Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

http://www.disabledgo.com/blog/2016/...lity-vehicles/

Surely this is another unintended consequence? :erm:

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Nothing to do with whether they are a Paralympian or not.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

From the link...

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

That's why I said unintended consequences..I'm pretty sure the government wants us to shine at the Paralympics as well as at the Olympics..

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

I agree, there are other disabled people being re-assessed for entitlement to PIP. Paralypians are not being singled out and yes there will be some who do lose their mobility cars just the same as the rest.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

The rest of those who are still on DLA will be re-assessed for PIP over the next 24 to 36 months according to the latest information.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Of course, that was my point. It is happening to all on PIP not just paralympians. I don't say I agree with it but no disabled people are being treated any different.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

I don't think I even argued that..I'm just suggesting that not every situation has been thought about.

Either we want everyone to be part of our society,contributing in whatever manner they can and perhaps actually adding to the society they reside in or we don't.Just treating any group as one homogeneous mass won't work. There has to be some way to help them but I guess it's going to be left to some charitable organisation or sponsorship but how much is available to provide mobility like a specially adapted transport I'm not sure. It's not like I see a lot of wheelchair users on public transport.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

the re assessment process ( i have just been through it ) is daft and a lot of it depends on how you fill out the form and that's not as simple as it sounds as you have think about answering the question that should have been asked and not the one printed on the form and then on at interview doing the same thing ignoring the questions and answering what the rules as set out in the legislation ask of you. faliure to do that will end up with loss of part or whole of the allowance.

just for example and i expect what is happening a lot of the time your are asked how far you can walk

a simple thing you would assume but if you say you can go over 20 meters you will lose the car but that is not the real question the real question is can you walk over 20 meters reliably consistently and in a safe manner and with out pain

i expect a lot either because they are not aware of the above answer yes and then try and explain or because they don't want to look weak ( you would be suprised ) answer yes

its not a fair system as it is intentionally deceptive only those who really look though the legislation or have access to good help get through it of course the very very few who intend to cheat know all the right answers so i doubt many of them are affected at all

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Before I was in a wheelchair and was on the bus it would often just drive by wheelchair users on the side of the road as they didn't want to get the ramp out.

Since I've been in the chair I don't even try public transport.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

And another thing is many bus drivers won't tell people who are in the disabled wheelchair spaces to move as well when these places are meant for disabled wheelchair users.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Do the CF members here who are in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of DLA feel that paralympians, athletes, should qualify for the same benefit as they do?

Is it relevant that by definition, they are very mobile, possibly already receive UK Sport, Lottery and sponsored funding to enable them to participate in a chosen career whilst many young ambulant people are scrambling around to get a job, to buy a car, buy a home and raise a family?

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

I've never seen anyone actually able to get a wheelchair on a bus ,even the buses that lower to the pavement ,all seems highly impractical to me .

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

I have done it on a bus just not a public transport bus. I have seen wheelchairs get on / off too but as I said the main objection (from the driver) was the amount of time it took.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Yes ,because many people on DLA do work .As i understand the payment it is to aid with expenses incurred due to a specific disability to enable recipients to go out to work or live something approaching a normal life

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

If they qualify for it according to the rules, yes, if they don't, no.

They should not be treated any differently because they happen to be a paralympian.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Ok, all contributions welcome although the question was specifically for those who receive the allowance.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Apologies ,didn't realise that non recipients where not allowed an opinion

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

I award you an allowance for word blindness :rolleyes:

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

yes just because they get around doesn't mean they are not in pain or that it makes doing everyday stuff difficult the whole point of this award was to enable people to live a fairly normal life

Just because they are fitter and maybe healthier than me doesn't mean that they are still not disadvantaged being mobile

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

But if you are in a position to fund your mobility and indeed have a career that literally celebrates your mobility, why do you need DLA?

The silence is deafening in here :sleep:.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

it was never a means tested benefit it just levels the playing ground and just because they are para Olympians doesn't mean they have a great deal of money

the adaptations and wear and tear on a car can up to thousands a year extra that an able bodied well person doesnt have to cope with so whether they earn £5k or £50k a year it gives them a chance to compete work etc

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

I suspect most Paralympians don't get the sponsorship some of their more well known number in more high visibility Paralympic sport do. In fact according to a BBC report I saw on TV the Paralympics get half the sponsorship that the Olympics does..and sorry I just can't find a link to it due to the really weird search engine they have on their site..

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

OK

So this guy has revealed this scandal, he must have some juicy evidence and detail to break such a story as must the journalist to write about it.

Confirmation from whom, I can't see any confirmation

OK so he does know, no doubt he'll tell us who, how many, how big is this issue

Hold on, this whole story is based on your knowledge

So you don't know, you may have heard something maybe.

Good fact finding bit of journalism there.

Pah!

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Fair enough..you don't believe it..but I do.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Pierre does have a point. Is this another case of the slightest mention of the word [whisper]allowance[/whisper] and containment ensues? Just in case.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

I believe it, I know several people who have lost their cars so I've no reason to assume Paralympians are any different.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

I don't understand why paralympians are even mentioned ,the reassessment applies to all disable claimants on DLA.One has nothing to do with the other

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

I suspect its just a way to sensationalise it.

'Government has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles' is just a bit more of a headline than 'DLA reassessment means some claimants lose their car benefit'.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Does reassessment include means-testing or is it a physical capability reassessment only?

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

no means testing just a testing of whether you can answer the unasked questions

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Indeed. Lots of disabled people are having their mobility component reduced or stopped, leading to many losing their Motability vehicle.

In some cases this has led to people having to give up work and/or becoming housebound.

Between 400 and 500 motability cars are said to be being taken away from disabled people every week.

It is estimated that 40% of people will lose their cars, down from 1 million to 600,000.

There were plans mooted to tax or means test the benefit, but thus far nothing concrete has surfaced.

They have basically changed the goalposts in order to justify these benefit cuts.

On DLA a 50 yard test was the norm, with PIP it's been reduced to 20 metres (nearly 22 yards), enabling the Government to say how they are rooting out people who shouldn't have ever been on the benefit.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/37544372

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

So Hannah likes her chosen career, gets enabling lottery funding, sponsorship and allowances, but feels she should be paid more?

There are plenty of young people living with mum and dad who have low paid jobs, no supplementary funding, no chance of their own home, no personal transport, and no shiny medals to boot.

As Hannah says herself, she is not hard done by.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

What's your point?

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

I think you understand very well what the point is..

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Actually, I didn't get the point either so made a comment that was just a polite opportunity for you to elaborate. As Toyah once sang...it's a mystery, it's a mystery... :).

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

I didn't otherwise I wouldn't be asking.

So I ask again, what point are you trying to make with that post.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

The whole premise of DLA etc is that wider society should help towards the extra costs incurred because some people are unfortunate enough to have become disabled in some way- regardless of a person's income.

To ensure that this contribution was not eroded, it was made tax free and ignored as income for the purposes of calculating means tested benefits.

Apart from the considerations of the previous Cameron Government, this has always had the support of every Government of every colour since it's introduction in the seventies.

Most people in society will benefit from this as most people will either become disabled themselves or know someone close to them that will.

Statistics show that most of us will become disabled at some point in our lives through attack, disease, accident or old age.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Please explain it to me.

As far as I can see, she has nothing to complain about at all, and is better off than many young people. My daughter had to move back home because she could not "break even". She works hard in her job, but rent these days is just stupid.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Bollocks.

If you're wealthy enough that you can afford the extra expense, why should I pay towards it.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

I assume that you are not disabled.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

You assume correctly, but what has that got to do with it.

If you are disabled, but wealthy, why should you get more money from state?

Answer me that.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Ask David Cameron, he claimed DLA for his son.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

He claimed the Blue Badge that comes with it.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Why do people on £50k claim child benefit, why should childless couples pay for other people's children. Does it all really matter either way, if you meet a criteria then you are entitled. It's down to the individual if you want to put a claim in or not.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

I don't have Dave's contact details and I don't think he's on this forum, so I'm asking Ken.

---------- Post added at 18:16 ---------- Previous post was at 18:12 ----------

I agree.

True, as usual it is the system that is wrong. Another reason why our social security budget is sky high because of benefits such as this being dished out to people that don't need them.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

To get the blue badge one needs to get the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

As the child was severely lacking in mobility. IIRC They had to be carried around, so that is what they would have got.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Yes l have just done some research and l gather that was the case with their very young disabled child as generally apart from certain cases the usual criteria would apply.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

That requirement was not on my Blue Badge application form.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Maybe or maybe not, he would have been eligible for the Blue badge even without a DLA award.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

It was certainly on mine Ken as they stated that l had to send in proof that l was on the higher mobility rate.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

I think that if you are in receipt of higher mobility rate you qualify for a Blue Badge, if you are not in receipt of higher mobility rate and have severe walking problems and pass a walking assessment you can be issued with a Blue Badge.

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

higher rate gets you a blue badge with out checks but you can still get one with out it you sometimes will need to be assessed though often they will go with a doctors opinion. it does vary from area to area. there was a consultation deciding if they should issue temporary ones for things that wont last long but are temporarily disabling. https://www.gov.uk/government/consul...r-a-blue-badge

Re: Government ‘has stripped Paralympians of their Motability vehicles’
 

Statistics are like a bikini. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital (Professor Aaron Levenstein).

Cryptic statements are like bikinis ;).