disability and road tax.

sheilavw

New to this but here goes. My Mum is now in a permanent care home (since April) with latish stage alzheimers. Her mobility is extremely poor, some days cannot walk, on occasion supported between 2 carers she can shuffle a little then just wobbles on the spot. We can no longer transfer her from her wheelchair to my car, she doesnt understand how to get in. We made a decision to purchase a 2nd hand adapted vehicle so we can just push chair on and get her out of the home etc. We have put a deposit on a fiat doblo today. The seller specialised in selling these mobility return vehicles. He gave me a number to ring and said I may qualify for free road tax . Never heard of anything like this before. Is it worth giving them a ring. My mums attendance allowance stopped . She gets pension and occupational pension most of which goes towards her care. Any info anyone? Cheers

mynameistallulah

I don't believe you will qualify, but her is the criteria for you to check:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/disabledpeople/motoringandtransport/yourvehicleandlicence/dg_10028003

[Deleted User]

no she wont qualify sorry

loonywitch

You have to be in receipt of Disability Living Allowance for the road tax element...I think! Attendance Allowance is for help in the home, not for mobility issues, this is why your mother would not be automatically entitled to a blue badge and would have to apply on a discretionary basis. Though I do not understand why they have to separate benefits depending on age! A person over the age of 65 still likes to socialise and leave the house...it's good for their mental health!

Even though your mother doesn't have auto entitlement to a blue badge, you should apply for one on a discretionary basis because she will meet the criteria and this will at least provide you with some benefit when you take her out.

nannytone_2

the reason that there is no mobility componant with AA isnt because elderly people are expected to stay home and not socialise!

it is because deteriorating mobility is a natural part of the aging process and not a disability/illness.

if it was paid to all elderly people that werent as good on their feet as they used to be ... well nearly every pensioner would qualify

loonywitch

nannytone wrote: »

the reason that there is no mobility componant with AA isnt because elderly people are expected to stay home and not socialise!

it is because deteriorating mobility is a natural part of the aging process and not a disability/illness.

if it was paid to all elderly people that werent as good on their feet as they used to be ... well nearly every pensioner would qualify

I understand what you're saying but the government can still the bill for those who have no savings/low income after that age anyway. Should a person with a disability mental or physical request a community care assessment, it will look at social aspect of their life as not being able to socialise can affect their mental wellbeing. Many LAs have day centres which include transport which some people attend 5 days a week. The least they could do is to include AA Higher rate in he automatic criteria for a blue badge. This can assist the people who are willing to take them

sheilavw

Thanks everyone. Wont bother ringing that number. I went today, even trying to get her to stand to get her in the wheelchair was difficult, she just leans back. Ive applied online for the parking badge. If we don't get one we don't. At least having this vehicle we can take her out for a bit.

Richie-from-the-Boro

sheilavw wrote: »

Thanks everyone. Wont bother ringing that number. I went today, even trying to get her to stand to get her in the wheelchair was difficult, she just leans back. Ive applied online for the parking badge. If we don't get one we don't. At least having this vehicle we can take her out for a bit.

- a BB application and the award of a BB is independent of DLA
- DLAHRM is a passport [ makes it quick & easy ] to a Blue Badge, but a BB can be awarded by a LA without DLA

Best of luck sheil