motability stopped on 20th Feb as OP's wife failed DLA assessment. Therefore no payment made (to anyone)

As OP's wife subsequently (well done) won her appeal, the backdated payment is now owing, by DWP, to Motability. Until that payment is made her order for motability car is on hold. This is the essence of OP's posting.

Absolutely spot on. Wish I had worded it that way lol

stoob_2

Result.

Rand DWP today as the remaining owed HRM (minus motability's arrears) shoulda been in bank on the 3rd May. Was told "oops, seems like someone forgot to process your payment, were very sorry"
Was put on hold then spoke to a very helpful woman, explained the situation. She processed the owed HRM and also added the motability arrears, so now we pay motability the arrears directly ourselves now. She said this was so we didnt have to wait till 31st May. Fingers crossed :T

kurgon

Well done and good luck. In relation to ordering the car, I have found that quite a few people ar prepared to order it if you pay the £500 deposit, and wait until all the paperwork comes through. This has been the case with half the dealers I have seen so far, so may also be worth talking to htem about this possibility?