Jealousy of Motability car

Indie_Kid

nannytone wrote: »

disability envy is quite widespread.
its funny though ...
people only want the 'perks ( trading MONEY for a car... so not 'free' or queue jumping at theme parks)
theyre not so keen on adopting the recipients disability though!
theres very few positives in being blind ... but allowing my grandbabies to queue jump at alton towers is very satisfying

I've noticed this too. They moan about all the money we get, how we don't have to work, etc. But they don't want the disability and all the rubbish that comes with it. Probably not helped by some trolls boasting about how much money they get.

SandraScarlett

nannytone wrote: »

hope youre getting on an even keel Sabdra ... i can only imagine who difficult the past few weeks have been for you and your husband.
quiye probably harder for you than him hopefully.
my thoughts are with you and i sincerely wish you all the best

Thank you for your kind words, nanny. Fortunately for him, my husband doesn't really understand where he is, why he's there or what's wrong with him. Sometimes he knows me, sometimes he doesn't, and coherent conversations are a thing of the past.


But - every time I visit him, which is most days, he's wearing clean clothes, he's bathed and shaved regularly, the food is wholesome, and the staff are kindness itself.


It's difficult, after nearly 50 years together, but I have to believe I've done the right thing. Thank you once again for your kind message.


xx

kittykat17

Although people know about my health & mobility problems I don't tell anybody anything. Only my close family and one friend know that I get PIP and I know none of them will 'talk'. I don't see why anybody should know my business or where my money or car come from. I work so I get extra money through WTC but so do most of my friends. If I decide to get a motability car who's to say it's not leased? Unless people are so petty and nosy they start looking at the tax disc or looking it up on the internet then nobody need know. As others have said, if they're jealous then they can all my 'benefits', etc but in return they can give me their health and have my health and mobility problems in return. I just don't understand how or why people are so jealous of people who have a little 'extra' to help them to live as 'normal' and independant lives as possible.

Yorksport

This is certainly a contentious scheme and whilst I can see why it was started, I think the provision of cars should be abandoned and benefits paid in cash where there is a valid claim. It will then be up to the claimant what they spend it on. What irks the taxpayer is the fact that motability claimants receive a brand new car every 3 years when the majority of taxpayers can never afford one. Whilst they do technically 'pay' for it by foregoing cash benefits, the amount they forego is a good deal less than any other individual would need to pay for a similar lease (road tax and insurance included). I wonder too why is there such a wide choice and why the cars are not marked as disability cars as they used to be.

Mojisola

Yorksport wrote: »

why the cars are not marked as disability cars as they used to be.

Perhaps we could make disabled benefit recipients wear a badge on their clothes as well so everyone would know who they are.

kingfisherblue

Yorksport wrote: »

This is certainly a contentious scheme and whilst I can see why it was started, I think the provision of cars should be abandoned and benefits paid in cash where there is a valid claim. It will then be up to the claimant what they spend it on. What irks the taxpayer is the fact that motability claimants receive a brand new car every 3 years when the majority of taxpayers can never afford one. Whilst they do technically 'pay' for it by foregoing cash benefits, the amount they forego is a good deal less than any other individual would need to pay for a similar lease (road tax and insurance included). I wonder too why is there such a wide choice and why the cars are not marked as disability cars as they used to be.

The cars are leased and can be sold afterwards, so there is some money going back into the scheme, in addition to the benefit money paid. Also, you seem to think that disabled people are not taxpayers - many are, and would not be able to access work without a suitable vehicle. Many disabled people pay for adaptations to cars themselves, just so that they can be mobile. I know of two disabled gentlemen who live within 500 yards of me (in opposite directions) who have difficulty in walking, but with their cars they are able to work. Public transport would be too far for one of them to access, although the other does live opposite a bus stop. Having said that, buses are not exactly in abundance here - on Sundays, they only start running after 2pm, and this man works in the next town (two bus rides away) in a large store that opens seven days a week. Without his car, he could not get to work.


New cars are provided as they tend to be very reliable, cost little or nothing in repairs, and don't need an MOT. As a parent of a severely disabled child, I would find a breakdown very stressful, and would have to deal with my son's needs as well as dealing with anything to do with the breakdown.


The choice is wide because we all have different needs. In my case, we needed a car that was suitable to carry myself and my three children, with space for a wheelchair in the boot. It had to be easy to lift the wheelchair in and out of the car, as I have a damaged shoulder caused by my caring responsibilities (and no, I don't claim any disability allowances for this, nor do I intend to - it affects my life, but I do not consider it a disability). I also needed enough boot space to carry shopping and the items for my son's daily needs, such as nappies, suitable foods, changes of clothes, etc. A low down car isn't suitable for my son as he struggles to get in and out of cars that are too low. Getting out is a particular problem as he cannot pull himself up without help.


I chose a Nissan Note as our first mobility car, as it fitted in with our family requirements. In addition, I had decided to only consider a car from a dealership that had a branch in our town, so that I could catch a bus or walk to it if necessary.


Our second car was also a Nissan Note. Earlier this year, we needed to decide on our third car on the scheme. My children are now older and bigger. My son is now in an adult wheelchair rather than a children's chair. He still has the requirements that he had before, but the Note was getting too small. It's a great car, but narrow. Two adults sitting in the front seats meant that it was difficult to move the gear stick as space is limited.


I looked at all the dealerships and listened to their recommendations, but returned to Nissan and ordered a Qashqai. I paid an advance payment to upgrade the car to a better model that suits my son's needs better. For example, the rear windows have privacy glass. This means that he isn't trying to pull shades off the windows while I am driving. You may not have considered some of these needs, but they are important to us.


I think most people can tell that my son is disabled - after all, Down's Syndrome does have certain physical features that are easily recognisable.


Can you explain how marking the cars as disabled is beneficial to either the disabled people or to the taxpayer?

System

I would love to be able to lease a mid range car for £240 per month with tax and insurance thrown in.

The jealously is the effective low monthly cost compared to any other leasing deal available to the general public

Mojisola

!!!!!! wrote: »

I would love to be able to lease a mid range car for £240 per month with tax and insurance thrown in.

The jealously is the effective low monthly cost compared to any other leasing deal available to the general public

If you become disabled enough to claim high rate mobility benefits, then you'll be able to benefit as well.

All those "lucky" people with mobility cars would give them up immediately if they were able to have their health back.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

when I was awarded HRM LRC I refused to get a mobility car, I didn't want to be seen in the light others project towards benefit claimants, so I bought my own car it worked great for a while then it started causing problems for me when it needed work done to it, I effectively couldn't use it, and therefore couldn't get out and about, I also paid the VED on it. I part exed it for another car after spending a large amount of money to get it road worthy and healthy again (until oil pump went and rounded cam lobes off) money me nor my relatives could afford to pitch in but needless to say I needed the car and hence people helped me out. I bought another car, 8 months later the clutch system (clutch, dual mass fly wheel, slave cylinder and master clutch cylinder) packed in £807.00 my parents are lighter fixed, then headgasket started a small leak £402.00 my parent helped and brother in law who provided cost price parts to me, £290 lighter, the car is now fantastic and reliable, but I came to realize that I just couldn't afford to maintain it, it was costing more than the lease would be for a motability car, so I gave the car as a gift to my brother who's focus was costing the earth and generally breaking down every week to help them out, I go myself a motobility car and conceded to being stereotyped and judged by others. had I not done that I would not be able to leave the house, I would not have the spare cash to go towards my illhealth and needs.


people judging others and getting jealous over someone getting a motability car have a lacking of understanding and now to them I feel sorry for being for having tunnel vision and not looking at the broader picture of someone with disabilities, it also makes feel undeserving of what I fought for going through the all the tribunals medicals and hassle to get what I was entitled to based on my disabilities.


I after wonder, just for 3 days, just like in the film vice versa that there a magic voodoo hoodoo skull out there that with just one touch those who don't under stand my illhealth we can swap temporarily just to open their eyes feel what I feel experience what I experience to broaden their minds, and change their perspectives.

Indie_Kid

After those 3 years that you've paid for your car, you have nothing to show for it. Or is there an option to buy the car?