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 a) the benefit isn't means tested

And

B) the benefit payment remains the same regardless of the car, it's the individuals on top payment that changes.

reasons why a 'luxury car' may be more appropriate than your bog standard vauxhall

Ride height - IE the distance between the floor and door/step in. ease of stepping in/out, or being able to sit and swivel yourself in.
Features - requirements for electrical/switch operated controls, heated seats, seat controls, driving column controls
WAV/or boot/backseat able to accommodate a wheelchair and family req, shopping...etc.
comfortable/sports style supportive seating that properly fits the driver.
easy to turn power steering.

and THAT's without any adaptations being made.

Because the government pays for it.

There is no list, not a single audi, bmw or merc is available without an advanced payment. My friends WAV had an advanced payment of just over £5,000.

Why would you claim government help if you dont actually need it?
The scheme includes a fairly hefty subsidy. If you are earning a high salary and can afford a car anyway, should you really be claiming more that you dont need?
The attitude in the UK these days seems so grabby, claim every penny you can even if you dont need it.

OMG

It's subsidised by the SAME AMOUNT regardless of whether you get a vauxhuall or a mercedes.

They're not getting any more than any other claimant.

You often need to have disability payments to be able to access help for your disability.

The point being they shouldn’t be subsidised to get luxury cars. A standard British model is fine.

Why?
Why should someone not be allowed to pay extra to upgrade the car?

Unless they could afford the hefty (many £1000s) down payment they still wouldn’t be driving an Audi, BMW etc. If they could afford the huge upfront down payment, they could afford to drive one of those cars anyway. Fact check before making ridiculous comments, because your friends have been very misleading to you.

ok, what is a standard british model

please list them.

Yeah this. I'm not going to bash ANYone on benefits, or who has a Motability car, but it does seem odd that anyone would buy (or be allowed to buy) a luxury car, like a Mercedes Benz on Motability. I can't fathom how having a car like this would help anyone who has mobility issues.

Can you find a standard British model to take my friends large and heavy powerchair, his wife, and his two children in their car seats. Ta.

100% agree with this.
The whole benefit system needs reform. Only the people who really need the money to survive should be getting benefits. UK is not a super-rich country anymore and cannot take this much longer.

Maybe it should be. If lots of people stop taking the little bit that they’re currently entitled to, then it leaves more for the people with higher need. If someone can afford the huge up front payment for a luxury car why do they need to take from the motability scheme at all- bit like wealthy pensioners claiming winter fuel allowance just because they can.

Not to mention @pinkstripeycat claiming they know people with anxiety who get a 'free' car.
Plus all those disabled children daring to get a car to learn to drive in. And they can have that at 16 too!

You are aware that disabled people are also taxpayers, right? They’re not taking ‘your’ taxes. God forbid that someone who is living on a meagre fucking pittance should budget carefully enough to upgrade their means of independence.

Would he buy a Mercedes Benz though?

Would that suit his needs/his family's needs?

.

Because without the motability scheme you can't get a modified vehicle. So if you need any adaptations, you need to go through motability. You can only go through motability if you are entitled to the higher level mobility pip payment.

Why are you pretending people on PIP or DLA are buying the vehicle? So my mates mercedes WAV doesn’t help him?

The advance payment on a luxury car might be high but thereafter it's the same payment as a non luxury car.
Luxury cars usually have higher road tax and insurance costs. This is covered in the subsidised motabilty package rather than paid individually...
I think if one can afford a luxury car and the advance payment, they can also afford the premium tax & insurance payments.

Well they obviously wouldn’t have been able to afford an Audi, BMW or Mercedes on Motability either. Just because they were shown the options doesn’t mean they’re given away for free. I see plenty of things advertised that I can’t afford. It doesn’t mean others can’t afford them.

This really is simple. A severely disabled person gets £77 a week to help them get around. They can use it how they want. They can spend it on taxis, or give it to someone else to do their running round for them. They could get a very basic car on motability, or if that car won’t meet their needs they can put their £77 towards a better car and pay the difference themselves. It’s still £77 regardless.

I am grateful that we live in a country where we recognise that being disabled is a physical and financial disadvantage, and no matter how wealthy we wouldn’t want to swap lives with a disabled person. I understand the debate over whether people should or shouldn’t be given PIP for anxiety etc, but that’s a whole separate argument. Do I think a paraplegic person should have their £77 removed because they’re not poor? No, I think that would be wrong.

I wouldn’t, I don’t like them, if I was leasing a car via motability I would be leasing a vehicle, you aren’t able to buy them.

Your attitude is so telling about who you are as a person.

You're happy to spend X money on something basic that potentially doesn't suit someone's needs, but you're not happy for the same X amount of money to be topped up by someone because you see it as luxury.

You're jealous of those with disabilities.

Pretty fucked up really.

Why? I don't understand. If you are awarded £200 towards a holiday, for whatever reason, who's business is it whether you use that towards a youth hostel in the Brecons or cruising the Caribbean? do we only think its appropriate to interfere when its disabled people living their lives how they see fit?