to think this DLA claim must be fradulent

[BalloonTwister]

Next door neighbour asked me yesterday if she could put me down as the second driver on her new car.

Had no idea what she was talking about so she whipped out a Ford brochure and informed me that she is getting a new Meriva and needs to put someone down as a second driver, but her Mum lives 6 miles away.

Still not got to the bottom of why she needs a second driver, but she did tell me that she's entitled to the car because she's got bad knees, in fact she says she has no knee caps at all!

Neighbour and I attend a slimming class together, and she needs to lose several stone, (which can't be helping her knees) but her weight doesn't stop her walking with me, 6-7 miles, up and down hills, with a pushchair, 3 times a week, and attending a Zumba class with me. Nor does it stop her having regular stalls at bootfairs from 6am til 2pm on Sundays.

Surely if she can manage all that, she shouldn't be entitled to a new car for her 'disability' when so many other, genuinely disabled people struggle to get any help at all? She doesn't even use her current car very often, she walks everywhere!

FFS

I'm sure her doctor can tell if she has a problem or not far better than you can.

I think unless you are her doctor you have no right to make assumptions about her disability.

Yes she may be able to do all those things but she may also have days where she cannot walk.

They don't just give DLA willy nilly.

What painkillers is she on? What was she doing the day after the walk?

Who to? I was hoping for someone a bit more constructive to come along, that could advise me whether or not it is likely to be a fraudulent claim, before I made the tricky choice of reporting her or fecking off. Thanks for your input though, will bear it in mind ;)

Report her anonymously. Assessments will be done and they might do a video check. Might see it on You Tube one day!

Reports will be investigated. If there is no fraud, no action will be taken. Don't worry about that but, if she is claiming fraudulently, you would be doing wrong by not informing.

Aren't you get a Merivia too OP? We're all getting one you know, and a goat! They give DLA out like Smarties at a birthday party. Dead easy. You just make something up and they give you loads of money and nice things.

Well, she does need to explain a bit more about it to you. Are you supposed to be driving her around? What insurance will she have for you? What if you have an accident, when she is the passenger, will she be suing you.

yanbu to ask a few more questions before your name is put anywhere.

She obviously trusts you OP.

More fool her.

Google it if you want to report her for some imagined thing. There are tons of places where neighbours can report neighbours for stuff.

1984

You can walk OP, and push through pain on drugs, then be laid up after. It may not be fraud.

OP as others have said your not a dr and you also don't know what medications she's on friends DD has arthritis some days shes ok others she can't move very well. Conditions like these aren't the same every day.

To qualify for the high rate mobility element of DLA - which you need in order to have a motability car - you must be 'unable or virtually unable to walk without severe discomfort, or (be) at risk of endangering your life or causing deterioration in your health by making the effort to walk'

I can't comment on whether or not she meets that criteria, because I'm not her doctor! But I am on DLA and I do get HR mobility and they wrote to my gp and all sorts. They don't just take your word for it.

yeah, i fancied me some DLA so i forged some letters from 4 different medical professionals and filled in the forms and got enough to buy a fucking house

just as well as my claim for DDs legitimate disability with her reports, personal statements from people who know us and letters from docs/consultant as well as restricted prescription proof is taking ages to come through

Ford don't make Merivas.

I find it hard to believe that a person who can walk 6 to 7 miles even with a fluctuating condition will be eligible for HR mobility. Are you wanting to report her?

If she can do all that I would be most surprised that she can claim DLA, especially knowing how hard it is to get it.

Report her to the DWP, of you are that worried.

BTW, she doesn't have to have 2 drivers on a Motability car. You can nominate 2 drivers and pay for a third.

Mrs Ewing, we do a long walk every other day, zumba on a monday, and swimming on a friday. She's never in the 3 years I have known her, complained of bad knees, or even mentioned her knees, up til yesterday when this car thing came up.

I am not anti DLA, just mystified at how she can be legitimately entitled to it.

Can I ask you in the know something? If the person were to be making a fraudulent claim, could the OP in any way shape or form, be in the shite for having herself as the second driver?

Genuine question.

OP, If in doubt, I would just say you'd rather not, and leave it at that.

Does she have recurrent and episodic bouts of an illness where she can barely walk?

This is why I have chosen my cat to be my bestest friend