Crazy benefits system need an overhaul

Well said, nannieann.

Socities can be measured by how they look after their less fortunate members. The motability scheme is a way of giving disabled people a small taste of the freedom that the more fortunate can take for granted. Let's all be thankful that Mrs Thatcher was wrong- there is such a thing as society. We still live in a civilised country, thank God. I'm grateful that I don't need a motability car.

Sorry Gardenman I must have been on another planet this morning. Sell me? Nobody would take me for free

You are right Elegran. Both me and my husband can drive my car, but officially he can only use it to do things on my behalf. He doesn't need to use it though.

He is a forensic psychiatric nurse who deals with prisoners, and people in custody at various different courts and police stations, so he travels a lot. He was given a car to use for work, much to our neighbours annoyance. Two brand new cars outside has driven the odd green eyed monster crazy. Ironically, I'm just not a materialistic person. I wouldn't care if it was a1980s Datsun as long as it took me where I needed to go.

But not to "have the use of the car" on their own behalf. That is why I wondered whether they had bought it when the three-year rental was over.

Yes you can use the car providing it is benefitting the person in some way (shopping, picking up prescriptions etc).

No, they haven't changed.

The car is used by, or for the benefit of, the disabled person. This does not mean that the disabled person needs to be in the car for every journey. In practice, this means other named drivers in the household can use the car for shopping and other routine activities, as long as the disabled customer will benefit
Only named drivers listed on your Certificate of Motor Insurance can drive the car*
That you let us know about any changes that may affect your lease.

It used to be that legally you could use a Motability car even if the person who had the car was not in it, providing you were doing something for that person.
Have the rules changed? Otherwise you couldn't take a person somewhere, leave him, then collect him later.

Are you getting mixed up with the blue badge, Elegran?

Glenfinna Legally, they don't have use of the Motability car unless he is in it. His taxi and train are not paid for if he has opted to use his allowance to rent the car.

Are you sure his parents didn't take the option to buy the car on his behalf from the Motability suppliers when his three-year rental finished, so as to have it available when he travels with them, and use it themselves when he doesn't? Meanwhile he may be using his £58 a week allowance on taxis.

There does seem to be a wide discrepancy in benefits I think. We have friends who have a 20 year old son and they have a mobility vehicle for him. But now he has started work he has a daily taxi pick him up to take home to the station and then he goes on the train. They have use of the car and their son is very rarely in it as he prefers taxi/train which are all paid for. But I still wouldn't like their responsibilities and lives. A neighbour has just had his vehicle taken off him as he no longer qualifies. Different areas seem to have different rules.

Lucky all my grandchildren are socialist, then.

Are they planning that if they get in, gardenman ? Where does it say that?

Hope hope. I have no objection whatsoever to pepole having a mobility car it is the grab all give nothing back Tories who take the cars off those who need them. Even worst than the Tories are those who vote for them-knowing full well that the Tories would sell their own grandmother.

I'd like to thank Nezumi for her posts too.
Very clear and rational explanations and despite become understandably a little frustrated by some posters' inability to grasp the point, she carried on.
Life must be hard enough coping 24/7 in that situation without pig-headed critics making it even worse.
Hope to see more of you nezumi.

Oh sorry Elegran

It was eloethan Very similar name!

It wasn't me who commented, Hopehope I thought you were still replying to his earlier post about the private firms making unfair profits from the taxpayer (which they are not)

Elegran my post to gardenman was regarding him harping on about the tax payer as thougj no disabled people have ever paid tax. I agree with Vamp her post makes alot of sense

Being headlined in the GN daily email could be a good thing, so long as people read the actual thread and see the reality, and don't just agree with the original poster automatically.

Well said MawBroon.

Well said Maw.

Having read, compared and contrasted OP's "rant" with, for instance the sad reality of the situation from nanaandgrampy and SallyDapp among others I feel OP should be highly embarrassed, ashamed even , of getting the wrong end of the stick and then beating people about the head with it.
These scare stories make for good headlines in the gutter press or certain TV channels, but are extremely distressing to those in genuine need. It reflects badly on GN to be "headlined" in their daily email and projects an image of clucking, tutting, prejudiced and disapproving old biddies.
Not in my name Gransnet.
It must be hard enough to see the threat of these "benefits" (I use the term advisedly as they are hardly more than a helping hand) being whittled away without also being made to feel that they do not deserve our consideration and a bit of human kindness

The only thing to add is that DLA/PIP are paid at different rates dependent on the level of disability. You can only access the Motability scheme if you are in receipt of higher rate mobility DLA/enhanced rate mobility PIP. So the scheme is reserved for the 'most' disabled.

I read the entire thread, twice, to digest. Please tell me if I am incorrect. Oh right, you will.

I think DLA and PIP are not means tested and whether the person is working is not important to the scheme either. I don't think that matters, everyone deserves health care and related services.

The disabled person receives a certain set sum, weekly, to do with as they wish. One third of the DLA PIP people enter the 3 yr car scheme, using their DLA Motability funds to a car.

Free school lunches will still be available for people who need the help and others may buy school lunches for a fee or take a packed lunch from home.

Parents who can afford it will be paying for their children's lunches.

Affect to taxes, after the election. I copied from durhamjen Sun 21-May-17 19:06:49 (because I could not do the maths) "If the Tories get back in they will change the tax thresholds, so that the change from 20-40% is at £50,000, not the present £45,000. This means that those who earn over £50,000 will get a rebate of 20% on the £5000, which is an extra £1000. At the moment they pay 40% of that £5000 between £45,000 and £50,000, which is £2000."

Not clear to me, the winter heating allowance will continue without means testing, maybe?

To dementia tax, I do not know, not clear at all to me.