Lower rate mobility conundrum

Dee78

Hi everyone,
Does anyone have any advice?
I get high rate daily living but  lower rate mobility for PIP ( because I can according to their criteria move between 20-50 meters) so I don’t qualify for Motability. 
However, bus stops tend to be more than 50 meters apart!
So I cant reliably use buses but also could definitely not afford to learn to drive, buy an adapted car, and then run it on my benefit and meagre earnings! 

I’m a bit stuck. 
Any advice or thoughts? 

Thanks very much 😊

calcotti

The distance between bus stops and whether or not you can drive are not relevant. The only issue is how far you can reliably walk on the majority of days.

Alex_Alumni

Hello @Dee78 and thanks for your query

How do you find using trains? When they are running, of course!

Dee78

Thanks Calcotti and Alex! 

Train station a long way from my house. But okay to use once on them with passenger assistance. Problem is lots of changes of modes of travel are exhausting. Eg bus to train etc. 

But I just feel really limited without access to a car to use in the city. Just visiting a friend on what would be 15 minutes car ride takes 50 minutes by bus, plus 30 minutes walking each way between bus stops, which is very painful.

 I used to rely heavily on my Dad for lifts. But he’s 80 now and less available. 
I just think there’s a mismatch: If you can 50 meters, you are supposed to get public transportation and get no additional help to get a car or motability scooter. Yet bus stops are greater than 50 meters apart and Oxford city centre is very inaccessible in that regard. I have nerve damage in my feet, so every step hurts. 

I do have lower rate mobility, but that at best pays for a return local taxi ride a week. They’ve put lots of LTN barriers in the city so all the taxi fares have gone up due to diverted routes and more traffic concentrated on remaining roads 😢

Dee78

Ps: So just wondering how do other people who are on lower rate mobility cope getting around their area? Are they able to afford cars( if they can drive) How do they cope with public transport if bus stops are several hundred meters apart? Thanks 

Alex_Alumni

I can certainly resonate with your frustration @Dee78, taxis are one solution yes, but as you say, they are very expensive especially with the Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) barriers you mention making journeys longer!

I know that some mobility scooters are priced more affordably these days, ones that can fold up into car boots, and would be able to access buses and trains. That could be a possible option.

You might like to look into hiring a wheelchair from the red cross but I don't believe they can offer scooters or powerchairs. 

poppy123456

When I first claimed PIP in 2013 I was awarded standard mobility so I bought my own car, which was quite a few years old at the time but it did me for what I wanted it for. You will be entitled to 50% reduction in road tax too, which will help. 

I kept that car until 2016 when I was awarded Enhanced mobility and then for my first motability car and had one ever since. However, although the mobility scheme is good the advanced payments have gone through the roof in the last 18 months, which is an issue for a lot of people.