Road tax.

[Chris Mottram-Wooster]

So, my partner progressed into her motorised chair recently and the time had came they said, to buy a WAV. So we did, we sold my auto estate and bought an old side loading Chrysler, actually set up for wheelchair driver and passenger. Great we thought, we can now get back to visiting our family and friends, then it struck, need to get it taxed. Then we were told that although my partner cannot stand, walk or transfer on her own she somehow isn't actually disabled. Not by DVLA standards anyway.
Can you tell just how snippy I feel about this? We seem to have passed that certain age where it is deemed that we should not be encouraged to leave our house lest havoc and mayhem should reign down upon the country.
so we have had to de-register our WAV, pay a third more in road tax than my old Volvo as well as the extra insurance for the privilege of leaving our front door like the rest of society. Just when we need every Penny, we are now having to pay out way more than we did before and yet travelling a fraction of our previous mileage.
Surely this can't be right, surely "disabled" must include MND. Has anyone any thoughts about this, or experience of the situation, is there a work around?

[PeterPan]

It looks to me as if Vehicle Tax exemption or reduction is entirely dependent on the disabled person receiving Personal Independence Payment. PIP is only payable to someone who is below State Pension age. Chris - I don’t know your partner’s circumstances, is she below State Pension age? If so, is she in receipt of PIP?

[Chris Mottram-Wooster]

No pip, just higher attendance allowance. Although she was a self employed wood turner up to the diagnosis she is 70, and would still have been running around the countryside chainsawing down trees and making lots of round things had this not struck her down.

[PeterPan]

No pip, just higher attendance allowance. Although she was a self employed wood turner up to the diagnosis she is 70, and would still have been running around the countryside chainsawing down trees and making lots of round things had this not struck her down.

Sadly I think that’s the answer. There is an injustice that AA doesn’t have a separate mobility element, even though many people carry on working after State Pension age. A matter to be raised with your MP?

[Lizzie]

I really understand the problem. I am also on Attendance Allowance and it seems that makes you ineligible for the Motability scheme. It seems that once you get your state pension you’re not entitled to benefits that people on PIP or DLA are. It seems totally dependent on age. I am 69 and have now recently got a power wheelchair. We are in a similar situation to you it seems, needing to get a WAV but getting no help with it. It seems that when you stop working, you are not considered eligible for mobility benefits. Smacks of discrimination to me.

[matthew55]

Cheer up, you could have got it twenty plus years ago. 😉😁🤗😂xx

[Lizzie]

It shouldn’t matter when you get MND Matthew, we should all be entitled to the same level of support. Making ageist remarks is not helpful.

[matthew55]

Ageist me? Your words shock me. ☹️

[Lizzie]

Ok Matthew....let’s not fall out. 🥴 The whole thing about 65 being the cutoff point for mobility benefits plus the issues with the DVLA seems a little bit unfair to me. But everyone is entitled to their opinion . Lizzie

[matthew55]

I bear you no agnst or ill will, nor will I ever. My comment was a poor attempt at humour and my reply to you was written with a smile in my heart. Forever friends we shall be. 🤗😃😘😍xx

[Lizzie]

That’s good to hear. The last thing any of us want is conflict. We have enough to deal with 👍😊

[matthew55]

Like a family we are. 😉🤗😘😍xx