To want to scream that Motability cars are NOT FREE!!!!!

[Mamaz0n]

Ihave just seen a programme on the BBC where they have yet again claimed someone recieved a "free car"

No they fucking didnt!

They have been given a lease hire vehicle under the motability scheme. It is not their car, they DO PAY for it and it is only for a certain period of time.

It pisses me off that people assume that being disabled is a sweet life with loads of freebies.
It isn't. far from it.

you would expect the BBC at least to get it right.

And also even if DH could work we couldn't afford the size of car we need for him to go out with his scooter. We'd have to take out a massive loan for the whole amount (which we probably wouldn't get) and then pay the other costs.

We worked out that over 3 years its pretty much the same as buying the car on credit in terms of cost so we're not really financially better off but its means we have hassle-free motoring which is so important when you can't walk very far or get public transport.

mamazon - i was responding to blu who specifically referred to those earning a good wage. I wouldn guess that many people as you say aren't on a good wage. Is it means tested in any way?

Grockle - i don't expect people to know. But i do expect the BBC to make sure they do not give misleading information.

They may as well be doing teh Daily Mails job for them!

No DLA is not means tested.

DLA does have to be applied for and it is not as straight forward and easy to receive as certain sectors would have you believe. My ds last form took me 4 hours to complete! ( i am by no means stupid, but it is a complex and complicated form that asks everything but a photo of your cats rectum)
Everything needs to be backed up supporting evidence and DR's confirmation.

Being disabled is very expensive. IF you dont drive you can't just get a normal taxi. you need to call a specialist taxi firm or a "proper" taxi rather than your typical cab firm. these are more expensive.
It is diffuclt to use regular public transport so you rely on taxis more often.

you have lots of expenses that an able bodied person just wouldn't.

That is what DLA is for.

I would challenge all of those people who seem to think that the disabled are somehow raking it in to point me in the direction of a disable person living teh high life.

No it isn't means tested, anyone who is disabled can claim DLA, both care and mobility part of it. It is very hard to get though.

I used to work supplying vehicles of these type to people. I think it's all very fair, especially when you hear about the specifications and modifications that people have to have in order to drive. They need these vehicles to have any mobility. The only thing that pissed me off was the bariatric vehicles- special cars for fat people. It's not fair that they should be given huge discounts on their transport just because they eat too much. It's just taking resources away from others. Anyway, we always used to say, where are they going, Mcdonalds? And why don't you just put wheels on them because they're as big as a car anyway.

Do people really believe that disabled people are raking it in? I just cant imagine it. But then I work with severely disabled people and see a little what it is like for the families. I don't pretend to understand but I have to do a lot of form-filling and providing evidence for various things so perhaps I don't see the judgement that comes from people who don't know.

Blimey I just do not understand the mindset that would begrudge a disabled person the ability to get about. It's probably the same people who think council houses are free and awarded to any passing 16 yo who happens to get pregnant. It's just ugly and bitter and grasping, that attitude, "I worked hard and don't get anything free" completely disregarding the fact that they were lucky enough to be born with the skills/situation or whatever which enabled them to not need any help.

We are poor, in HA housing, being able to run a car (or learn to drive for that matter) is out of the question. Do I begrudge someone with disabilties getting a "free" car, do I feck.

I can walk, or get on a bus or train at will without any assistance. Like you say they are not free either.

It's a bit like the childless whinging on and on and on that they don't get the benefits/holiday/flexible working that people with children do. Fecking idiots.

CliveClown you are an arse, what if someone was obese and sufferred another disability, would they be worthy in your mind?

Lets face it, to get to the size where you would need a bariatric car, you would obviously have some kind of mental illness, people do not eat themselves to death on a whim.

There is no way I could get my kids to hospital appointments without our Motability vehicle. Two of the three hospitals we use are not served by public transport. Plus a lot of public transport around here despite what many claim really is not easily wheelchair accessible.

We could either use the mobility component to pay for cabs or get a car.... this probably works out more cost effective and gives us that bit more freedom.

clive did you never think that there could have been reasons for these people being overweight, like steroid treatments?

It's not fair that they should be given huge discounts on their transport just because they eat too much. It's just taking resources away from others. Anyway, we always used to say, where are they going, Mcdonalds? And why don't you just put wheels on them because they're as big as a car anyway.

So my father then

Disabled with hypothyroidism. The thyroid issue makes him gain weight, his disability means he is unable to lose it. add to this lots of steroid meds and various other issues and 20 years on and my once 10st father is 25st.

oh and no he doesn't just drive to Macdonalds. but hey, nice attitude you have there mate. well done

Thankfully he hasn't had to have any bariatric adaptations. Would you mind telling me which company you worked for so that (if he lives long enough to need a replacement) we never use it.

Iirc its a forty page form to apply for dla.

And utterly depressing to fill in. And last time they decided to reduce the personal care rate for ds2, as they said he didnt need any night time help. This was after filling in the form and talking on the phone telling them ds cannot walk at all and cant even fix his duvet if needs be. And he needs help using the bathroom. I appealed and they reinstated the original rate. None of this is easy to go through.

Oh we said it behind their massive backs.

Yes, of course some of them had conditions but not all of them. When you've had to prioritize someone who has eaten themselves disabled and you know that people with no legs are missing their hospital appointments because of it, you get fed up. It happened maybe three or four times a week. We had a special silent sign to each other to indicate fatty- puffing our cheeks out and crossing our eyes.

When you see it all being allocated you need humour to get over how unfair it is.

They reduced DS care componant for the same reason lou.
He has melatonin to keep him asleep, it works maybe 60% of the time. when it doesn't he is awake all night. We have found him boucningon the trampoline at 3am before.

When it does it means he is so deeply asleep he sleep walks. we have had to fit stairgates to prevent him falling down them. we are repeatedly finding him weeing in the cupboard as he is so disorientated. He tries to get out of the front door. So even when he sleeps, i dont.

I just didn't have the strength to appeal. It is too painfull having to beg and plead and explain every minute details of why your child isn't "normal"
Everything has to be compared to a "normal" child of their age.

It certainly isn't just handed on a plate

and what makes you a Dr?

How exactly do you think you are qalified to know whether someone has an underlying condition?

You don't. you mock anyway because your ignorance preceeds intelligence.

you are no better than the vile scum that shout "spaz" and "mong" at people in wheelchairs, or make "window licker" faces to my son on his school transport.

The form is dreadful to complete, my DS gets lower rate mobility so has no eligibility for a lease car/Motobility scheme car.
DLA is not means tested because it's a recognition that even if you do have a highly paid job you will still incur extra costs as a result of disability (that is if you are lucky enough to have a highly paid job).

I am worried about the level of anti DLA reporting in the media at present, it seems an almost concerted effort to persuade the public that anyone disabled is a feckless scrounger taking taxpayers money. It's not nice and very concerning to hear people saying "there's a lot of fraud" to justify their agreement with changes and cuts in benefits to the disabled. Rare,y are they aware of the low level of fraud with DLA.

Yes I'm sure puffing your cheeks out at a colleague while on the phone is exactly the same as bullying a child with special needs. In fact, children with special needs are my comedy bread and butter.

Sorry Clive you are talking out of your backside. You supplied the vehicles.... great. I take it that you needed a degree in Medicine to do this job so would be aware of all the reasons these people might have been obese.

Or are you just a tosser who enjoys making fun of those less fortunate than you?

I think the Tech needs to make a "wanker" emoticon, I really get e urge to put one in sometimes. Clive you are a wanker now piss off.

some people claiming DLA or trying to are dishonest though, there is no getting away from the fact that there are malingerers who dont need benefits

becki....... yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn
try researching the fraud rate... it's extremely LOW.

Anyone else swallowed a copy of the Daily Mail?

becki, how is that relevant? Motability cars are not free, that's the simple fact of it. If you are not entitled to it and if you can make do with the basic model, which many of us cannot, yes you end up with a car that is free to you, i.e. at the loss of c. £300's worth of income per month you're not entitled to. But to characterise the cars as free is misleading.

No just someone who has had a lot of disabled and unwell people crying on the phone to me after taking a call from fat people who just shout WHERE MY CAR and who have unfortunately taken the last vehicle. Maybe you don't believe they exist or if they do, that there could be that many but there are.

taken the last vehicle?
Now i know yo are talking utter bullshit.

You order the vehicles direct from the manufactor.