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AIBU?

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Original poster

Motability car use…

138 replies

TheSecondMrsMoorcroft · 28/11/2022 20:03

Posting here for traffic.

I have a 22yr old son who’s in receipt of PIP. We have a Motability car FOR HIS USE.

I have applied for a nursing post (community based) and need use of a vehicle. It’s part time and so, work use will be strictly limited to around 10-12hrs a week only. However, I’m thinking I can’t use this car for this purpose. It will not affect my using the car for my son. It is his vehicle (he doesn’t drive and has difficulty crossing the road, even) and my hours must work around him.

Does anyone know? AIBU to even consider using “his” car for my work use?

OP posts:
x2boys · 29/11/2022 07:46

CloverCoolCalm · 28/11/2022 23:43

Just use it.

This brings to mind a local TV news story, the husbands car and tools and ladders for his work were stolen, it made the local news. Much was made of the fact that this was their child’s Mobility paid for car.
Then the Mum was interviewed explaining that the child had already left for school, that morning, when her husband’s vehicle was stolen, the child travelled in the Council paid for taxi, which they were collected in every** school day.
So not only did they have a fully funded car, they were laughingly making use of a free taxi too.

However, your case is different, I would use the car, in your case, you need the job.

Yep my child gets transport to and from his special school and s have a mobility car that is our family car ,and???

SheldontheWonderSchlong · 29/11/2022 07:49

So not only did they have a fully funded car, they were laughingly making use of a free taxi too

Yes, so true - when I watched my son go off in a taxi to his special school miles away and then rushed to get my daughter (also SEN but in mainstream) to her school in our 'fully funded car' I would have such a laugh about how good I had it and what mugs the government were and how I was getting one over on everyone else.

🙄 There aren't enough eye rolls.....

BakedTattie · 29/11/2022 07:51

So not only did they have a fully funded car, they were laughingly making use of a free taxi too

and what exactly is wrong with that?

people are so ignorant about motability cars. For a start, they aren’t free!!

ScroogeMcDuckling · 29/11/2022 08:16

I worked with a lady whose daughter has serious medical issues, which allowed the lady/mother to have a car.

I was listening (we all were) to her talking to “the car people”, that hopefully she will be working part time, over five days, at different sites, sometimes going to more than one site a day, within a 25 miles radius of her home, she really, really wanted the job, could she do it with her daughters car.

She was ecstatic at the end of that call, they said yes.

bigbluebus · 29/11/2022 08:39

The type of work you propose would require business use on the insurance as it isn't just the usual "to and from normal place of work" type cover that comes with SDP standard cover.

Those who are spouting all sorts of alleged Motability rules aren't being helpful.

You do need to speak to Motability. Where will you son (the beneficiary of the vehicle) be whilst you intend to work? If he's at a college/day centre which you either drop him off at or they collect him (so he has no need for use of the car) then that is totally different to him being stuck at home with carers because there's no vehicle to use.

I used my DDs Motability car as my main vehicle until she became an adult and we had carers at home who were added to the insurance (Motability arranged this at no cost to us) so the carers could use the car to take DD out. I then had to find another vehicle to use otherwise I couldn't go anywhere during my respite hours.

Sidge · 29/11/2022 08:45

So not only did they have a fully funded car, they were laughingly making use of a free taxi too.

Oh @CloverCoolCalm stop for a moment and have a think - you obviously have no idea what you’re talking about.

The car isn’t fully funded, it’s paid for out of a non means tested benefit. Many cars also have a hefty down payment. To have a car big enough to carry my daughters wheelchair and big enough to transport 4-5 fully grown people means I needed a larger vehicle requiring a £2500 down payment.

Most councils provide transport for SEN students, and once they’re in post-16 education it isn’t free. My daughters school was 12 miles away (and that’s close! We’re in a large mainly rural county and some students were 1.5 hours away) and there was no way I could have taken her to school and back twice a day, as well as get her sibling to school for the same sort of time, and get to work. ALL students at her school came by taxi/minibus - school grounds don’t allow for 150 disabled children to arrive at once in 150 cars… we’re not “laughingly making use of a free taxi” - it’s the councils stipulation as to how our children attend school.

I use our Motability car to get to work, whilst she gets transport to school and then college. This is fully permitted - they don’t expect you to have a second family car. I am still using the car for her benefit, y’know to earn money to pay the rent and bills and buy food, as well as drive her to her many hospital appointments, pick up her meds, take her to her disabled kids club.

Honestly posts like yours make me so angry, you have no idea as to the reality but like to make snarky comments about all the free stuff and easy life us parents of those disabled kids have.

Underhisi · 29/11/2022 08:50

"So not only did they have a fully funded car, they were laughingly making use of a free taxi too."

We could have a motability car (but use the money to buy our own) and ds gets a taxi to school. I'm not spending 5 hours a day driving after being up for hours during the night. The car is used for meeting the family's needs including currently taking dh to his chemo sessions. Do you have a problem with that? Would you like to swap situations?

Thatsnotmycar · 29/11/2022 08:59

@SidTwaddell Thank you. I’m going to try to help the 3 people I know who this would really help but who have been told it isn’t possible.

So not only did they have a fully funded car, they were laughingly making use of a free taxi too.

Hmm motability cars aren’t fully funded. Their DC are legally entitled to such school transport. You would have a heart attack if you knew some families get mileage instead of a taxi.

caringcarer · 29/11/2022 09:00

Motability say the disabled person must be in the car or you are doing an errand for their benefit example they give on their literature you are collecting food for disabled person. I don't think you using it for work if your son is not in car would be allowed. You could hire one for yourself from your salary. Most people expect to have to get themselves to work. I also have a foster son with PIP but only use his car if he is in vehicle. I keep an old one for my personal use so as not in to break rules and I could not risk him losing it.

x2boys · 29/11/2022 09:07

caringcarer · 29/11/2022 09:00

Motability say the disabled person must be in the car or you are doing an errand for their benefit example they give on their literature you are collecting food for disabled person. I don't think you using it for work if your son is not in car would be allowed. You could hire one for yourself from your salary. Most people expect to have to get themselves to work. I also have a foster son with PIP but only use his car if he is in vehicle. I keep an old one for my personal use so as not in to break rules and I could not risk him losing it.

What notability actually say is that the car .must be being used for the disabled child/ adult or for their benefit ,it benefits my child having a parent that works so my dh uses it to get to and from work and it's our family car.

Punxsutawney · 29/11/2022 09:09

"Most councils provide transport for SEN students, and once they’re in post-16 education it isn’t free"

DS is 18 and in our LA, transport for post 18 students is completely free. I am very grateful for his taxi, as otherwise it would take up about 3hrs of our day driving him there and back.

vivainsomnia · 29/11/2022 09:20

Funny how all posters think it's absolute fine yet 56% of voters says you are being unreasonable!

Sidge · 29/11/2022 09:21

Punxsutawney · 29/11/2022 09:09

"Most councils provide transport for SEN students, and once they’re in post-16 education it isn’t free"

DS is 18 and in our LA, transport for post 18 students is completely free. I am very grateful for his taxi, as otherwise it would take up about 3hrs of our day driving him there and back.

@Punxsutawney thats really good, ours is subsidised so we make a means tested contribution. It’s still hundreds of pounds but admittedly a better deal than trying to do it myself. She’s now at college an hour away so 4 hours a day in the car for me is not remotely possible!

Thatsnotmycar · 29/11/2022 09:25

Sidge · 29/11/2022 09:21

@Punxsutawney thats really good, ours is subsidised so we make a means tested contribution. It’s still hundreds of pounds but admittedly a better deal than trying to do it myself. She’s now at college an hour away so 4 hours a day in the car for me is not remotely possible!

Show quote history

It is worth getting a copy of your LA’s post 16 transport policy and then checking with SENTAS whether it is lawful. Many LAs have unlawful post 16 transport policies and are charging when they shouldn’t or are charging too much (or refusing to provide transport completely).

softpilllow · 29/11/2022 09:26

caringcarer · 29/11/2022 09:00

Motability say the disabled person must be in the car or you are doing an errand for their benefit example they give on their literature you are collecting food for disabled person. I don't think you using it for work if your son is not in car would be allowed. You could hire one for yourself from your salary. Most people expect to have to get themselves to work. I also have a foster son with PIP but only use his car if he is in vehicle. I keep an old one for my personal use so as not in to break rules and I could not risk him losing it.

I think of you have a/nother/spare car it is an absolute waste of money having a mobility car too. (Unless adaptations are needed) Obviously different in the case of foster care but most of people have mentioned the possibility of OP having another car as well.

Sidge · 29/11/2022 09:28

@Thatsnotmycar thanks I’ll check it out! There have been lots of issues with transport over the years, she finishes college in July so I’m not sure I’ve got the energy to challenge it now lol.

But I will find their policy.

POTC · 29/11/2022 09:28

Those saying yes haven't read the part where you say you're community based. The motability insurance won't cover business use and you won't be just commuting to a single place of work so I highly doubt you'd be insured.

vivainsomnia · 29/11/2022 09:31

Surely it applies the sane, disability or not. If your adult child bought a new car, would you just use it for yourself to go to work?

I totally get using as a family car when the child is indeed a child but once they are an adult and the claim is for them, why is it still ok? It's their car for their use. Saying that it benefits them seems more a case of stretching the truth to suit the convenience.

x2boys · 29/11/2022 09:31

vivainsomnia · 29/11/2022 09:20

Funny how all posters think it's absolute fine yet 56% of voters says you are being unreasonable!

Probably because those commenting ,most will have experience with mobility care and those that think the Op is being unreasonable,will have deceided in their head what they think the rules SHOULD be ?

x2boys · 29/11/2022 09:34

vivainsomnia · 29/11/2022 09:31

Surely it applies the sane, disability or not. If your adult child bought a new car, would you just use it for yourself to go to work?

I totally get using as a family car when the child is indeed a child but once they are an adult and the claim is for them, why is it still ok? It's their car for their use. Saying that it benefits them seems more a case of stretching the truth to suit the convenience.

Well in my sons case his disabilities are such that he won't ever have the cognitive ability to drive ,so will.still need a named driver

softpilllow · 29/11/2022 09:35

vivainsomnia · 29/11/2022 09:31

Surely it applies the sane, disability or not. If your adult child bought a new car, would you just use it for yourself to go to work?

I totally get using as a family car when the child is indeed a child but once they are an adult and the claim is for them, why is it still ok? It's their car for their use. Saying that it benefits them seems more a case of stretching the truth to suit the convenience.

Have you any idea that disabled children grow into disabled adults!

Punxsutawney · 29/11/2022 09:42

Sidge, the policy in our LA is a bit strange. They charge about £500 for young people who are 16 and 17 in post 16 education. But once the young person reaches 18, there is no charge at all for those with EHCPs requiring transport. At the start of the academic year we waited for the invoice as we knew parents of a 17 year old that had paid. But it never arrived, so checked the policy and it didn't mention any charges at all for those over 18.

TigerRag · 29/11/2022 09:44

vivainsomnia · 29/11/2022 09:31

Surely it applies the sane, disability or not. If your adult child bought a new car, would you just use it for yourself to go to work?

I totally get using as a family car when the child is indeed a child but once they are an adult and the claim is for them, why is it still ok? It's their car for their use. Saying that it benefits them seems more a case of stretching the truth to suit the convenience.

You're obviously aware that many disabled adults can't legally drive? What would be the point of having 2 cars and one sitting not used often because the disabled person doesn't really go out? The OP working does benefit her son.

vivainsomnia · 29/11/2022 09:49

Well in my sons case his disabilities are such that he won't ever have the cognitive ability to drive ,so will.still need a named driver
Well of course, but again, this should be for their own transport needs. Ultimately, whilst OP will be working, her DS wont be able to be transported in their car would they wish to.

If they have little need for transport, wouldn't they then benefit more from having the money rather than the car?

vivainsomnia · 29/11/2022 09:51

You're obviously aware that many disabled adults can't legally drive? What would be the point of having 2 cars and one sitting not used often because the disabled person doesn't really go out? The OP working does benefit her son
Indeed, it would be pointless, so would make more sense for the disabled adult to get the cash rather than the car and pay for their transport, be it mum, dad, a carer or a taxi. This seems better use of their entitlement.