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Government plans to allow PIP claimants to keep Motability vehicles until appeal outcomes are known (???)
Has any more been heard of this????
Today is Miracle Day - I have dealt with nothing else this afternoon but cases of people having their PIP mobility taken away and told to give up their cars, people going from high rate DLA mob to 0 points on PIP, people who report that the HCP wasn’t listening or has put down things that the claimant did not say, or has observed them walking when they did not do so, seen them walk 9 metres indoors which gets converted in the decision to 200 metres+ out of doors, etc etc etc.
HMG was quick enough to alter the PIP regulations when a UT decision was not to its taste - so why has this measure gone untouched for three months???
Not seen anything substantive since our story back in December 2016
There was this Q&A in Hansard in January, but the Minister just said -
I am exploring a range of options to support claimants pending appeal, and I will be working closely with Motability on this.
Written statement today:
Today I am able to announce that Motability has kindly offered to enhance their Disability Living Allowance - Personal Independence Payment Transitional Support package to allow scheme customers to retain the car for up to eight weeks after their Disability Living Allowance payments end, a significant increase from the three weeks they are allowed today.
In addition customers who are eligible for a transitional support payment will be able to retain their car for up to six months, including during the processes of reconsideration or appeal. For those who take advantage of this option, the level of transitional support payment will be reduced.
Changes to support for those who lose entitlement to a Motability car when transferred to PIP
So they’re effectively charging people £2,000 for having the temerity to challenge a decision to reduce or remove the mobility component then?
They still won’t get to Tribunal in 8 weeks. Where does the 6 months come into this? I’m confused!
They’ve changed the support package.
Previously you would lose the car after 8 weeks but you would get a transitional payment of £2k/£1k.
Now you can chose - either you lose the car after 8 weeks and get the full transitional payment or you can keep the car for 26 weeks but only get £500/£250 of the transitional payment.
So if you can get your enhanced rate back in payment within six months of the decision, you won’t lose the car. Whether you can get a positive tribunal decision within six months of the decision is another matter.
Am I right in reading this as being DLA-PIP transitions only, so that people affected by a PIP review will not be helped?
So they’re effectively charging people £2,000 for having the temerity to challenge a decision to reduce or remove the mobility component then?
my guess is its an off set of the cost to motability for the person keeping the car.
They’ve changed the support package.
Previously you would lose the car after 8 weeks but you would get a transitional payment of £2k/£1k.
Now you can chose - either you lose the car after 8 weeks and get the full transitional payment or you can keep the car for 26 weeks but only get £500/£250 of the transitional payment.
So if you can get your enhanced rate back in payment within six months of the decision, you won’t lose the car. Whether you can get a positive tribunal decision within six months of the decision is another matter.
But surely one did not expect anything different? It’s a simple case of mathematics - either/or applies.
Am I right in reading this as being DLA-PIP transitions only, so that people affected by a PIP review will not be helped?
It would seem so given the content of the original question that was raised in the House.
For those in the unfortunate position of having their Motability car being ‘recovered’ due to a review/reassessment of a current PIP award can only look to themselves as they knew what the risks were when taking out a Motability contract on the strength of a PIP Enhanced Mobility award. Maybe a savvy underwriter would be prepared to insure that ‘risk’?