Unite driver care a waste of time

Photoz

Hello

I was a bus driver and joined Unite the union over 7 years ago i was given a basic form by my union rep to tick i wanted to join, now included in this was driver care cover which i was told that in the event of me ever loosing my job and licence due to ill health i would be covered. The worst happened as in Nov 11 i had my PSV taken off my licence by the d.v.l.a due to a heart condition and as a result i lost my job right on Christmas to which i though i would be ok just a few forms to fill in and i am covered well thats what i thought. After waiting for a reply for 6 months i was sent a letter stating that there is a waiting period of up to 2 years before they will even consider paying out and i should try and get my licence back after 12 months what a joke as my doctor has informed them that i would not be able to pass any treadmill test required for the dvla to issue me with the psv again. When i joined i was not made aware of any clauses in the policy as i was just told to sign the form and union rep would do the rest. Can anyone offer any advice as i am struggling to find work due to my heart condition as i have been on numerous interviews but once they hear about my health problems i get nothing back. Thanks

Quentin

Check the policy wording for the driver care cover you have, and see if they are sticking to the conditions - if not raise a complaint.

Photoz

all sorts of conditions need to be covered that i was not made aware of at the time of joining been paying into the scheme for over 7 years and at the higher rate as well. A friend of mine also had trouble getting a payout he fought for over 2 years and still didnt get the full amount. I wouldn't of joined if i knew all these needed to be covered
Conditions

Basis of scheme
Qualifying period
Pre-existing condition
Duty to inform DVLA
Waiting period
Use of licence within 12 months requirement
Not using licence
Licence expiry
Voluntary surrender of licence
Age limit
Death
Contributions
Licence types


1. Basis of scheme

The purpose of the scheme is to provide loss of licence cover to members who lose their means of livelihood as a result of having their professional driving licence permanently revoked for medical reasons. To ensure the scheme meets this objective a number of rules are incorporated to prevent the scheme having to bear the cost of meeting claims which do not fall into that definition.

2. Qualifying period

Members are required to have been in membership and paid subscription for 39 weeks before becoming eligible for loss of licence benefit.

3. Pre-existing condition

Members will not be eligible for benefit if the condition that leads to the revocation first arose before joining the scheme. (This limit does not apply to members of the distress scheme prior to July 1997.)

4. Duty to inform DVLA

All drivers are under a duty to inform the DVLA of any change in their health that may affect their ability to drive safely. This applies whether or not the condition is believed to be temporary and whether or not the member's employment has been terminated by the employer on the grounds of ill health. Failure to notify the DVLA may well result in scheme conditions not being met and a claim therefore being unsuccessful.

5. Waiting period

If the DVLA medical guidelines permit re-application after further treatment of the condition, or a period of recovery, a waiting period is applied to the claim. The claim will be reconsidered at the end of the waiting period or if additional medical evidence becomes available that the condition is permanent. The period is determined by reference to the DVLA medical guidelines and is a maximum of 24 months.

The revocation letter from the DVLA may not always indicate a re-application may be made and, unfortunately, GPs may not always be fully conversant with the guidelines. However, the DVLA guidelines are the sole determinant of whether a waiting period will be applied.

6. Use of licence within 12 months requirement

Benefit cannot be paid if the member has not driven professionally for more than 12 months before the date of the revocation. However, if the DVLA has been informed of the change of health in the 12 month period and has advised that it does not intend to revoke the licence at that time, then the claim will be considered if the licence is subsequently permanently revoked.
The 12 month rule applies whether or not the condition and therefore the revocation was originally assessed as permanent or temporary. Members should not avoid informing the DVLA on the basis that their condition is temporary because if it subsequently proves to be permanent this cannot be accepted as a waiver of the 12 month rule.

7. Not using licence

The benefit is provided for members who are actively using their licence in the course of earning their livelihood. There is no entitlement to benefit if the member was not using the licence in a professional capacity prior to the revocation or the manifestation of the medical condition that caused the revocation.

8. Licence expiry

If a licence expires during a period of ill health the member is required to notify the DVLA in the normal way. As in condition 6 above, the 12 month rule cannot be waived on the basis of the initial view that the condition is temporary and that notification was not necessary at that time.

9. Voluntary surrender of licence

The scheme cannot meet a claim based upon the surrender of a vocational entitlement. It is necessary for the DVLA to issue a notice of revocation or refusal on medical grounds.

10. Age limit

Benefit is not payable if the revocation or refusal takes effect after the member's 60th birthday. Personal Accident and Assault benefit is available up to age 65.

11. Death

Benefit is only available on permanent loss of licence. It is not available where a member dies before revocation or refusal has been notified. The scheme is designed to provide assistance in circumstances of loss of livelihood not covered by other products such as life assurance etc.

12. Contributions

In order to preserve eligibility to benefit it is essential that members maintain contributions whilst a claim is being assessed and also during any waiting period.

13. Licence types

The scheme covers holders of PCV, LGV and ordinary licences issued by the DVLA. Licensed Hackney Cab and Tram Licences issued by local authorities are also covered. Members must register the type of licence(s) held when joining the scheme.

Remember, the details on this page are for guidance only:--to me that sounds as if above is only a guide they use as they see fit and can change the rules at any time