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Crazy benefits system need an overhaul

(219 Posts)
Poly580 Sat 20-May-17 18:00:52

I am absolutely in shock that a friend has just visited in a £47,000 Volvo given to them by the state. The only only additional payment was a deposit of £3,100. They also get free road tax, parking, tires and apparently don't have to worry where they park as they just give the vehicle back in two years time for a new one. Scratches aren't a problem.

I knew people could get a top up benefit, mobility, that they can give to a car dealer for a car but I was expecting a vehicle of much smaller value.

I am not against the disabled being helped and supported, that's a given for me but this is a step too far.

Why have they allowed this benefit to get to this level?

We live In an age were children are about to be denied free school dinners when it's possibly the only hot meal they may have all day, pensioners dying because they are being refused heating payment, people denied cancer drugs because we can't afford it, homeless.....the list goes on.

1. Why not reduce the value for the cars as this figure seems disproportionate and wrong.
2. You should not be able to buy a car of this value on benefits when somebody working 40 hours per week could not afford to do so.
3. Do a deal with a car manufacturer ( all the British ones have gone) who employees British people and at least let our own country benefit from employment in manufacturing.
4. If you can afford £3,100 deposit for a 4x4 then you are receiving too much benefit.
5. You won't die without a car but you might through lack of food, heating or treatment. Cheaper cars should be given and then share the rest of the funds amongst the needy.
Is anyone else shocked at the value of the cars you can get on the benefits system?

alialiath Sun 21-May-17 13:34:55

Poly580 your ignorance knows no bounds

Ilovecheese Sun 21-May-17 13:53:13

Marieeliz "We all know people who have Disability Cars and don't really need them."
No we don't

railman Sun 21-May-17 14:08:01

Been reading this post - now at some length - and aside from the obvious ignorance of the OP (intentional or accidental), this bit did make me laugh:

3. Do a deal with a car manufacturer ( all the British ones have gone) who employees British people and at least let our own country benefit from employment in manufacturing.

Successive Tory governments and New Labour have sold off all of the UK industrial assets, and the likelihood of them ever coming back without drastic change in society is minimal.

We have little or no manufacturing, engineering or technology companies - with the exception of the few that swarm around some 'new technology parks' - especially around London.

The BBC announced in the past couple of days a programme showing the completion - at a cost of £16 billion - the new Crossrail/Elizabeth Line project - of no use whatsoever to anyone living north or west of the M25, and sucking in resources for disabled and able bodied alike.

And the OP whinges on about a minuscule % of people who attempt to defraud a system that is zero cost for the "taxpayer".

What about the Philip Green's of this world, or the 'Fred the Shred' characters - or those who have offshore resources such as the Rudd family - why don't we complain about these as much as do about a person with a disability that we cannot see.

Such a sad, depressing country we live in - I want to be optimistic, but the OP has sent me down, and so has the damn 'Dementia Tax' proposal.
sad angry

Need a brew

jefm Sun 21-May-17 14:29:12

your blog is ridiculous, forget the car, the claims you make in the rest of your statement is absolute left wing nonsense ...pensioners dying because of not getting heating allowance...cancer drugs etc.....I sometimes despair at the lack of intelligent facts in these blogs

Hopehope Sun 21-May-17 14:45:18

Marie Elizabeth. Don't judge what you are not sure of. What you say about the stick which is sometimes dispensed with. There could be a reason for that as in my Husband's case. He has PD a stick is helpful sometimes. I can't be bothered to explain more. Go look at some facts before you start spouting rubbish

Hopehope Sun 21-May-17 14:45:35

Eliz

Tallyann1 Sun 21-May-17 14:47:13

Agreed poly..you may need a car but never one that expensive unless it has to be modified ?

GrandMareS Sun 21-May-17 15:14:56

Whilst there are genuine people who should be supported and financially assisted in their needs, there are always cases of those who manage to abuse the system.
We know of someone who was retired from manual work through disability, at 55 (apparently osteoarthritis) lives on benefits and has a car provided every 3 years. He chooses at his expense to upgrade these vehicles.
It is very odd that this same person is a talented gardener who keeps himself occupied by hard landscaping and maintenance the gardens of family and friends
Pays for family holidays of 6 adults, 4 children. Has financed offspring buying houses plus weddings. Surely someone of this ability should not be in receipt of benefit of any kind whatsoever when more than capable of earning a living and paying tax like the rest of us.

Nezumi65 Sun 21-May-17 15:18:16

FGS Tayann if you are completely ignorant about a subject read the thread first.

THE COST TO THE STATE IS EXACTLY THE SAME WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE HAS A 'CHEAP' OR 'EXPENSIVE' CAR

Nezumi65 Sun 21-May-17 15:20:54

So report him grandmere

The DLA fraud rate was 0.5%. PIP will be lower.

Rigby46 Sun 21-May-17 15:24:00

Message deleted by Gransnet for breaking our forum guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

Lin1959 Sun 21-May-17 15:25:21

My Husband is disabled and gets the enhanced component for mobility for PIP. This enables him to lease a car from the motobility scheme, the car isn't given to him by the state he has to pay all his monthly PIP payment for the car, he will be able to do this for 3 years and then he will be able to upgrade. He also has a blue badge which enables him to park in disability spaces etc. He had to go through several assesments to get his PIP and blue badge, it's not given out to everyone who applies

Rigby46 Sun 21-May-17 15:27:19

Nez well said - I just love all these people who ignore such dreadful dreadful criminal behaviour and do nothing about it. why won't you repor him grandmare? But you'd have to come out from beneath your bridge to do that wouldn't you?

Rigby46 Sun 21-May-17 15:33:44

Everytime someone like the OP and others of that ilk post their ill-informed lies I wonder how much hurt and distress they cause to people like Lin and others on this thread ( and forum). But here's a true fact that it is worth getting furious about on tax payers behalf - when the Duke of Westminster died, his estate of £9bn had no, zero, nada, zilch tax paid on it. Now I expect I'll be told that a) I'm just jealous and/or b) he worked really really hard to amass that fortune

SueDonim Sun 21-May-17 15:42:53

Luckylegs, the OP is indeed entitled to her opinion. What she isn't entitled to is spreading 'fake news' as to what disabled people are entitled to. The truth of the matter has been pointed out to her. I assume she doesn't like those facts as she has chosen to absent herself from the continuing discussion.

Nezumi65, it must be very cosy in your son's car, with those seven sweaters on. wink

MaizieD Sun 21-May-17 15:58:43

What blog are you talking about, jefm? It would be helpful if we had a clue as to which post you are ranting talking about..

rosesarered Sun 21-May-17 16:04:54

Am late to this thread, but think as it must be difficult to be 'given ' a car then the user must really need it and probably wouldn't get out much without it.
If there are some fraudsters abusing this help, it is like everything else connected with disabilities, in order to help the many, there will be a few who slip in under the radar.Better this way thiugh, than the other way round IMHO.

Elegran Sun 21-May-17 16:05:58

Once something is print it is seen by everyone - but many don't read on to see the corrections further down the page! Once again - The cars don't cost the taxpayer anything!!! because they are not supplied or paid for by the government.

The disabled person pays his/her £58 per week disability allowance over to a private car hire company to rent a small fairly basic car. If they need or want something bigger or more convenient to them they pay the extra themselves The hire company can do it more cheaply than usual because they are assured of the rental for three years, and they get back a car which has been well maintained and can be sold on.

The £58 per week is what everyone gets who receives the higher rate disability allowance. They can use it to rent a car, or they can use it any other way they please, but they don't get a car for nothing.

Eloethan Sun 21-May-17 16:13:09

I don't believe a word of it and I think it is someone just trying to build up animosity towards disabled people and anyone else who receives benefits - as someone reminded us, we recently had a post about unmarried mums living the life of Riley. I tend to agree with Rigby46 that this is an attempt to distract people away from the elderly care issue which hasn't gone down quite as well as expected. If not, it is from a thoroughly mean-minded person who claims to possess two cars worth £100,000 because she and her husband have "worked all their lives so can afford it". Perhaps they should thank their lucky stars that they were able to work all their lives.

The sort of attitude demonstrated - that "it's not worked for, it's a benefit" is one of the reasons there is not a full take-up of certain benefits - because people are embarrassed and ashamed that they have to claim them.

Ph1lomena Sun 21-May-17 16:15:22

Lots of people who used to get motability allowance are not eligible. It is really difficult to qualify now. You clearly haven't been told the whole story.

Norah Sun 21-May-17 16:21:47

Rigby46, Why does it matter to all of us to the Duke of Westminster's death (his estate of £9bn had no, zero, nada, zilch tax paid on it)? He used the laws as written. Of course he didn't work hard for his fortune, he inherited. GNetters are bemoaning inheritance or lack to pass inheritance.

Jane10 Sun 21-May-17 16:31:35

I used to be very sad meeting families in real need who wouldn't dream of applying for benefits. I'd try hard to explain their entitlement to them but would politely be told that others were in greater need than them. The OPs and some of the other ill informed comments are extremely disappointing to read and perhaps explain the reluctance some people feel about asking for help. Shame.angry

whitewave Sun 21-May-17 16:33:39

It is returned when the person no longer has need of it like death I think.

Rigby46 Sun 21-May-17 16:33:50

Looks as though the OP has gone back under the bridge - good riddance

hazel311259 Sun 21-May-17 16:54:43

Some people are judgemental perhaps they would prefer disabled people to be pushed around in wheelbarrows a bit extreme I know!