Motability / vehicles for disabled people.

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

I'm not being unreasonable, I'd like to explain to my husband why he is being unreasonable

He's complaining that a bloke down the street has a Mercedes. The bloke has been very ill and struggles to walk. We understand that he has financial help to have a vehicle, he's probably registered disabled.

DH has complained that this is "our money" (taxpayers) and why should we be paying for him to have "some fancy car."

I think that this is probably through Motability which is a charity? And therefore they will have probably struck up some good deal with Mercedes so actually it's cost effective? And either way, the state are hardly giving away luxury items and that he should wind his neck back in.

Anything else I should know?

my dd's freinds mum had to give the WAV back about a week after her son died

There was an article in the Independent which looked at people's perceptions and how they have changed since we got this Govt. a huge number of people now believe that those on benefits are somehow milking the system. This definitely applies to disability benefits too with people more and more willing to spy on their neighbours and suspect them of playing the system. It's a sad state of affairs frankly.

FWIW, I have no idea if my neighbours claim benefits/get any disability benefits. It's none of my business as long as we are all fine and able to support one another.

So many people around worrying that someone has got something they haven't.

These cars are not free, end of.

It's people like your dh who really scare me.

I have a (second hand, ebay car), not through motability, but it is obviously for a disabled person (i.e has a ramp, full of disability aids, sticker on the back window saying 'please leave space for my wheelchair'. I'm worried when I go out in it because I don't look disabled (until I get my chair out obviously, but some days I get out the car without it if I know it's going to cause me more pain in my arms to get the chair out then standing for 2 mins is going to make my legs hurt) that I'm going to get abuse.

The reality is my car has given me so much. It means that once or occasionally twice a week I can leave my house, which lovely as it is feels like a prison if I don't get out of it. It is the most wonderful freedom to go wherever I want within reason, not have to wait for a taxi or lug my chair into a taxi, or have an arsey taxi driver who won't lift it for me. It really honestly makes life worth living. So knowing people out there are judging and saying 'why should my tax money go towards a luxury' makes me want to commit a violent act. Honestly, if you get higher rate DLA chances are life is a complete and utterly painful struggle every single day. But if your husband would like my disability he is absolutely more than welcome to it and the perks that come with it.

life is a complete and utterly painful struggle every single day
Yeah

This government are running a powerful game of propaganda against people who for whatever reason, don't work, complete with 'curtains shut' emotive imagery designed to make people resentful of those who genuinely need help - basically it's divide and rule. Whatever Labour did wrongly, under the last government I don't remember it being acceptable to call disabled people benefit scroungers.

Unfortunately there are a lot of people too stupid to see it for what it actually is.

If anyone ever feels 'jealous' that a disabled person is able to get lots done for them, I can sit you down and describe how my paraplegic father used to wake up in tears because he had pooed the bed, or how he felt when he fell out of his wheelchair and broke his leg in the conservatory. Or how he had to go on a cannabis trial for the pain.

Disabled people deserve all the help they can get and really, society needs some more empathy and to really think about other people's situations, rather than judging.

Sigh.

Also disability is not always visible, as has been mentioned. I don't get any benefit but I am ill with lymphoma. I look fit due to regular chemo shots but there are times, when I have bad sides effects, that I feel completely and utterly exhausted.