Vehicle for enhanced rate PIP

[MemSahb]

Hi everyone,
My DS was awarded enhanced rate on both daily living and mobility.
He has autism and turned over 16.
He will be going to a college far from home and I was wondering if we can apply for a vehicle ( a car) as he is awarded mobility enhanced rate.
How does it work and if he is eligible?
He does not have physical disability so had zero on moving around.

Thanks

If DS has the enhanced mobility component of PIP, he, or his appointee if he has one, can get a motability vehicle.

Thanks.
I decided not to be his appointee as he can manage to talk with help.
He obviously won't be able to drive a car.
Can we still apply for a mobility vehicle?
What is the process for getting a mobility vehicle?

Thank you

Being appointee is about far more than the ability to talk.

DS may not be able to drive because of his additional needs, but if you said 'obviously' because he is only 16, he can learn now.

It doesn’t matter DS can’t drive. You can be a named driver.

Look at motability’s website to see what is on the scheme that meets the requirements you need and visit dealership(s) to look at cars (sometimes you need to book an appointment to speak to the motability specialist). For some vehicles you can apply online or at the dealership. DS will need his ID to order and his national insurance number. He will also need the details of any named drivers. If the named drivers aren’t present when he orders he will need a form completed for them - don’t worry about this too much because named drivers can be added later.

Yes you can apply on behalf of your son, but I’d be wanting to check the rules on use of the car when your son is away from home for extended periods…..

OP isn’t appointee, so she can’t apply on behalf of DS. The agreement will be in DS’s name. But she can be a named driver, and if DS wants he can make her a nominee so that Motability can speak to her.

OP doesn’t mention DS being away from home for extended periods.

I am bit confused so it looks like you have to pay for the vehicle from the PIP allowance DS son will be getting?
The trouble is he is on a clean diet, gluten free, we buy camels milk for him every month which is over £300 , most of his money goes towards his diet and diet does make a 30% difference in all his behaviour and ability.

Yes, you have to pay. Some or all (depending on the vehicle) of the mobility component of PIP funds the vehicle. For many vehicles, there is also an advanced payment.

As this is someone else’s thread, I’ll not argue the toss. In relation to being away from home for extended periods, the OP did mention her DS going to a college “far from home.”

@Maccar305 colleges can be far from home but not residential. Many young people with additional needs travel a long way to college.

And if OP meant residential, she would probably have said so when she said DS was in receipt of enhanced rate of both components since a residential college placement would have an effect on the daily living component of PIP.

I think it's better use a bus to college knowing that you have to pay for the vehicle from pip allowance, his diet is more important as this money is essential for the diet.
With regards to college, it's only few km, not that far away.
I am not planning to send my son to a residential place.

Thanks for all for your time

Be aware, post 16, even if using LA transport to college (if that’s what you meant by bus), there is sometimes a financial contribution to make.

Your son is eligible for a Motability vehicle as he has enhanced pip for mobility. As he is not old enough to drive, you can be the named driver. Bear in mind the car is for his benefit. A blue badge can also only be used for journeys with him.

There are only additional costs if you decide to get particular Motability car that the allowance does not cover. See link with costs of additional payments. https://news.motability.co.uk/scheme-news/latest-prices-for-the-motability-scheme/
If you chose a cheaper car you only have fuel to pay for.

Your son is also eligible for a disabled bus pass. However if he is able to make independent journeys by bus it is unlikely that he is eligible for enhanced pip, unless he also has a physical disability, as points awarded for enhanced PIP are based either on physical mobility or being unable to navigate even a short journey without help.

OP could be a named driver anyway, but at 16, with enhanced mobility PIP, DS can learn to drive.

Whether OP’s DS would be eligible for a disabled bus pass depends on where she lives. Not all areas give disabled bus passes to those with enhanced mobility under the planning and following a journey criteria.

Case law shows consideration of someone’s ability to follow the route of a journey should not be limited to short journeys for mobility descriptors 1(d) and 1(f).

It can also sometimes still be possible to demonstrate someone is unable to follow the route of an unfamiliar journey… even if they can follow the route of one specific journey to college.