How disabled do you have to be then?

Danthus · 5 Nov 2015 at 14:41

dowie said:
and they probably do need to reduce it - we've got a big deficit and giving away free cars isn't really a priority

adapting cars would perhaps be more reasonable in a lot of situations

Hmmmm why does the burden of deficit reduction seem to be falling on those who aren't responsible for it?

dowie · 5 Nov 2015 at 14:45

if you slash spending then people who receive more of that govt spending are going to notice it more - not particularly complicated

CREATIVE!11 · 5 Nov 2015 at 14:46

OldCoals said:
Hmmmm why does the burden of deficit reduction seem to be falling on those who aren't responsible for it?

For once someone starts asking the right questions.

crinkleshoes · 5 Nov 2015 at 14:46

That's odd... sure they've made a silly mistake... she cannot physically walk more than one step... it's not even within the definition of the word, it's a different one... she can "hop" a certain distance.

Of course she qualifies... it's madness.

I have a friend with Cerebral Paulsy... he has muscle spasms and other things, yet can drive and can easily walk miles... he has a car on Motability.

My grandmother however, who has had two knee replacements, can't kneel and qualifies for a disabled badge because she can't walk very far... does not qualify for the scheme.

Hitman_Leon · 5 Nov 2015 at 14:47

Glaucus said:
Why? A) people drive normal cars with one prosthetic leg, depending where its amputated. 2) an automatic only requires one leg to controlled.

Why would she need, voice, steering ball etc, she hasn't lost am arm.

On the surface of it, this is exactly the stuff we should be cutting back on.

My legs are paralysed below knee, wrapped in carbon fiber AFO's, I have no sense of pressure (touch) or position. I drive my own automatic car, when I was assessed on suitability for driving it was said I drive like I have two false legs. My only complaint about driving is parking meters and parking payment machines are a nightmare as my fingers are not made for handling small coins with me having muscle wasting in my hands.

I must just be quite good at adapting to things.

robfosters · 5 Nov 2015 at 14:49

The Tories just pick on easy targets.

I haven't been called for my PIP assessment yet, but luckily (if you get what I mean), I have three of the conditions that the guidelines suggest can be judged on paper with sufficient medical evidence, heart defect, stroke and scoliosis. I couldn't hack losing my car. I'm housebound without it. Unless I want to pay money for cabs everywhere.

ubersonic · 5 Nov 2015 at 14:52

NexusK said:
I disagree, they were actually quite smart and conniving in how they went about setting up the new scoring. They set out to reduce the amount of people being awarded and that's exactly what they've achieved.

No, they set out to try and reduce the amount of people being awarded who didn't need to be, or at least cut off those least in need, and they failed miserably because they didn't really have any medical background and didn't understand what they were doing.

ubersonic · 5 Nov 2015 at 14:57

dowie said:
if you slash spending then people who receive more of that govt spending are going to notice it more - not particularly complicated

What do banks and large corporations have to do with this? :confused:

dowie · 5 Nov 2015 at 14:58

ubersonic said:
What do banks and large corporations have to do with this?

who mentioned banks and corporations :confused:

robfosters · 5 Nov 2015 at 15:01

ubersonic said:
No, they set out to try and reduce the amount of people being awarded who didn't need to be, or at least cut off those least in need, and they failed miserably because they didn't really have any medical background and didn't understand what they were doing.

It depends on your condition in more sinister ways as well.

If you have one leg, but nothing wrong with your organs as such, then that disability is very cut and dry.

With people who have organ problems (like myself), it's very easy to exaggerate your symptoms and the assessors are not allowed to accuse you of lying without sufficient medical evidence.

People with stomach conditions can say they suffer stomach pain, people with heart and lung problems can claim constant breathlessness and tiredness, people with brain injuries can claim confusion, loss of balance and other issues. None of these claims can be disproven by the assessor.

This is where the controversy surrounding back issues came into it. It's very hard to disprove someone is suffering back pain.

cyclops12 · 5 Nov 2015 at 15:15

dowie said:
and they probably do need to reduce it - we've got a big deficit and giving away free cars isn't really a priority

adapting cars would perhaps be more reasonable in a lot of situations

It's not just giving away free cars, you get the benefit (DLA) and can spend it how you want.

You can hire a car, buy a car, buy a wheelchair or mobility scooter or just pay for cabs.

In fact most of the hire cars cost a lot more than you get from DLA so you have to put down a big deposit first.

Nodiggidy123 · 5 Nov 2015 at 15:46

My brothers daughter has cerebal palsy. its affected her my twisting one of her legs inward so walking is harder. she still runs around like the rest of the kids although she gets tired quicker. she has a wheelchair if she needs it.

i was a little supprised to find that my brother is able to claim for the motability scheme due to this tbh. his old car was plenty big enough to fit a foldaway wheel chair etc. hes got a brand new volkswagen now.

dowie · 5 Nov 2015 at 15:52

don't question it you evil Tory, its a disability therefore government money should be spent blindly without restriction

Jamauk · 5 Nov 2015 at 16:06

I really think the Motability scheme needs looking at and changing, applying some logic and common sense to the requirements, etc. Whilst I think it's a useful service for those that need it, there are a lot of people out there that misuse the system for their own benefit. It just seems to be targeting the wrong people.

I know of someone who is on 40K+ a year and is entitled to a company car, but because they are entitled to a Motability car they take that so therefore receive a higher salary because they don't take the offered company car, the car doesn't even need to be modified as all they suffer with is asthma! Also because of the scheme they don't have to pay tax or insurance and are better off because they don't have company car tax to deal with - Surely by this logic the whole scheme is then discriminating against those without a disability!

I think they should have a pay limit on Motability cars whereby if the owner is earning more than say 12k per year they are no longer entitled.

Someone else I know of had a Motability vehicle at the age of 16 (due to their disability they could get a licence a year earlier), they then failed their test about 5 times before finally giving up and handing the adapted car back. This was whilst they were still in school and most students (once over 17) were driving round in basic & old 1L boxes, this person got through the Motability scheme a 1.6 Focus. Then there is the huge loss that Motability had because of the depreciation of a 1 year old car that hadn't ever been used - perhaps it would have made more sense for Motability to pay for driving lessons, and then once they've passed their test provide them with a car.

crinkleshoes · 5 Nov 2015 at 16:11

Nodiggidy123 said:
My brothers daughter has cerebal palsy. its affected her my twisting one of her legs inward so walking is harder. she still runs around like the rest of the kids although she gets tired quicker. she has a wheelchair if she needs it.

i was a little supprised to find that my brother is able to claim for the motability scheme due to this tbh. his old car was plenty big enough to fit a foldaway wheel chair etc. hes got a brand new volkswagen now.

Yup... the only person I know with a motability car is earning a good wage and is more mobile than the people I know who are on a low income and could really do with one.

It's rather silly...

robfosters · 5 Nov 2015 at 16:12

Jamauk said:
I think they should have a pay limit on Motability cars whereby if the owner is earning more than say 12k per year they are no longer entitled.

I've always thought disability benefits should be means tested. There's a lot of people on mobility allowance who have £30k a year jobs. I'd be surprised if their disability is really made bearable by DLA.

£12k is a bit low. I would suggest £20k at least.

Hitman_Leon · 5 Nov 2015 at 16:17

Gilly said:
It seems to be her right leg that is gone, so driving an unadapted automatic car would be a struggle.

Left foot accelerator is the idea, not drastically expensive.

Tefal · 5 Nov 2015 at 16:43

errr not to be that guy, but in the past articles she was in where she was was being praised for being a competitive swimmer, rock climbing, canoeing, sailing

Threepwood · 5 Nov 2015 at 16:51

Tefal said:
errr not to be that guy, but in the past articles she was in where she was was being praised for being a competitive swimmer, rock climbing, canoeing, sailing

You're right.

What is stopping her from swiming/climbing/canoeing/sailing to school/work?

Hitman_Leon · 5 Nov 2015 at 17:01

Anyone remember those pale blue invalid carriages? I don't think those who didn't need them had them, just because of the horrible looks of them.