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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

more of a debate but i feel uncomfortable

19 replies

mumof2children · 19/03/2010 23:33

for years i have told fil to claim dla as imo he needs it, either me or df will take him to do shopping check on him at least every other day, also take him to doctor apppoinments and hospital appoinment......even when we had the bad snow we made sure he had his meds.

this to me is being a family and making sure he is not in pain ect

well he has just got the higest dla, and on top a car......he has said that we can have the car...but i really don't know how to feel..... we do it as we love fil not because of a free car iykwim

what would you do

OP posts:
TimothyTigerTuppennyTail · 19/03/2010 23:35

Can your FIL drive?

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 19/03/2010 23:38

The car is for your FIL to use, or to be used to help him. What he chooses to do with it (eg, allow you to use it; you won't own it*) is up to him because part of his dla pays for it.

GypsyMoth · 19/03/2010 23:39

you'll be using it to drive him around in? so he benefits. does he drive?

Original poster
mumof2children · 19/03/2010 23:40

fil do not drive, and has not got a licnence(sp) to drive

OP posts:
BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 19/03/2010 23:40

You can't keep it even if he did allow you to use it, my fil had a mobility car, he had to swap it every couple of years. If you are driving him about then it will help you, you'll still have to pay for petrol etc though IIRC.

GypsyMoth · 19/03/2010 23:42

he'll have the blue badge too?

i used to have our mobility car....used it as a normal car,then when H needed driving somewhere,we'd use the blue badge

every 4 years i think,they get changed

chixinthestix · 19/03/2010 23:51

If the car is provided by DLA then it can only be used by him or for him eg to take him somewhere or to do stuff for him like his shopping etc. If he dosn't drive then its fair enough for you to use the car to do all the things you do for him, but you couldn't use it for yourself IYSWIM? My Dad has a car through DLA and I'm sure that's the deal - my mum can go shopping to buy food for him but not clothes for herself.
So, it wouldn't be a free car but could help you out with the cost of the transport you provide.

scaredoflove · 19/03/2010 23:53

You don't just get a car on DLA. You have to sort it out with motability, then go to a car dealership to organise a car. You also have to sort out the named driver/s for insurance and they have to show a driving license.

I can't see how he would organise a car without organising the insurance - how would he get it to his house???

A car on mobility is for the disabled person, I think it isn't supposed to be used if it isn't for the benefit of the disabled person.

Are you sure you aren't wanting him to get the car and you are just testing the waters on reactions??

scaredoflove · 19/03/2010 23:55

Also, the car isn't 'free'

Motability will take the mobility part of his DLA every month to pay for the car over three years. You lease the car

What car has he got?

MoominmammasHandbag · 19/03/2010 23:55

Actually a motability car is specifically for the use of the person recieving the DLA. It is against the terms of the contract with motability for someone else to use the car to go to work or run errands for themselves. The car's insurance would be invalid and you could find yourself in trouble if you ever had an accident.
And while I think "benefit fraud" would be a bit harsh a term, its not really what DLA is all about.

Original poster
mumof2children · 20/03/2010 00:16

we would not abuse the car, infact it would make my life eaier by being able to use my car when i wanted it ( my fil medical come above any activy i want to do with dc)

OP posts:
scaredoflove · 20/03/2010 00:18

How did he get the car? what car is it?

Original poster
mumof2children · 20/03/2010 08:14

he has not got the car yet, and his sister has sorted all the paperwork which has been approved.

the insurance will be in both mine and df name....but i really don't understand it much

OP posts:
sockmonkey · 20/03/2010 08:30

If your FIL doesn't drive, then there is little point in him having the car unless you will drive for him.
A friend of mine is getting a mobiliy car, as her daughter is SN... her daughter is 4, and not expected to drive it, surely this is the same, but for an adult with needs?

TheLadyEvenstar · 20/03/2010 08:35

My Dad had a mobility car for many years.

Another person can use the car as long as they are a named driver and obviously on the insurance.

There are no stipulations as to what the named driver can use the car for, as long a they only use the blue badge when the disabled person is in the car.

DLA doesn't pay for the car Mobility Allowance is replaced be Motorbility.

You do NOT have to return the car after 3 years you have the option of buying the car.

You also have to pay the first payment on the car, a down payment. Although some cars are free to take away iyswim? Others you may have to pay the first £75.

You do pay for petrol obviously but insurance is paid for by them and also the MOT is provided by the car dealer.

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 20/03/2010 08:39

So the car would be used by either you or your DH when FIL needs something done, and you would keep your own car for your personal use?

That might actually not be worth it as FIL would lose some of his DLA payments to pay for the car. Might be better for FIL to give you a weekly payment towards your petrol/insurance costs on your own car, and also to cover extra transport costs in case you need to go somewhere when your car is in use.

DLA is to pay for support like that so if you had a formal arrangement with FIL to receive a sum weekly it would benefit all of you, probably more than having the car would.

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 20/03/2010 08:42

Well if what TLES is the case then it would be better to sell your car and use the mobility car perhaps. Wouldn't solve the issue of having no car when FIL needs it though - unless you wanted to keep both cars on.

Nothing wrong with wanting him to take the car - you do a lot of driving in caring for him!

TheLadyEvenstar · 20/03/2010 08:45

How the scheme works
The Motability Scheme can help you with leasing or buying a car if you're getting the War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement or the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Even if you do not drive yourself, you can apply for a car as a passenger and propose two other people as your drivers.

You can also apply for a car on behalf of a child aged three or over who is entitled to the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance.
Contract hire
Through the contract hire scheme you can lease a new car supplied by a Motability accredited dealer for at least three years. Insurance, routine servicing and breakdown assistance are included. You may need to pay for the fitting and removal of any adaptations.

You can apply if you have 12 months or more of your Disability Living Allowance 'award' remaining. If your award is not renewed during the full length of your chosen scheme, your car will need to be returned.

At the end of the period, the car is returned to Motability Operations who operate the car schemes under contract to Motability.
Hire purchase
Hire purchase enables you to buy the car you want. This can be a new or used car. You are responsible for negotiating the purchase price of the car with the dealer and arranging insurance cover. At the end of the hire purchase agreement - which can be between three and five years - you will own the car.

link here

deepbreath · 20/03/2010 08:45

We have a Motability car for our dd (7).

The car is technically leased in her name as she receives dla, but obviously she cannot drive the car herself! I am a named driver, which means I am insured to drive the car. You can have up to 2 named drivers that don't have to live at the same address as the person on dla, this allows for circumstances like yours or for external carers to drive the car.

A Motability car can be used as long as it benefits the person that the car is intended for... there are rules that cover this, but they do include things like me driving dh to work whilst dd is at school as it means that there is money coming into the house that benefits dd. Obviously, if your FIL has a Blue Badge, do not use it unless he is in the car with you.

For full details, have a look at the Motability website. HTH.

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