R2OK!

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

This issue came to notice this week. Our benefits system gives new cars (replaced every three years) to thousands of people with restricted movement who can't walk to their nearest bus stop (or who had a history of limited movement but might be feeling better now....) and it's intended that the disabled person drive the car or family members drive the mum/dad around in that car.

I had no idea to what extent this benefit has gone on and been abused!

When I spoke to Mrs W about it she said 'Sandra's mum gets a free car'

I said 'Eh? Sandra's mum is really ill and NEVER goes out except for hospital visits!'

'Yeah I know', said the missus, 'and Sandra uses the car every day to go to work!'
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John W

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

John?

Is this the right section?

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Although I don't have such a car myself I am a named driver for my next door neighbour who is seriously disabled and she has a mobility car

I have to challenge the common misconception that these cars are 'free'

My neighbour pays about £235 every month out of her Disability Living Allowance and whilst it's still a good deal as things like maintenance,road tax and insurance are included it is certainly not a free giveaway and only people on the higher rate of DLA are eligible

I never use that car for any reason other than when she asks me to drive her around but if I was a dishonest person I suppose I could do but as I have four other cars already quite frankly it's not something that would ever happen

A lot of rubbish is talked in the media about this topic but then you all know my views about the British press Evil or Very Mad

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John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

OK the myth is that it's free? Paying OUT OF the DLA means it is free does it not?

It's not a myth that the system is being abused. It's not a myth that there is driving of these cars that doesn't involve the disabled person; if it was only 0.5% then it wouldn't be an issue.

Leased car at how much discount? service, road tax, insurance? Eh?

Grump... I just shelled out several thousands of pounds last month in tax, small business, sole-trader, next installment July (in advance for 2012-2013) ...
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John W

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

John. frankly I don't understand what on earth you're talking about

If a disabled person is legally entitled to the higher rate of DLA then under normal circumstances they would have that money coming into their bank account and if they choose to forego a sizeable proportion of their benefit in order to effectively lease a car which they will never own that is what is known as freedom of choice

I don't seek to defend any abuses which might take place by close relatives but we are talking about a minority of cases not least because the Benefits Agency has recently introduced a geographical limit on the proximity of named drivers and a restriction on the maximum cost of these cars - both of which make sense and are probably long overdue

The media sells newspapers by pandering to ignorance and prejudice and politicians will jump on any popularist bandwagon not least to deflect attention from their own shortcomings (like the MP's expenses scandal) and the disabled in that sense represent easy pickings

I'm far more concerned with the flood of immigrants who are still coming to this country many of whom are blatently abusing not only our benefits system but other public services like the NHS - compared to that particular problem the issues over the Mobility scheme pale into insignificance Evil or Very Mad

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gazmando · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 560 Location: Huntingdon

Crikey Ruddles, 275 pounds a month out of her DLA?
How much a month do you actually get on DLA, because I certainly couldn't afford that sort of money a month on my wages.
I know you say its the ignorance of the British press but you must admit there must be thousands of people who are receiving DLA who are scamming the system and the taxpayers.
Also why are immigrants allowed to receive benefits without having paid anything into the system beforehand
I think you should have to be a British citizen or have worked for 5 years before you are entitled to anything.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I don't know for sure Gaz but I think the highest rate of DLA is around £360 per month

I entirely agree with your views about immigrants coming to this country milking our benefits system and it's not a racist issue - many of them come from Eastern Europe

I just think that whilst you are bound to get some abuses in any system of this kind (just look at our wonderful MP's) it's far better to spend available funds on people who have a genuine connection with this country rather than waste it on foreign spongers
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kengeo · Joined: 21 Sep 2010 Posts: 278 Location: Gloucestershire

It both amazes and astounds me what we give away in this country, one look at Protecting Our Children (BBC 2 last night), people beyond help having endless children who they are incapable of looking after, and yet they are given every assistance. Endless social workers, housing, money (to spend on tattoos, drink and drugs) and yet still they are no better off for it, leaving endless kids for the state to then support.

One has to ask how much longer can we afford to give all of this away, surely it can't go on?

It seems to me that those who try to do the right thing, have contributed since day one, keep their heads down and don't complain (which used to be the British way) get continually shafted, and are then allowed to die in a hospital corridor or freezing home......

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

We give away too much in this Country because it was Labour’s Ideology to create a massive social underclass, poorly educated, fed on Fast Food and X-Factor, and completely dependant on State-funded homes and benefits which were more lucrative than working for a living- this of course all meaning that: that group of people would always and forever vote Labour.( If they knew how to) It didn’t really matter while the economy was booming- no one really cared. It was only about 3 million people anyway – so what’s all the fuss about? Now that we have a new Government and we’re in a recession and ordinary working people are finding themselves in need of financial help cos they’ve been made redundant etc – there’s no money for them so benefits are being cut but you’ll find the cuts are far more stringent for new claimants who have hitherto worked and paid taxes than they are for the social underclass who’ve never worked or paid taxes, for fear of riot. And they say it’s all about fairness. B Ark anyone?

kengeo · Joined: 21 Sep 2010 Posts: 278 Location: Gloucestershire

For once I totally agree with you! Wink

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Rachel - I've been a paid up member of the Conservative Party since the age of 18 and Margaret Thatcher's Political Secretary Peter Morrison( sadly now deceased ) and formerly the MP for Chester used to be a close friend of mine and I've visited 10 Downing Street quite often in the 80's but I still believe that the present agenda against people on benefits is completely over the top

Revenue and Customs has just written off an absolute fortune in tax and the interest alone from that lost money would have funded several new build hospitals

I believe in people supporting themselves wherever possible but there has to be a safety net otherwise we will have popular unrest in this country similar to what we now see weekly in the Middle East

People lump everyone on benefits with benefit scrougers and there's a huge difference - if people comply with the rules you can't criticise them but if people break the law then they deserve everything that they get but why do you think Maggie didn't choose to tackle this subject with a 300 plus majority - because she had some common sense and probably a sense of decency which Cameron will never have because,unlike Maggie , he's an Old Etonian who simply doesn't live in the real world Sad

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R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

Agree. There’s nothing wrong with a safety-net and there’s nothing wrong with looking after people who aren’t able to do it themselves. It is the correct, proper and British thing to do. That is what being civilised is all about, it has nothing to do with which fork to use and when: but we shouldn’t encourage people whom don’t really “need” to, to live in the safety-net. The safety-net is not a home, it’s just a temporary shelter. I don’t mean that in a nasty way: surely it’s got to better for those whom are able; to have a meaningful life.

essexlady · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 348 Location: Essex

So nice to see that compassion is alive and well amongst this group. Let's just hope that none of you are made redundant and heaven help you if you have children to support.

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

Although a spoof, this is what some people aspire to.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA9t61PuiDc

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646