AIBU to be a tad [hmm] about my neighbours new car?

[DairyleaAndPickleOnAStick]

First off, this is absolutely NOT a benefits bashing thread.

I am probably BVU and this will show me up to be a nasty, mean spirited and bitter aul crone, BUT my neighbours just took delivery of a brand new car today- (think 3 letter, premium marque) - which they receive AFAIK through the motibility scheme. (Where I live this is very common practice.) Neither of them work and presumably receive benefits and HB. They definitely rent their house as we know the owner.

My DH and I were both high earning professionals before the recession hit and paid a very considerable sum for our own house, unfortunately we were both made redundant (within weeks of each other) several years ago and have fought tooth and nail to keep our home (both working very low paid unskilled jobs, taking in lodgers and DH moving away for a year to retrain.)

Obviously we are very fortunate to have been able to hold on to our home but it has been an incredibly tough few years- the pressures of redundancy, unemployment, and being on the breadline have taken a massive toll on our mental health, wellbeing and relationships- both with each other and family/friends.
My DH came home today soaked through after being out all afternoon in the pouring rain selling electricity door to door.

As I said upthread this is not a benefits bashing thread- I am fully aware that being on benefits is no picnic- DH and I spent 6 months on the dole and it was beyond grim, however AIBU to want to weep out of frustration seeing my neighbours new beemer parked in the driveway??

I have had people say to me 'are you disabled' when pulling up in a disabled space and the look on their face when i say 'no'
I find it quite amusing now:o

Although the look they give ds1 when he bounds over to see their car is probably even more interesting. :)

devientenigma, sorry

That's exactly the problem with threads such as this (and people with attitudes like the OP's in general). They push everyone on to the defensive and even if we agree with each other we feel everyone is having a go at us personally.

I think some people have a very fixed idea about what a disabled person should look like, should act like. The fact that each and everyone person is different, regardless of health or (dis)ability, means it is very dangerous to assume that because someone does not fit into your image of a 'disabled person' they must be taking the piss and abusing the system.

OP, I am not a Christian, but I think you would learn much from "judge not lest ye be judged".

I personally just think if people have issue with certain people it is easier to just report them and let the dwp investigate

My Mum once said to me I was lucky to have the car and I do feel lucky, it has made our very small and isolated world a bit bigger and it has enabled me to care for my daughter properly, something I would struggle with without a car as I live in a rural location. I would rather not have it though, I would rather that severe disability hadn't touched my family, but I love my daughter and we make the best of things. No-one needs to be envious of the car

Great response OwlLady. We have never had anyone ask us that. I'm cross now, I want to be able to say that too.

The OP and her husband's hard work has paid and continue to pay the taxes which provide the DLA which so many posters here defend. She's doing her best to keep her head out of the gutter like the rest of us.

Um an my hard work and my husband's hard work pay the taxes which provide the DLA DS1 claims.

Your point is?

Because of course carers and disabled people can never be tax payers as well can they?

I am not sure what your point is bubble. Lots of people receiving DLA work hard and pay tax.
I am also not ure that DLA needs defending does it?

Could you explain what you mean?

same here Owl, I wish severe disabilities hadn't touched my life but I love my son very much, however would love a day off at some point

I agree let the DWP deal with it.

No bother Rinder, maybe I should stop being transparent and go in for the kill with our circumstances (have been told in the past, let them know how hard it is lol ) However it has killed threads!

YANBU. Theres no way that DLA should be used to permit the purchase of flashy luxury items. If they can afford to top up the purchase price so much, then they don't need the benefit.

Its completely illogical. The motability scheme is there to facilitate transport for the disabled by the purchase of a suitable vehicle. It is not there to permit the purchase of luxury cars by topping up the purchase price.

My friends and relatives in Holland actually can't believe the notion of a motability scheme. In European terms, it is far more generous than what many traditionally more socialist countries permit.

My father got a motability car, and it honestly did more than good. He was disabled due to diabetes caused by eating too much and not taking enough exercise. Giving him a car meant he could drive to the shops to get his cigarettes, instead of walking. He died at 54. If he had lost weight and exercised, he might still be with us.

Bubblemoon, thank you so much for so perfectly proving the point I made in my previous post. Of course disabled people have never contributed a penny of tax in their lives! It is only able-bodied people who do so.

Bubblemoon, the thing with disability is that you never know when it might affect you or someone close to you. You never know when you might need a bit of extra help because your circumstances change through no fault of your own, no matter how much tax you have paid or you continue to pay. I take widowed parents' allowance now. I know which I would prefer - 500 quid a month or my husband back.

Oh dear God.

There really isn't any point is there?

:Off to earn some money that can be taxed:

Oh that was to geegee of course

I think motability cars should all come with 'scrounging bastard' written on the side.

And they should have wooden seats and no radio, let alone a CD player :shock:

And no safety features (that should solve a few problems).

seats, you think tey should have seats, the fuckers should squat, unless they can't in which case a bed of nails should suffice.

It is depressing isn't it.

but but a couple of people in Holland think that way so it must be right.

A car, they get a car? Should be a fuckin motorised shed, plenty if room for a wheel chair in one if them, if they don't use a chair then a sit on lawnmower should do. You can then get em working, lazy scrounging feckers

Pickled- I guess I didn't have a point and just posted without thinking. As I said in my op my dh came in after spending the afternoon knocking doors in the pouring rain trying to flog electricity which is incredibly tough and soul destroying work and it breaks my heart to see him leaving in he morning with his flask and returning exhausted and in despair about our situation. Meanwhile my neighbour who walks with a stick in public but laid his own patio over the summer took delivery of his shiny new 3 series. So I lost the rag and posted. So fucking shoot me.

Don't worry OP; if it makes you feel better, they're probably drug dealers who became disabled in the police shoot-out when that last Columbian shipment got busted. Probably.

Ermm, bubble, my husband works and pays tax too. As do I. We've paid a huge amount of tax over the years. Disabled people can often work too. Didn't you know that??

My point is that I'm fascinated and horrified by the level of vitriol being levelled at her. It seems to me that any mention of benefits/DLA on this site unleashes an attack by the mob which doesn't benefit anyone.

Yeah my husband could probably lay a patio on a good day too. Keep your eyes on your own knitting, life is hard for many people, not just you.