Temporarily Over £6000 Limit For ESA

KellyKoo

HappyMJ wrote: »

Would you be better off just getting taxi's?

In my area a taxi would cost £3.50 per journey which gets you up to 3 miles away. If you had to undertake 10 journeys a week that would only be £1,750 per year. A 16 mile journey to the nearest city (Derby) would cost £15 each way. 10 journeys a week would be £7,800 per year. Using the express X38 bus (1 stop at the Royal Derby hospital for the appointments) instead which would be £3.50 plus £6 (day fare) plus £3.50 would be £3,380 per year. A car would cost 45p/mile according to HMRC so would cost £3,744 per year. Your insurance alone is already higher than that figure.

You don't work otherwise you wouldn't get ESA, Housing Benefit etc... so do you even have a need to undertake 10 journeys in a week.

I am home most of the time and get a taxi twice a week and public transport along with that which is an extra £6 for the day ticket. ALL of my shopping is home delivered. I have no need at all to waste any money on a car. My flat has a space allocated for a car and it sits empty. My SOA shows I spend £60 on ALL transport costs. That gets me to Derby every week, Nottingham once a month (no additional cost as it's included in the day fare) and Lichfield every 2 months and this week (about once a year) I'm off to the really big city London for a weekend. The train fare is £17 return and that's 134 miles away. I couldn't do that in a car for that much just in fuel and certainly not including parking costs.

If you're on income based ESA and have to attend hospital appointments outside of your home area you can get the full cost of public transport reimbursed. In a car they's only pay 25p/mile which for me would only be £6.

Part of the reason for wanting to learn to drive was to take the pressure of a relative who does not want to drive to and from hospital appointments, so I drive their car as a named driver. They can't use taxi's because they can't get in and out of them and they have a wheelchair which is bigger than a standard size chair.


In terms of me, yes I could use taxi's or my free bus pass, which expires later this year! I wanted my own car so I could try for part time work in the local call centres which are not accessible by bus / public transports and would be approx. £16 return journey. One of these call centre is a place I previously worked, but they have relocated to this new area which is some distance away. My old manager seems to think I could secure a part time job with them again, going off my past experience.


Other uses for car would be to get to and from relatives I care for. I also want to get more active and was hoping to use it to get to local parks so I could get some much needed exercise with a neighbours dog! As well as maybe getting to local swimming pool which again is not really accessible by bus!


I've got a more reasonable quote now for insurance, but I do need to sit and think and ask myself am I doing the right thing. I can sometimes jump in feet first...

KellyKoo

Jackieboy wrote: »

I drive automatics and have only once spent ove £2k on a car. I normally buy off Ebay, where are you looking?

Local dealers, eBay, Exchange & Mart, Autotrader, RAC and AA cars.


Can I ask what you currently drive?


I think I worry about mileage on cheaper cars, I am a bit of a novice and don't really have anyone around I can ask.

marliepanda

KellyKoo wrote: »

Local dealers, eBay, Exchange & Mart, Autotrader, RAC and AA cars.


Can I ask what you currently drive?


I think I worry about mileage on cheaper cars, I am a bit of a novice and don't really have anyone around I can ask.

My car is 12 years old (04 micra) with over 100,000 miles on her. I could afford a new one but it seems a waste at the moment. She runs fine, never spent more than a hundred or so on every other MOT which has usually been for tires.

When she dies an elaborate death I'll upgrade but she does me fine and has done for three years now. Think she cost me almost 2k

KellyKoo

Daisychains wrote: »

I'm under the 6000 limit (3000)

No you do not need to declare it.