Motability cars - should they be UK made?

[Pandersmum]

Motability cars are currently in the news with suggestions VAT will be added. I realise they are a lifetime to some and a perk to others. They are a huge annual cost to the tax payer.

AIBU to think that all motability car choice should be limited to those manufactured in the UK? This would support British manufacturing worker jobs and increase UK business tax revenue whilst still providing cars for those who need them?

I agree with you about everything except about Pip fraud being zero. I’m one person and I personally know 2 people who claim to be disabled, turn up to interviews hobbling with a stick etc and claim PIP but are gym goers, one woman claiming to be suffering from fibromyalgia does cash in hand cleaning and runs 5k daily.

Do you really think that the GBR population are that honest? 😂😂😂

So presumably you have reported them to the DWP if you are so sure and have so much evidence?

Yeah posters on here always claim to know someone claiming PIP who shouldn't be
You must think all assessors are completely thick.

My DH is a wheelchair user. He used to go to the gym.

Oh and it's not always about physical mobility my son can walk and run for miles in fact he never stops moving but currently gets HRM under SMI ( DLA) and I don't anticipate that changing when he transfers to PIP.becsuse he has severe autism and learning disabilities and can't speak at all so would be unable to travel anywhere independently or plan a journey

It is perfectly legal to be in the position of claiming PIP, and being able to go to the gym. Some people are actually prescribed classes through their GP, so nothing particularly exciting to see there, imo. Have you reported these people, for their 'fraud' though?

My sister in law has a motability car. She worked all her life until she had a stroke - she lost her job, can't drive. My brother has retired to be her carer. They have very particular requirements for a car as it has to be one she can get in and out of - some are too high - and can take all her equipment. IlThere is only ever a selected range of cars available at any given time - it's not like you have a free choice of any car on the market - and I think there was only one car that worked for them. And they had to put down £4k for it. And make a monthly payment of her PIP mobility money. If she had been restricted to a UK made car there might have been nothing suitable.

I don't agree with your second paragraph, the whole point of the scheme is that Motability have the knowledge and staff to organise and make the adaptations needed to the car at a reasonable cost. While technically yes someone could source a car from elsewhere, they would then have to find someone to do the adaptations privately for a reasonable cost, and they might not even be able to find someone to do the adaptations.

Having said that, I do agree with the principle that this is a service provided, and that if the service provides a car, it is reasonable that the providers have a set range of cars to provide. I suspect there may also be a technical element around adaptions being done better if the technical teams are doing each adaption many times on each possible type of car, instead of keeping on having to work out how to do things on different cars.

Ridiculous suggestion. If you are in a power assisted wheelchair you need a large capacity car as the batteries make power assisted wheelchairs bigger than standard. You may need a winch or tail lift - depending if you can self transfer and drive or you are being driven while in your wheelchair. The types of vehicles that can accommodate this type of set up are small. It is just not feasible that a UK manufacturer will do this unelss you had a nationalised one. They will make what profits them. Even non power assisted wheelchair you might have to think about things like is the gear and handbrake paddles/buttons as standard (there fore not needing adaptations).

People can "top up" their motability payment with an advance payment from their own money to increase choice. They dont ger this money baxk when they hand the car back. Some have to apply for grants for adaptations. If you have specialist needs you have to evidence already for the grant that this is the cheapest vehicle that meets your needs. Some disabled people end up paying out of pocket for adaptations and then having to pay again when the lease expires and they have to swap the vehicle.

I think the motability scheme should be designed by disabled people for disabled people.

Also if you restrict the available cars you restrict the resale market afterwards meaning that they can’t make as much money back at point of resale.

The payment towards a disability car is the mobility payment which would otherwise be paid to the pip or DLA claimant if they didn't get a car, so it doesn't matter what sort of car it is

People should definitely have choice. But parents who receive a car because their child has a disability - there should be some safeguards that it meets their childs needs
Currently I have 3 children on my caseload who all need specialist supportive wheelchairs, and a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) so they can be transported in their wheelchair as this is the safest and most comfortable way for them to travel. These 3 sets of parents have refused the supportive wheelchair and asked for a basic wheelchair instead which folds to go in the boot of their SUV provided by motability, which risks causing them pain and long term deformity. Asked why, answers included 'WAVS look ugly' 'they are too bulky to drive' (despite being no bigger than an SUV) and 'the deposit was unaffordable for a WAV (social worker checked, it was lower deposit than their SUV).

Motability is a charity. No money comes directly from the tax payer, other than it uses the mobility component of your benefit.

Quite aside from the fact the UK has no carmakers where the profit goes abroad (unless the OP is planning on insisting everyone drives a Morgan), the key criteria in a Motability vehicle is it's suitability for the person it is intended for

Heights, seats and doors have to allow for transfers. Boots have to be able to stow a wheelchair and maybe a scooter.

And that is just for a person as passenger. If the claimant is driving you may need to be able to fit adaptations for pedals and hand controls.

I can't see the country that gave the world the Austin Allegro is ever going to manage to face those challenges.

Here's an idea - why doesn't everyone leave it to the disabled themselves to know what they need ? I know it's radical, but if we don't do that, the next step will be more busybodies telling the non disabled what they need. I mean maternity leave ? Really ? Surely vouchers are a better way to help mothers to be ?

A post by someone who clearly has no idea how difficult it is to find a vehicle which suits the needs of those with a disabled family member.
We had 5 different vehicles on the Motability scheme during our DDs lifetime. The type of vehicle we chose changed each time in accordance with DDs needs. We even had to end one leasing agreement early as the vehicle was no longer fit for purpose - we switched from a people carrier we could lift DD into and get her wheelchair in the back, to a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV).
Knowing many other families who had DCs with disabilities, I can categorically tell you that the vehicles that suited their needs were as widely varied as the disabilities.
Anyone who thinks the choice should be restricted to a few British made vehicles is sadly misguided.
FYI my DD would not have fitted into one of those little blue cars they used to give disabled people in the 1970's, which i think some people feel the disabled should still be given. My DD could never drive!
And in case anyone spouts the 'free vehicle ' misinformation that usually comes out in these discussions, we paid huge upfront payments for the vehicles we had out of our family savings in addition to the monthly payment of DDs mobility component of her DLA.

Nobody has a motability car as a perk. To get DLA or PIP at all, you need to be severely disabled. To be eligible for a motability car you have to be more disabled than that as you have to qualify for the high rate of mobility. Which means you have to be unable to walk, virtually unable to walk or qualify under the SMI rules (which stands for severe mental impairment i think).

Some people seem to think you can take your slightly quirky or lively child to a private dr and quickly get a diagnosis of autism or adhd. Then you can pick up your free car and and free tickets to Disney land on your way out, with queue jumping pass included of course.

It really doesn't work like that.

It's quite astounding to discover the UK has suddenly developed a wellspring of experts on the needs of the disabled. Where were these cunts when buildings were being designed ?

I’m not sure any of the WAV cars are uk made, so what would you propose then? Most people chose a motability car based on their need.

And most WAV vehicles require quite a significant down payment. We’ve been nearly £6k each time

I know one has claimed it for over 10 years for physical problems ( fibro etc ) yet works as a cleaner for 40 hours a week, rides a huge motorbike etc. Know a few who claim not to be able to walk more than 20m yet can look after very young grandkids for days on end etc. They really need to be assessing people more thoroughly for this benefit.
I don't think changes should be made to the motorbility scheme though it's a lifeline for many. They just need to make sure the people who genuinely need it are getting it.accessing it.

@SerendipityJaneWell that's a whole other thread. "Wheelchair accessible" doesn't actually mean that at all. It means it might be accessible to a small standard manual wheelchair. No way does it cover large electric wheelchairs or specially moulded seat and footbox wheelchairs. And that's without taking into account a whole host of other, non wheelchair related needs.

If you limit the vehicles available to only those manufactured in the UK, for some, there wouldn’t be a suitable vehicle. Even if there is a suitable UK alternative, for some, that will increase the cost significantly.

We have had several motability vehicles over the years. DS1’s new vehicle earlier this year had a 5 figure AP and had adaptations. Certainly not a ‘perk’ or ‘free’.

It's important to distinguish between a "Motability" car, and a car source under the mobility component of higher rate PIP.

Motability can supply a standard car with limited adaptations. Generally things that can be removed when the car goes back for resale. Here you exchange your entire allowance as a lease on the car - insurance and maintenance are covered.

If you need a real WAV - doors moved, ramps welded into place etc, then Motability run a mile and you are on your own. You have to find a dealer, a car and arrange for the adaptations (at your cost) or source an already adapted car.

Last time I visited a dealer to look at WAVs the very first question was not "What are your needs", but "You are taking finance aren't you ?".

Which to the non dim reader (or dare I hope readers ?) immediately tells you all you need to know about whose needs are being considered here. And it ain't the claimants.

All I know is when I click on a companies accessibility policy, I learn all about how accessible the website is. Which admittedly is more than the staff know.

The Motability scheme does offer WAV leases. The process is different to normal cars, but it is still Motability.