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SN children

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Original poster

Mobility Grants for car, anyone had one?

14 replies

SparklyGothKat · 09/12/2008 20:53

My car is due to go back in march and have been told that I can get a grant, spoke to the grants dept. and they said we need a large MPV, as we have 4 kids, 2 with disablities and a baby so need a lot of space. I have the form and have started filling it in, but wonder if anyone has had one and if I stand a chance of getting it?

OP posts:

PuzzYuleLogs · 09/12/2008 21:23

Bump

monstermansmum · 09/12/2008 21:24

Hi. Ds1, now 7yrs is SN, also had 10yr and 1yr and was pregnant at the time our last car went back. Dh broke his back 2 yrs ago (is ok now, mobile etc) but is still on incapacity benefit at the moment so money was an issue for us as well. We needed a car that would fit a wheelchair in as well as a double buggy and all the other paraphanalia so we looked at the sedona, chrysler etc, eventually settling for a Ssangyong Rodius, dep £6000.00!!!! We applied for and got a grant with no problems. We recieved 1 call from a lady asking if we had looked at the new Ford Galaxy and all the other 'big' cars? We had to write down which cars we looked at and why they were not suitable for us and why this car was better for us. Ds does not need a WAV but he does have challenging behaviour so he cannot sit immediately next to another child in the car, or have access to any controls etc. This car has swivel seats (which meant we could get rid of the swiveling SN car seat) and he travels facng rearward in a single 'pilot'seat. The space in the boot is big enough for wheelchair, 2xbuggy's and a bag of beach stuff etc. If you get a grant you have to keep the car for 5 yrs instead of the usual 3 and your mileage is increased accordingly. My old car was due to go back in the Oct but new baby was due April and we managed to exchange early as well!!

glitteryb6 · 09/12/2008 21:41

Its also worth appealing if they say no at the first attempt.

friend of mine was told that she wouldnt get the kia sedona (£5495 deposit)she wanted as she only had one child, as there were smaller cars with no deposit that would meet her needs so no grant would be given.

she supplied a letter from the hospital saying that her daughter suffered from seizures and that she would need to be able to get to her daughter quickly which you can do in this car as you can walk between the driver and passenger seat and into the back.

she isnt getting the full grant but only has to pay just over £1000 now.

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 09/12/2008 21:50

I just need more room tbh, if we go away, Ds1's wheelchair either has to go in someone else's car (if someone is coming away with us) or he just has to struggle as we can't get everything in in the boot space in a Zafira and we have to leave it behind! We are looking at the Galaxy atm. I neeeeeed space!!
Whats annoyed me was I phoned just after I had Ds2 last year and was told that the zafira is the biggest car they did and i couldn't change it.. so we have struggled for over a year now.

OP posts:

2AdventSevenfoldShoes · 09/12/2008 22:11

we got a full grant for a W.A.V happy to talk to you on FB

glitteryb6 · 09/12/2008 22:21

Zafira's certainly not the biggest but maybe at the time they didnt have any 8 seaters so they told you that it was the biggest they do meaning seatwise rather than sizewise?

Even now they only do two 8 seaters, the Hyundai i800 and the Toyota landcruiser but not sure how long they've been on for.

Galaxy looks very nice btw!

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 09/12/2008 22:27

2shoes you are not online on FB.

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Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 09/12/2008 22:29

I need 6-7 seats max, I just need more boot space, when we got the Zafira we had 3 children, so had a huge boot, but then we had Ds2 and have to use the 6th seat, which takes half the boot space straight away.

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2AdventSevenfoldShoes · 09/12/2008 22:40

sk I never use the chat thing, just message me

needmorecoffee · 09/12/2008 22:43

we got a Kangoo WAV. No deposit. wheelchair ramps in and slots between 2 rear seat. Friend got the traffic master, the deposit was 13K but she got a grant cos she was on benefits.

needmorecoffee · 09/12/2008 22:43

but you do lose your mobility DLA every week. £45

2AdventSevenfoldShoes · 09/12/2008 22:44

we have the ranualt amster. it is the biggest van you can get

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 09/12/2008 22:46

I felt so sorry for Ds1 when we went away last time, we had to leave the wheelchair behind and he was struggling so much, DH ended up carrying him and I tell you, at aged 10 and weighing 4 stones it ain't an easy task...

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Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 09/12/2008 23:53

i think FB messaging is playing up

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