Does DLA/PIP mobility help?

Adrian_Scope

Do you use Motability or receive the mobility component of PIP or DLA? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

The Social Security Advisory Committee - a statutory body made up of benefits specialists who provide impartial advice to Government on social security - is consulting on how public funds can be used to support the mobility needs of disabled people. 

In particular, they are looking at how well the Motability scheme and the Disabled Living Allowance (DLA)/Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mobility component supports disabled people to achieve greater independence through providing affordable mobility. 

The research aims to get a better understanding of any barriers disabled people may face in accessing the Motability scheme, including the reasons why disabled people may choose not to use it.

The consultation closes on 3rd December 2019, and the SSAC are keen to hear responses from disabled people as well as carers and/or families of disabled people – including people who aren’t eligible for the scheme but would like to use it. If you would be interested in giving evidence on your or your family’s personal experiences with the Motability scheme, you can find a list of questions for you to respond to, as well as some more information on the consultation and instructions on how to submit your response on the SSAC’s consultation page.

We’d love to hear your thoughts too!

• Are you eligible for the Motability scheme?
• If you are eligible for the scheme but you don’t use it, why is this?
• Does not using the scheme have an impact on your life?
• Do you receive the DLA/PIP enhanced mobility component? If so, have you faced any issues to leasing a vehicle through the Motability scheme?

pollyanna1052

I prefer not to use the Motability scheme to lease a car, as there are too many restrictions.
eg you can only have 2 drivers, wheras I use a pool of 5 to drive me around.

The main driver can not live more than 5 miles from me...mine does

I used it to get a powerchair and it cost too much...almost 4k.

Adrian_Scope

Thanks @pollyanna1052. That's a really interesting insight and one I'd not considered before. Cheers for sharing!

Roddy

I would say that in general terms the Mobility scheme is very important and vital to a large majority of disabled people. However, it is also very evident that these more recent years have seen many 'eligible' disabled peopled being refused and/or having their reward taken away from them. I myself am a causality of this, as so too are many members on here. It is not the 'scheme' which needs to be changed, it is the apes that make the decisions which have a total detrimental effect on a persons life, which needs IMMEDIATE consideration and re-organisation. It can be likened to giving a child its only Birthday gift, and then taking it away again.  

exdvr

I have serious mobility problems and would be totally housebound were it not for my Motability car [which uses my full £62/week enhanced allowance] and my privately purchased mobility scooter.  I have had no problems at all over the years apart from 2 punctures, plus a flat battery caused by running the air-con and radio with the engine off...silly me.  I sometimes wonder about its value for money but love the freedom and independence it gives me. Public transport be it bus, taxi, or train is virtually impossible because I need my scooter at all times.    I would be quite happy to fill a questionnaire on the subject.

poppy123456

I also have mobility issues and use my own mobility scooter when i'm out. I have a mobility car and have had one for the past 3 years. I'm almost at the end of my first lease and will be collecting my new car in a little over 2 weeks. I choose the higher cars for ease of access because the lower cars are impossible for me to get out of. No, adaptions needed, thankfully.

Without the use of my car i'd be completely housebound because public transport isn't an option for me. I use all of my mobility allowance too. If it wasn't for the mobility scheme i wouldn't be able to afford a car because the cost of maintenance is way beyond my funds, as i've experienced this in the past.  Just adding fuel and the worry free motoring for me is brilliant.  Although i do worry about losing my mobility award in the future.

Looking forward to collecting my new car in a couple of weeks

Adrian_Scope

Thanks for replying @Roddy. If you had the enhanced mobility PIP, do you think you would use the Motability scheme?

Adrian_Scope

Thanks for the feedback @exdvr. Can I ask how long you've been using the scheme? What makes you question the value for money?

Adrian_Scope

Thanks @poppy123456. Do you think the worry about losing the mobility award prevents some people from using Motability? (What car are you getting?? )

poppy123456

Adrian_Scope said:

Thanks @poppy123456. Do you think the worry about losing the mobility award prevents some people from using Motability? (What car are you getting?? )

You're welcome. Yes, 100% i think it does stop a lot of people. For those that have 10 year awards it's not a problem but for those that have shorter awards it's a constant worry. I had to put that aside and think of my independence, which was why i decided to order another car.

This time i chose the Peugeot 3008 GT line auto

atlas46

Hi @Adrian_Scope

 I think the Motability scheme is very good, for those on enhanced for mobility.

Over the years, I had a number of cars and have nothing but praise.

It keeps me mobile and independent, without the stress of running your own car.

You might be interested that a third on enhanced mobility, choose not to join the scheme. About 460,000 have a car on the scheme, which makes it the largest lease car scheme in Europe.

I have recently been awarded a ten year award, so no worries about the future.

I have to say there is a lot of ignorance about the scheme rules.

You can have groups of drivers on the insurance, recently the good condition bonus has gone up to £600 (from £250). There are no restriction on the distance, between the car and claimant.

The staff at Motability are very helpful and go out of their way, to assist you.

You also get a monthly magazine from the scheme, with useful updates.

Hope this helps.

Roddy

Adrian_Scope said:

Thanks for replying @Roddy. If you had the enhanced mobility PIP, do you think you would use the Motability scheme?

Hi @Adrian_Scope

Very much so, and I did until it was snatched from me two+ years ago, which in turn prevented me from leaving home unaided since. I was able to use my mobility award to get the car that I needed to enable me to be independent and un-reliant on others. I was stuck in a care home without any possibility of visiting my son who has his own special needs etc., and it was my 3rd vehicle. The decision of a 'nurse' took away my freedom and I have not been the same person since. It's disgraceful, and I'm certainly not the only one either. I'm now in debt up to my eyeballs and struggling to cope. Really struggling. A distance more than 20-30 meters away may as now be 20-30 miles without the car they took back from me and of course the extra money for essentials... I mean, look at how many of our community, and new members almost every week have their own living hell to deal with due to all of this. It's never been as bad, as is evident.... your personal help the other week for example, could have been totally avoided and unnecessary, as so too would have been the help required by the others involved, who I'm sure have their own lives to deal with too. Nothing but disruption has been caused to many, due to the current ways our benefits are being dealt with, and to many it's to the extremities of feeling suicidal and worthless.

The Mobility award isn't a luxury. It is a necessity for many that have now been refused it.         

exdvr

Adrian_Scope said:

Thanks for the feedback @exdvr. Can I ask how long you've been using the scheme? What makes you question the value for money?

Hi.....been using the scheme for at least 10 years.  Have had Vauxhall, Kia ,Skoda, and now Citroen, all hatchback/estate automatics.  When I weigh up the cost even allowing for tax, insurance, maintenance and breakdown cover I sometimes feel that spending in the region of £3500 per year before fuel for less than 6000 miles [600 litres bringing the total to over £4000] is hardly cost effective.  It's a lot of money to spend with nothing to show for it at the end of each lease.  No doubt I'll go through the same ritual in the next 14-15 months.

SteveE

We do not use motability as it is entirely useless for a family. If we did, we'd have a motability car (and we would not be able to find every few years the high deposit for the type of car we need) and a second car for journeys made not with, or not for, our son. So we purchased a WAV to suit us. We plan to keep it for 10 years then start all over again. We can use it how and when we like. The mobility part of DLA/PIP certainly helps but the bulk of the cost is borne by the parents. No surprise there!

Roddy

@SteveE, you make an important and valid point. Motability caters for or doesn't cater at all for ALL disability situations. However, from where I am personally sat as a single man with one able bodied son, a normal car is ideal... adapted or larger vehicles are a different kettle of fish all together and I haven't had the personal need to look into this. It is obviously an issue, just as most peoples disability needs are different from the next, and so much thought needs to be taken into account, as there are very few 'standard' vehicles that are suitable for all, not to mention the costs involved.

Ails

I have had a Motability car for years, even before, I could drive myself I had one and my dad was the main driver and then I drove for a number of years up until before my hip replacement as just too painful for me to drive now.  I get the Enhanced Mobility component and my husband drives our car these days.  I have always found the scheme to be really good and wouldn't think of opting out at any time as it is convenient.  We will change our car again in 2 years time.  I've never had any problems with the scheme and found them to be really helpful and it does help that they see to your car insurance, MOT/service, etc.  The only drawback I ever found when choosing a new car was the fact that I couldn't ever get a test drive in one as they would never have an automatic car in the garage, but that probably says more about the car showroom than Motability itself.  

Jean Eveleigh

I an entitled to Motability but don't use it as:-
A - I cannot drive
B - The deposit cost for wheelchair accessible vehicles would cripple me financially
C - I live in London so the transport links while not perfect are OK for both my manual and electric wheelchair use
D - My carer drives and can fit my manual wheelchair in her boot or backseat.

I have a disabled persons freedom pass (bus pass) and a taxi card for transport my PIP money all goes towards my general household finances, paying for the maintenance, insurance and any repairs my electric wheelchair needs and buying or replacing any equipment as and when I need it if it's not supplied by the NHS or Social services or of the waiting time is too long.

Roddy

It's been interesting already to learn of the different thoughts regarding this thread. I can recall the days of my youth, when the only Mobility vehicles were light-blue and they stood out like sore-thumb. All of them had the same lever-like horizontal control system and were all the same size too and for one person only... In essence the Motorbility scheme today is applaudable and commendable, however it is ones eligibility to receive it which I feel is questionable. There seems to be a very fine line between YES or NO being determined by the wrong people in my view. 

April2018mom

We also use Motability.

My son’s therapist told me about them. I have attended their annual information event and also read their useful magazine too. I was overwhelmed by their website however so I found it easier to talk to someone at their One Big Day event face to face instead. It is interesting to read other people’s stories and their opinions on this. I’m happy to fill out your survey. 

pollyanna1052

Let`s talk about drive from wheelchair cars.

I ride in my wheelchair, in the back of my wav...which I bought.ie not motability.
 I have looked into getting a drive from on motability. My word! The price of the adaptation is horrendous...about 15k I think.

But you can get good used ones from around 10k.

Does anyone have one,,,either on motability or otherwise?

Aura

PIP did help me a lot, but DWP have taken it away.

April2018mom

And yes my son's DLA money helps. I applied for high rate mobility and low rate care. We mainly use it to pay for adaptations to our flat. Also some of it is used to cover all other disability related travel expenses and his wheelchair costs. I keep a diary detailing reasons for costs.
And I find the customer magazine very useful. I have many spare copies in my bedroom. Lots of good ideas on wheelchair friendly days out etc. My son loves to do the wordsearch puzzle too! I always make a photocopy of the articles about other disabled people which I keep in a folder and use to start a discussion. 

poppy123456

@April2018mom i thought you said your son was 2 years old. Mobility can't be awarded to children under 3 years old.

April2018mom

poppy123456 said:

@April2018mom i thought you said your son was 2 years old. Mobility can't be awarded to children under 3 years old.

He had his third birthday last week. 

Msbettyboop

@Adrian_Scope Hi, I have enhanced mobility. I cannot drive but my partner does. We considered using the scheme decided not to as I was worried about having the car taken off us further down the line so that put us off and also the car we have he uses for work and we wouldn't be able to do that if we had the mobility car.

pollyanna1052

Doesn`t anyone here drive their mobitlity car from a wheelchair?

debbiedo49

I get basic rate mobility pip at the moment as I cannot travel independently for various reasons. I don't drive and only use taxis to travel outwith my local area.

Connie00

Hello Everyone
I use a mobility car I have had one converted to take my wheelchair its got a ramp that allows my to drive straight up into the car. we didn't have a choice. we needed to get one so I was able to travel. I was lucky I got enhance rate mobility on my PIP so as soon as we were awarded it we used it for a car I paid out for an electric wheelchair myself
It  became a pain having to dismantle it everytime we needed to go on longer journeys. my husband never moaned but  he is was 65 at the time and the pure weight of it was taking it's toll on him.

I know we had to pay over a  one and half grand up front, but to me its worth it,  and as it stands now we were told you could add another person, a third person to drive free but you have to pay the insurance for any more. I thinks it a very good deal.

I understand that people have had there cars taken away from them, this is not fair 
i sometimes do think what if that happens to me. we rely on that car, but I don't think it will or I hope it won't as my condition is worse now than it was when I was awarded  the enhanced rate.

for me it has been a godsend.





 

poppy123456

April2018mom said:

poppy123456 said:

@April2018mom i thought you said your son was 2 years old. Mobility can't be awarded to children under 3 years old.

He had his third birthday last week. 

Happy birthday to your son for last week. I must admit if he does have high mobility and a vehicle through the mobility scheme then that was very quick indeed.

pcoventry

pollyanna1052 said:

I prefer not to use the Motability scheme to lease a car, as there are too many restrictions.
eg you can only have 2 drivers, wheras I use a pool of 5 to drive me around.

The main driver can not live more than 5 miles from me...mine does

I used it to get a powerchair and it cost too much...almost 4k.

But that was through Mobility right? How much did they charge you? Was it out of allowance?

My gripe is that people on Standard should be allowed! Most ( me included) use my PIP to get a car on PCP and pay for the extras like the RAC cover which they give with Mobility - but a Mobility car would be better. Mobility say they would love to help but the Government stop them - I don't disbelieve that for a second.

pcoventry

April2018mom said:

poppy123456 said:

@April2018mom i thought you said your son was 2 years old. Mobility can't be awarded to children under 3 years old.

He had his third birthday last week. 

I thought it was 5? we were told my son can't have higher rate is because he is only 4! 

pcoventry

pollyanna1052 said:

Let`s talk about drive from wheelchair cars.

I ride in my wheelchair, in the back of my wav...which I bought.ie not motability.
 I have looked into getting a drive from on motability. My word! The price of the adaptation is horrendous...about 15k I think.

But you can get good used ones from around 10k.

Does anyone have one,,,either on motability or otherwise?

No but I used to work for BCA and every day I was picking up either end of allowance or end of lease Motab's and a lot of them were WAV's - usually Peugeot or Citroen adaptions. 

pcoventry

Connie00 said:

Hello Everyone
I use a mobility car I have had one converted to take my wheelchair its got a ramp that allows my to drive straight up into the car. we didn't have a choice. we needed to get one so I was able to travel. I was lucky I got enhance rate mobility on my PIP so as soon as we were awarded it we used it for a car I paid out for an electric wheelchair myself
It  became a pain having to dismantle it everytime we needed to go on longer journeys. my husband never moaned but  he is was 65 at the time and the pure weight of it was taking it's toll on him.

I know we had to pay over a  one and half grand up front, but to me its worth it,  and as it stands now we were told you could add another person, a third person to drive free but you have to pay the insurance for any more. I thinks it a very good deal.

I understand that people have had there cars taken away from them, this is not fair 
i sometimes do think what if that happens to me. we rely on that car, but I don't think it will or I hope it won't as my condition is worse now than it was when I was awarded  the enhanced rate.

for me it has been a godsend.





 

I am waiting for a tribunal due to the incompetence of the DA. I only got 10 points - She said that as I had a driving licence I had no mental issues  or problems getting around and didn't qualify for a car.  By her logic no one, including you should have one - so I challenged it because as I am sure you agree it's totally wrong 

poppy123456

pcoventry said:

poppy123456 said:

@April2018mom i thought you said your son was 2 years old. Mobility can't be awarded to children under 3 years old.

He had his third birthday last week. 

I thought it was 5? we were told my son can't have higher rate is because he is only 4! 

No, that's not correct. As advised, for children they can't claim mobility DLA until they reach 3 years old and then they can only claim for higher rate. Once they are 5 they can then claim either lower rate or higher rate. See link for confirmation. Google is a wonderful thing. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/disability-living-allowance/before-you-claim-dla/claiming-dla/

Adrian_Scope

A huge thank you to everyone that has answered so far. It's been really interesting to read the different reasons why people don't use the Motability scheme (I hadn't thought about how it works for families @SteveE so thank you for that!) and the anxieties of the people that do use it. 

@Jean Eveleigh, it does sound like the deposits put a lot of people off using the scheme. Thanks for explaining how the mobility component helps you in other ways. 

@Msbettyboop, thanks for telling us your experience. Needing to run two cars if you had one through Motability is a really valid point, thank you. 

@debbiedo49, do you think if you were on enhanced rate mobility you would use Motability? If not, do you mind me asking why? 

@pcoventry, I'm really sorry you were informed incorrectly regarding high rate mobility for your son. The information regarding this isn't the clearest either unless you know where to look. If either you or your son had high rate mobility would you lease from Motability rather than on PCP? 

debbiedo49

I've no idea as I don't drive but have had good experience when my dad was alive and used metabolite yes

Ozzy2013

I've used a few mobility companies through Motability to get mobility scooters in the past, I've found with every one that the equipment always comes back from it's first 6 month service with problems it never had before & for the rest of my service the companies keep taking the equipment in for repairs through the insurance of things that are not wrong with the equipment.... & at the end I have to give the equipment back...... I'd rather buy my equipment myself & instruct people on how to do repairs whilst i am there, my powerchair is vital if i were to need to do anything outside my bed, & giving it back if the government decided to try more dodgy assessments would not be an option

CockneyRebel

Both my wife and I qualify for the higher rate but don't use the scheme. I am fortunate that  as an ex mechanic I am able to do some of  the servicing myself. My policy is to find cheap low mileage cars ( less than £ 500) that I can scrap if any repair makes it uneconomical. We do very little mileage in a year but roadside recovery is a must for us. Our oldest car we have had for 6 years now. The biggest advantage of this is that we can change at any time if our needs change.

I realise that most people are not so fortunate but I can see a time when we may use the motability scheme

poppy123456

@CockneyRebel welcome back!! It's so good to see you post again, it's been a while! I hope you're well, or as well as can be. Seeing your post made me smile.

CockneyRebel

@poppy123456

Thanks, it has been a while much drama going on but I haven't forgoten about you all

poppy123456

@CockneyRebel i'm sorry to hear that! I hope things improve soon!

pollyanna1052

Oh yes! Now I can afford to keep my car!

positivemama

What an interesting read. As someone who can't drive & mobility going down hill, I really appreciate that many folk in this thread have the freedom to drive. Bless you all. Happy and save driving.