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Mobility benefit
I help support a young man with physical and learning disabilities. His mobility allowance goes toward a car which is registered to him at the flat we support him in, however his Mother keeps the car at her home and uses it as the family car. At several of the young mans care reviews she has been asked to allow us to have the car at her sons flat so we can take him out and about. She claims that she needs the car or she cannot see him as often as she wants, she has also claimed that she will drive staff and son where ever needed. This does not happen very often as her schedule revolves around her younger schoolage daughter. The young man stays at mums house one weekend a month and this is when he gets some access to his vehicle, she also insists on taking him to all medical appointments(this is another justification for her having his car). Is this allowed? Surely this is fraud, shouldn`t the vehicle be with the son, and shouldn`t he be in the vehicle whenever it is driven??
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As I recall the Motability car should only be used for when the person with the disability is being transported or urgent missions for that car involve his care.
For you to be able to do that you would have to be named a s drivers of the car as it seems he is unable?
This part of the system is often sadly abused, be sure of all facts and if necessary yjen think about reporting it.
For you to be able to do that you would have to be named a s drivers of the car as it seems he is unable?
This part of the system is often sadly abused, be sure of all facts and if necessary yjen think about reporting it.
From the Motability website:
"The car should be primarily used for the benefit of the disabled customer, but the disabled person does not have to be in the car at all times".
However:
"The car must not be lent, sub-leased or sold".
Source:
http://www.motability...0Motability%20car.pdf
Regrettably it's not unusual for the Motability scheme to be misused. When I was 'trade plating' I often had to collect Motability cars from those who were changing them, or who could no longer use them. It was often evident that the disabled person had probably never used the vehicle.
I called at the address of an elderly and infirm gentleman, in Southend, to collect his vehicle. I had to wait for three quarters of an hour until his grandson arrived with the vehicle. The car had loads of stickers on it, such as I'd expect to see ion a 'boy racer's' car. The radio memories were all tuned to stations broadcasting heavy rock and garage music (with the volume level left at the absolute maximum) and there were over 50 empty fast food boxes (from McDonalds, etc) littering the generally filthy vehicle. The grandson didn't even bother to greet his aged relative. So who, do you think, had really been using that car?
Chris
"The car should be primarily used for the benefit of the disabled customer, but the disabled person does not have to be in the car at all times".
However:
"The car must not be lent, sub-leased or sold".
Source:
http://www.motability...0Motability%20car.pdf
Regrettably it's not unusual for the Motability scheme to be misused. When I was 'trade plating' I often had to collect Motability cars from those who were changing them, or who could no longer use them. It was often evident that the disabled person had probably never used the vehicle.
I called at the address of an elderly and infirm gentleman, in Southend, to collect his vehicle. I had to wait for three quarters of an hour until his grandson arrived with the vehicle. The car had loads of stickers on it, such as I'd expect to see ion a 'boy racer's' car. The radio memories were all tuned to stations broadcasting heavy rock and garage music (with the volume level left at the absolute maximum) and there were over 50 empty fast food boxes (from McDonalds, etc) littering the generally filthy vehicle. The grandson didn't even bother to greet his aged relative. So who, do you think, had really been using that car?
Chris
-- answer removed --
It appears that the wording of the agreement may have change, when my Wife first had a mobility car the word "Primarily" was omitted. ie "the car was to be used for the benefit of the disabled person."
However the definition of "benefit of the disabled person" was very loose.
I was a registered driver and as such covered on the insurance but being aware that insurance is a nightmare at the best of times I phoned motability to try to clarify a couple of points.
In short the answer I recieved was its a case of what is "reasonable."
So clearly shopping trips and "household business" were directly for the benefit of my wife ( albeit only partially as I also benefited.)
however occasional use by myself for personal matters could be justified on the grounds that I was my wife's primary and sole carer and should an emergency situation arise whilst I was away from home I would need to get home with an urgency that public transport would not allow for, it would therefore be reasonable for me to be using the car.
However it would NOT be considered reasonable if I were to be using the vehicle to travel to a place of employment ( going out to work) on a regular basis for example or going away overnight without my wife. when alternative arrangements for my wife's care would need to have been made.
When asking for clarification of occasional I was again told that it was a case of what is reasonable, in the specific example I gave, attending a "Carers group" once a week for two or three hours would be reasonable because again I would be my wife's primary and sole carer and as such would need to be "on call."
In your case even with the addition of the word "Primarily" ( for the benefit of the disabled person) the Mothers personal use of the vehicle does not come under the heading of reasonable or occasional.
However the definition of "benefit of the disabled person" was very loose.
I was a registered driver and as such covered on the insurance but being aware that insurance is a nightmare at the best of times I phoned motability to try to clarify a couple of points.
In short the answer I recieved was its a case of what is "reasonable."
So clearly shopping trips and "household business" were directly for the benefit of my wife ( albeit only partially as I also benefited.)
however occasional use by myself for personal matters could be justified on the grounds that I was my wife's primary and sole carer and should an emergency situation arise whilst I was away from home I would need to get home with an urgency that public transport would not allow for, it would therefore be reasonable for me to be using the car.
However it would NOT be considered reasonable if I were to be using the vehicle to travel to a place of employment ( going out to work) on a regular basis for example or going away overnight without my wife. when alternative arrangements for my wife's care would need to have been made.
When asking for clarification of occasional I was again told that it was a case of what is reasonable, in the specific example I gave, attending a "Carers group" once a week for two or three hours would be reasonable because again I would be my wife's primary and sole carer and as such would need to be "on call."
In your case even with the addition of the word "Primarily" ( for the benefit of the disabled person) the Mothers personal use of the vehicle does not come under the heading of reasonable or occasional.
I wonder how many motobility cars are actually essential and also how many are being abused by relatives. I knew of someone many years ago who had a motobility car that the person who was disabled was totally unable to get in and out of so it was definately not for their benefit. Someone else who I worked with had a car but also had a full time job and a part-time job in a bar in the evening it begs the question why were we as a country providing her with a car? I would repot this as I am sure that if more people were reported and prosecuted maybe fewer people would abuse the system.
Call her and make her aware of the times you need the car for him in effect pplan when it will be needed. Every time you need it, call her. If she is at work call her, if she is out shopping call her, if she is picking up the other children call her.
Make it really annouying for her. It is the only way she will listen (apart from haveing the car taken away of course) as unfortunately if you report her the car may be taken away and he will then have absolutely no use of it.
My nephew is in a similar situation and his car is in his garage and all the carers are on the insurance as well as his mum and dad (who have their own cars anyway).
The carers have come with him to pick us up from the ferry before now.
Make it really annouying for her. It is the only way she will listen (apart from haveing the car taken away of course) as unfortunately if you report her the car may be taken away and he will then have absolutely no use of it.
My nephew is in a similar situation and his car is in his garage and all the carers are on the insurance as well as his mum and dad (who have their own cars anyway).
The carers have come with him to pick us up from the ferry before now.
I too have a motability car and as kathyan says you can only have two named drivers, normally myself or the boss, however if you ring the insurers they will change drivers at 24 hours notice. I do this on the couple of weekends in the year when the fishing club I'm in go fishing in case I take ill and somebody else needs to drive home
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