Crazy benefits system need an overhaul

If the Tories took all the benifits away [which they will do in due course if they get the chance] none of us would be any better off. The very rich would just pay a lot less tax. A local disabled man who has worked all his life has just has his mobility car taken off him because he was told his work place and his home are on a bus route. They are but it means he has to use two buses and it takes him one and half hours each way using the buses, 35 minutes in his car. He is now off work suffering from stress. Thanks to the Tories cut cut cuts.

Sarahhelenwhitney like another poster on her my daughter has Fibromyalgia its a chronic disease that has horrible symptoms one of which is pain from head to tow ,Flares of the illness can mean my daughter spending 5 out of 7 days a week for several weeks at a time bedbound.On the rare times when she has some respite you would never believe there was anything wrong with her if you saw her on the street ,apart from being overweight (a side effect of the 20 odd pills a day she takes) like the other poster my D has children and has been applying for PIP for over 2 years ,getting it refused time and again...she didn't WANT the benefit OR a car ,just a blue badge so that on days when she can manage she would be able to take her girls swimming or out and as long as she doesn't have too far to walk she can do that.Maybe your neighbour is in a similar situation? You have no idea what her situation is so you shouldn't speculate .My daughter is not lazy (she has worked since she was 13) often had 2 or 3 jobs ,went self employed 7 years ago and now cant lift her head off a pillow more days than she can.I'd hate to think her neighbours were talking about her like you are about the girl you SAY is "milking it"

Elegran where do you think the disability allowance comes from?

Sadly I know 2 people bragging over their cars who are far more nobile than me at the moment one who just Inherited thousands. IMO that is very wrong when there is real.hardship for elderly

The system is well.abused

My amazement is saved for the lack of decent designs of cars for people with limited mobility on or off benefits and schemes...would it, kill them to make doors easier to get in and seats more adjustable etc? We do have an ageing population and will all creak a bit later on in life..cars seems to be bigger but beefier too, occupying more than most parking spaces are capable of taking and very high.

When people get motbility car it saves the tax payer money because it takes pressure off famillies so they can get nearer to normal living, does anybody really have a problem with that???

Celebgran, David Cameron applied for DLA for his son. Should he not have done, being a millionnaire?

Celebgran the DWP's own figures put the DLA fraud rate at 0.5% PIP will be lower (a larger problem for PIP is the number of appeals finding in favour of the claimant i.e. People are being turned away who should not be).

So unless you know more than the DWP DLA & PIP are not 'well abused'

Celebgran Do you think that no disabled person should get anything then? No help with getting around? Even if they are unable to walk more than 20 yards? Should they just stay indoors out of sight? Or as Hazel suggested, their families could push them around in wheelbarrows?

The higher allowance is quite hard to get. If people you know have been granted it, them they are less mobile than you are. Have you applied?

Read the explanation again. The cars are not relevant - no-one is eligible to apply to rent a car unless they have a recognised level of disability award. Then if they want to they can use that award to pay for a car. If they want a bigger car, that is their expense. The only cost to the taxpayer is the standard £58 higher disability allowance. That goes to EVERYONE who is eligible, whether they use it to rent the car or to get taxis. No-one gets any more than that!

You could get that if you applied and were eligible.

And, I am saying this yet again because it doesn't seem to be heard, THE GOVERNMENT DO NOT SUPPLY THE CARS AT THE TAXPAYERS EXPENSE. THEY ARE HIRED OUT AS A SEPARATE ENTERPRISE BY PRIVATE FIRMS WHO MAKE NOTHING FROM THE TAXPAYER.

Motability is a charity. They have a monthly magazine, which tells you a lot about what is happening with the scheme.

www.motability.org.uk/about-charity/latest-news-and-updates/lifestyle-latest-issue

Paddyann have you tried applying to the council for a blue badge in some circumstances they will issue a blue badge so long as you have proof from your Gp or consultant. It's worth a try

Celebgran I know someone who has recently inherited hundreds of thousands- as she's not disabled she's splashing it around on incredibly expensive holidays, huge deposits for her children buying houses- of course, if she were disabled, you think she should spend it all on meeting all the needs of her disability - really really fair that, isn't it?

Elegran. If MOBILITY CARS ARE HIRED OUT BY PRIVATE FIRMS THEN AS SURE AS NIGHT FOLLOWS DAY IT IS THE TAXPAYEY WHO IS PAYING FOR IT. THE FIRMS ARE NOT DOING IT FOR LOVE.

Fgs gardenman - just the bloody thread. I provided a link earlier to how it works.

If you qualify for higher rate mobility DLA or enhanced rate mobility PIP, then you can choose to spend part or all of that money on leasing a Motability car. You can also choose not to get a car and instead get the cash.

Motability is a charity that arranges the car leading with the manufacturers.

IT COSTS THE STATE THE SAME WHETHER OR NOT YOU GET A CHEAP CAR OR AN EXPENSIVE CAR

If you choose an expensive car as well as the lease being all you DLA or PIP you will probably also have to pay an up front payment.

Motability is a charity which subsidises the cost to the disabled person through carefully-chosen suppliers - not Arthur Daly shifty secondhand dealers!
The staff who deal with Motability clients are known to be experienced and supportive.

Here it is again

HOW THE MOTABILITY SCHEME IS FUNDED

www.motability.org.uk/3._How_the_Motability_Scheme_is_funded.pdf

But fgs put down the Daily Mail and read the facts of the scheme.

It makes no difference to you (or me) 'the tax payer' whether my son is driven around in his 7 seater or a tiny 'budget' car or a posh luxury car. It costs the state the same.

It is safer for him and everyone else on the road is he can sit at the back of a 7 seater in a seat which fits his harness. My 'road testing' for his latest car was to sit in the back seat myself and to check that his harness would fit then to check the upfront payment. I didn't take it out for a drive or ask about alloy wheels or check the luxury extras as none of that is any use if his harness doesn't fit or he can touch the driver.

But all of that is no-one else's business. Because whichever car we chose - the cost to the State is exactly the same.

Do you want to share my brick wall, Nezumi?

You are right about the staff, mcem. They know their cars, and the problems involved. They do not try and lease you the most expensive car, but the one most suited to your needs.

Another good thing is that you can have two drivers on the insurance, more if you want to pay more. Very useful.

To put it another way - The disabled person gets £58 a week mobility allowance (yes, from the taxpayer, like other benefits)-

John Smith spends his allowance on a taxi to Tesco and back once a week, a Sunday visit to his aughter, and various trips to the doctor, the garden centre, and the cinema.

Jean Brown spends hers on renting a small car from a motability scheme. She pays it to the local private car hire firm that owns the cars. A small car is enough for her, because she can get in and out of it, and she doesn't put a wheelchair in the boot.

Rose White spends hers on a car with a bigger boot that can take her wheelchair, and a door that iopens wide for hr to get in and out. It also has room for her four grandchildren to come with her. For that she pays extra to the rental company FROM HER OWN MONEY.

The price of the rental to the taxpayer for each of these people (by way of the allowance to the disabled person of £58 which they hand over) is £58 a week for each of them, whatever the size of the car. That is about £3000 a year.

I don't know what renting a car costs ablebodied people, because I have never tried it, but it sounds pretty reasonavble to me. The hire companies do it because they get an assured rental, and they get the car back at the end of the three years to sell or rent out again. They don't need to swindle anyone.

Gardenman THE FIRMS ARE NOT DOING IT FOR LOVE. No, they are doing it for £58 a week.

Yes please Durham

My husband leases a car through his employer. Anyone want to brandish a pitchfork in his direction?

Yes my son's car has an open insurance which means any of his (many) carers can drive the car providing they satisfy the requirements of the insurance company (in terms of age etc), without having to be named to the insurance company.

That £58 per week is paid for by taxpayers as a taxpayer I have no problems with that. Regardless of what it cost the Tories would rather no cars / bus passes / or anything else including the NHS was paid for they want us all to make private firms and shareholders richer on the backs of those of us who need help.

Garden man you keep harping on about the taxpayer. Many disabled people who are claiming benefits gave paid tax and national insurance most of their lives.If not then the likelihood is that Family members are doing so. Get off your high horse you are coming across as though you are funding all this yourself!