Luxury cars removed from the motability scheme

[AutumnLeavesandKnittedJumpers]

https://news.sky.com/story/luxury-cars-removed-from-motability-scheme-ahead-of-budget-13475029

too little too late. As a full time worker I can’t afford to run a car, let alone a luxury car. Motability should be a standard car - available in automatic and manual, an option for wheelchair users, and that’s it.

But if the driver pays a much higher amount of money from their own pocket, what us the problem? If the subsidy is the same for all cars and the driver pays as much as they want/can to make up the difference to gave the option of a luxury car, where is the issue?
Why shouldn't someone requiring such a vehicle not drive a luxury car if they pay a higher difference?
I don't understand these subsidies much, but maybe you have an issue with the original subsidy and that it should be means tested? That's different.

OP - can you explain precisely how Motability is “heavily subsidised “? Please

Why does anyone need a luxury car?

Hint: they don't, they just choose to because they can afford it.

If someone card afford a luxury car, why shouldn't they be able to get one?

I’m not disagreeing with you! My point is that, to ensure that the welfare state continues as a safety net for everyone (any one of us could end up having to rely on it), we need to ensure that we use our resources efficiently. ALL areas of tax and benefits need looking at. Too many people are struggling because the tax and benefits system isn’t working for them because it’s not as efficient as it could be. We need to make sure that those most in need are looked after. As things are going, we are in danger of not being able to afford to do that because resources aren’t necessarily being directed to the right place.

Be careful what you wish for OP!

What next? “Family in receipt of child benefit drive a 4x4!” “Call to ban parents driving children to FREE NURSERY HOURS in car of their choice!” “Housing benefit to cover cardboard boxes: upgrades to be paid by recipient!”

They are spending their PIP on it- entitlement to the benefit is another argument, if they handed back the car they could just as easily go and spend the same money in the pub.

well thats straight out bullshit unless it was years and years ago. they don't offer those kind of cars on the scheme.

All the wheelchair accessible cars (if any brand) have a minimum up front payment of at least 4k.

I am disabled. One if my friends has an adapted Mercedes van. Yes it’s Mercedes. It’s also a van, with a lift and it’s adapted so she can get in at the back from her wheelchair and then go to the front and drive.

this needed to be done.

but I don’t think anyone envies her the Mercedes van.

That’s a very white English take on it. Where people live in extended families often the mobility driver is one of the young kids / grandkids & it’s considered a ‘treat’ for them as they often need to ferry their parent / relative around and do a lot more besides.

Far too many policies regarding the disabled focus too much on the disabled person and not enough on their carers. If they’re paying for their bit of luxury why does it even matter?

It’s so unfair. Carers deserve a bit of fun too. This might actually even end up having the unintended consequence of extended families who currently underclaim benefits (Indian, Irish, African origin etc) not involving themselves in personal transport as much deliberately so people claim the maximum benefit.

I'd have thought that in many cases, disabled people need bigger and more comfortable cars because standard ones won't be compatible.

Its not to buy a car for goodness sake. And why shouldn't they spend their money how they want to- would you like someone analysing what you spend and say you should keep some in case you ever become disabled?

It’s not costing the government any more if he chooses to have one, so why does it bother you? You seem to be missing the point that it’s costing the government the same amount whether he chooses a high end vehicle, the most basic model, OR chooses to not have a vehicle at all and be paid the motability component of PIP into their bank account instead. Choosing a more high end vehicle is actually helping the car industry 😂.

The AA and other recovery organisations will prioritise you if you tell them you have a disability. But yes it’s not fun.

Ooh I do- I have an adapted transit and the Mercedes Vito is definitely on my wish list! Love it 😎

The vultures are certainly circling this thread. Seems pointless reporting all the misinformation and vile comments.

There aren’t any two seater vehicles on motability.

Of course the disabled people should be able to buy whatever car they want, But that's not the point here.
If someone is paid benefits and then uses that money to buy a luxury car, then obviously they shouldn't be getting benefits in the first place - because a benefit should be paid only to the people who really don't have the money to cope! Otherwise we end up as a country where we are now - bankrupt.

Even my disabled friend and his wife were shocked to be given a list of Audis, BMWs and Mercedes to choose from - they didn’t think it was fair when, if not disabled, they’d be driving a pretty ordinary car.

The advanced payment on my car was £7,500. Not a luxury car, but had certain requirements for my disability and that I can carry equipment and my children about. This plus my weekly mobility payment. If people are buying Mercedes or BMWs, they are paying a hefty up front payment. So surely if they can afford to do that, then why shouldn't they be able to choose the car they buy. The lease period is 3 years but can be extended to 5 years if your car is still suitable for your needs past year 3. So you carry on paying the lease for potentially 5 years, then motability will sell the car. So they more than recoup the cost of the car in the end. Its interesting people think that disabled people should only be able to lease a basic car. Shall we start applying that across society depending on your social class? Disabled people are financially disadvantaged in so many ways, transport is just one.

These aren’t means tested benefits. As has been pointed out before

Nobody “ needs” a luxury car. Why should disabled people not be able to want one the same as non disabled people do?

They use the mobility component of their benefit to lease the car, it’s not free. If they want a car that’s not standard to the scheme they need to pay upfront, a substantial amount for a luxury car. Upfront payments can often be required for adaptations too.

If you don’t think disabled people are entitled to the same choices and opportunities as non disabled people say so. It’s ableism though. Of course years of austerity, governments choosing to cut spending, low wages mean that many of us are struggling to maintain a decent standard of living. That’s not the fault of disabled people. We live in one of the richest countries in the world still. There’s an obscene amount of wealth being hoarded by corporations as well as individuals. Some of that being redistributed would be an option. The benefits bill would be lowered for example if some employers actually paid their workers a decent enough wage that meant it didn’t have to be topped up. Just a thought.

A friend has more than one been verbally abused because he leases a mercedes, its a van that is specially adapted to take his power chair, a van that has an upfront payment and then the cost of adaptations on top. Apparently people like him shouldn’t be able to do anything or go anywhere.

They are not given a list. They have to go on the website to see what is available. They do not have to choose those makes.🙄

One very minor point wrt car choice on Motability - I helped a friend with her application and her choice of car in the end came down to which dealership was the nearest. I think because of the kind of car needed it was VW or Citroen and the VW dealership was a 20 minute drive but the other was an hour plus. It sounds minor but you need to be able to get there at least once a year for a service and potentially a lot more often if something goes wrong with the car which is difficult if your mobility is affected (which is a given, given the scheme's goals and eligibility requirements) - so VW it was.

And yes, an advance payment of £3k or so? And a monthly payment.

I think this change was for optics. I welcome the discussion though. I would like the heat taken out of benefits-related media and social media scrutiny, I don't think it helps anyone.

You do realise they don’t own the vehicle? They give it back at the end of their lease.