Fancy cars for disabled people

[LemaxObsessive]

Motability.

I am sick to absolute death of seeing people saying on various threads, that Motability vehicles are “given” to us disabled people “for free”.

PIP is awarded in 2 separate elements.

1. Daily Living (day to day care needs etc)
2. Mobility

Each element is paid at different rates depending on how affected by your disability you are (and yes, medical evidence is required). However, to be eligible for Motability, you need to be getting the highest rate of the Mobility element. This is currently £77.05 per week (which works out at £308.20 per 4 weeks or £333.88 per month).

When you join Motability you agree for the DWP to give Motability that £77.05 per week instead of it being paid to your bank. If you also receive the Daily Living element of PIP then you will still receive that directly.

You ALSO, in most cases, have to pay an advance payment (AP) for the vehicle. The better the vehicle, the higher the AP. You do not get the AP back.
The £77.05 per week pays for the lease of the car, insurance, roadside assistance, tyres & windshield cover. Disabled people in receipt of the highest rate of the PIP mobility element are already exempt from road tax.

With regards to the ‘fancy’ cars such as BMW, Audi & Mercedes, as you can imagine all of these have a whopping great AP in the multiple thousands of pounds; Which as I said, you don’t get back.
The taxpayer is not paying a penny towards these vehicles besides the fact that Motability don’t currently pay VAT which I believe is up for discussion.

I think a really important point to make here is that PIP is categorically not means tested (even millionaires can claim it, provided their health meets the criteria) and is not paid to replace a disabled person’s income! In other words, people do not live off PIP instead of working, it is paid to cover the added costs associated with being disabled. Costs non-disabled people likely have never even considered, such as cleaners when we can’t do it, basic gardening when we can’t do it, extra electricity for when medical equipment is used at home, ready meals when we’re bed-bound, delivery charges for every single thing we buy because click & collect isn't possible, taxis to work because the bus always already has a wheelchair user on it, along with lots of other small but mounting costs we have zero choice but to pay because the alternative isn’t an option for us. The lowest rate of PIP is just £29.20 per week so we’re not talking big money!

Millions of PIP claimants work full time but crucially, couldn’t do so without PIP and in many cases, without Motability!

As I said above, even wealthy people are eligible to claim PIP to cover the added costs associated with their disability and they can, if they receive the highest rate of the Mobility Component of PIP choose to use Motability. If they want to spend £7,999 plus £77.05 per week to lease an Audi Q4 for 3 years then they can but not many do because it’s a lot of money to have nothing to show for it after 3 years.

So no, nobody is being ‘given free BMWs, Audis or Mercedes’ regardless of what’s being said by anyone!

PIP isn’t going to pay me back all my taxes. Unless I get it for a couple of centuries.

But yes, you too can get some lovely PIP money. All you have to do is step in front of a bus at exactly the right time that you get squashed but not killed.

FFS, did you read the post you're replying to???

The woman was left permanently disabled by an SUV, lost her career and her home and you want the money back "you've paid in"

Give your head a wobble and develop some empathy.

I find it broadly concerning for the long-term economic health of the country that for many there is absolutely zero need to ever address any state spending, and that there is always a convenient excuse as to why more and more and more is needed.

It is not sustainable - it’s not about ‘valuing’ disabled people, it’s about growing state spending which the country cannot afford. And the debate cannot just be shut down every time because it involves people who claim PIP.

I think you need to consider whether us drivers would also be able to afford the car insurance (for 3 drivers including the recipient), breakdown cover and servicing/repair costs that Motability also cover in full. Yes, I could certainly afford to pay £77 per month towards a car - the rest, not so much. If my car were to break down I’d be unable to afford the £££ repair costs, leaving me without access to a vehicle and therefore unable to get to work or do the things that we all take for granted like grocery shopping, giving DC lifts etc.

If you need a WAV, they are always going to be more expensive including the AP.

Why not focus on the UC increase of £725/yr to the 4 million abled and work shy? It costs far far more than all of PIP costs.

Facts are facts though

This. the whole system needs reforming.

But like I said previously I use my mobility part of pip to pay for taxis to get to appointments as my consultants are spread around the country before I claimed pip I used hospital transport which I would imagine cost the tax payer more. You take money away from the disabled they will still be disabled and there needs will still need to be met which will likely cost the government more

Well they’re going to get rid of the 2 child cap on universal credit which will cost the tax payers billions (billions we apparently don’t have) and I see more people being outraged & angry over the disabled than I do with people being paid for more than 2 children.
That is rather concerning for disabled people. It seems the disabled are a easier hit.

On the contrary, the greatest area of claimant growth is younger people and mental health disorders.

So no, it’s not just down to the old.

But that wasn't her argument. She said she paid it in so it's hers to take back

Apparently, it is perfectly sustainable to increase UC by £2.9billion giving all the abled and work shy a raise than it is to let disabled people who either cannot work or cannot work more hours than they already are keep their pittance.

Exactly, it’s because it’s easier to be angrier at the vulnerable who struggle to defend themselves.

Its £77 a week not a month. My god everyone this is twice I've had to correct people on this. Please read things properly before spreading more misinformation

Yep. I paid into the social security system of this country so that it would be there as a safety net if I needed it. I needed it. According to the government, I am entitled to it, it is therefore my investment being paid back to me. It’s national insurance. I’m not going to act like a beggar, grateful for whatever you think is ok.

Personally, I'd be looking to make savings for MP expenses before I started on disabled people. Or taxing huge corporations. Perhaps our 'poor' university senior staff flying first class but crying about lack of HE funding. In fact, I would be looking in a lot of places before I looked at our most vulnerable.

Well said but sadly you are banging your head against the wall.

The ones already receiving LCWRA will keep their current amount. For people newly being assessed for work capability after April 2026, the LCWRA rate will be halved.

That is why I listed “the state of the NHS” as the primary reason. The secondary and tertiary reasons are population growth, followed by the aging.

This. SMH at the posts by @ThejoyofNC

It is £308 every 4 weeks, not £77 a month. Educate yourself before you post nonsense.

100% agree. The benefits system needs a massive overhaul and the danger is if people claiming end up being a larger and larger group those backbench MP’s with constituents in this group will vote against any changes.

Most People agree that more funding is required everywhere but they just don’t want to fund it themselves.

This is it in a nutshell.

Ultimately the tax payer doesn't want to contribute towarda anyone's luxury cars. Disabled or not.

So are you against benefits for people who have never paid in?