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[w3526602]

Hi,

After a couple of weeks break, I've started driving the Freelander again. Barbara's Hyundai Ix20 is jail bait. When we bought it, we didn't resalise it was a 1600cc engine, presumably similar in weight to the 1100cc I10. Barbara has surrendered her licence, and has taken her name of her insurance ... she is still the Policy Holder, with me as the Named Driver. Insuring both cars is now costing £900ish. I have no idea what the VED is costing.

Time for a rethink, but first, the Freelander needs new tyres. (Legal, but "iffy").

I have had my application for Attendance Allowance approved, but only during the day .... I think £40 per week ... and I've asked for a carer, preferably female. (Barbara handled the phone call, said she thought I'd prefer female, then confirmed with me. (I prefer women ... there's something different about them.)

I'm reluctant to change wheels, myself. Walking hurts, crouching down to undo wheel nuts is a no-no, I'd have to lie on the ground.

Back on-topic. Can anybody suggest a suitable tyre bay, near Milton Keynes, preferably one that offers a club discount?

I'm happy to fit "part worns", if they come with Freelander wheels, and somebody else can do the grunting.

602

[Wittsend]

Sell your Freelander - NOW

Spend not a penny more on it, you don't need 2 cars.

Better still, trade both in and buy a wheelchair accessible/friendly vehicle. There are many to choose from.

 

[Genem]

Seconded. Waste no money/time on new tyres, let the buyer sort that out.

Gene

[w3526602]

Better still, trade both in and buy a wheelchair accessible/friendly vehicle. There are many to choose from. plus DITTO.

Hi Both,

Thanks for your advice, which was already being considered.

As mentioned elsewhere, Barbara is now unable to get out of bed, unless hoisted, which makes her nervous.

Assuming she could get into a WAV, where would we go? None of our friends (or even our daughter) have wheelchair accessible houses. Virtually all my spare time is spent lying on my hospital style bed, alongside her.

My researches indicate that pre-owned WAVs are not cheap ... at least from dealers, and neither of us would be happy to spent large sums on a specialist vehicle that would become valueless when everything else becomes battery powered.

602

PS A new WAV should be VAT exempt, so I'll keep pondering.

[Genem]

Better still, trade both in and buy a wheelchair accessible/friendly vehicle. There are many to choose from. plus DITTO.

My researches indicate that pre-owned WAVs are not cheap ... at least from dealers, and neither of us would be happy to spent large sums on a specialist vehicle that would become valueless when everything else becomes battery powered.

602

Jon, everything battery powered ??. With the greatest respect, I suspect that day is sufficiently far into the future it will not be any of your concern ! 

That said, the bottom line is its your money and should be used to make your time on this Earth as pleasant as possible.  Perhaps the plan might be to hire in appropriate assistance to get out and about when you want, rather than buy something ?  I'm not sufficiently au-fait with the support available but there must be private care companies who will hire out an appropriate vehicle and support staff, for "days out" ? 

[Gibbo103]

John, I will pop in early next week for a chat. Happy to check your tyres - I don’t think they all need replacing, but happy to advise. Happy to chat with you and Barbara about the best way forward
Dave

[Rustandoil]

Good on you Dave 
I think 602 would benefit from a bit of guidance.
Good luck to you 602 and Barbara

[The Shed]

I would have thought with Barbara's mobility issues you would be eligible for 'Motability' or whatever it is called nowadays ?
You could use this allowance to buy a suitable vehicle, I think that you can purchase secondhand for converted vehicles but not standard.
It does not matter if Mrs W has no intention of using, it can be there just in case.
Or, you can bank the money and hire as and when required.
Some years back, before many cuts, there was a service that operated around Merseyside where you could pre-book a wheelchair accessible bus which would pick you up and transport to destination within the area.
If you where closer to me I would be interested in Freelander if you did decide to sell.

[w3526602]

I would have thought with Barbara's mobility issues you would be eligible for 'Motability' or whatever it is called nowadays

Hi Shed,

I suspect that the majority of voters in the UK think the same.

WRONG!

To be eligible for most financial benefits, the applicant must be under age 65 at the time of applying, or already be in receipt of other benefits, which enables them to apply for yet more.

Us Wrinklies get two benefits ... we no longer have to pay NI ... and we may apply for Attendance Allowance.

Attendance Allowance comes at two rates (I think £40 per week for either day or night, and £80 for the full day). It's up to the recipient how they spend it, and is not taxable. We are both now in receipt of the full payment, with the penalty (in my case) of having to spent ten minutes every morning, in the shower with Social Workers of varying nubility, who then dry my private places, and dress me. Mustn't complain. The Social Workers also prepare three hot meals per day, but mutter about having to put the grocery deliveries away.

The Cleaners, provide us with a cup of coffee, and volunteer for any chores that they become aware of ... and are amused by my comments about one of their number not wearing a "vest" under her T-shirt.  Regretfully, the cleaners are only with us for one hour each week.

If disabled, one is entitled to buy a NEW car, VAT free, that will be used for the benefit of the disabled person.

The financial downside comes a Christmas ... £10 Xmas boxes for four House Cleaners, and an unknown number of Social Workers. RHIP.

Walking hurts, and I can no longer push a wheel-barrow, so have to carry bricks ... only one in each hand ... slowly. My builder is getting stroppy, demanding that HE does any work that requires movement and/or effort. He says that he and his sidekick will load the next skip.

I am about to start procedures for acquiring a Blue Badge ... I am unaware of the benefits and obligations. I know it will entail a visit to my GP ... only the second in the four years we have lived here. The first was about a worrying growth across my back, which turned out to be some sort of "municipal" wart. What would a blue badge entitle me to do?

And then there is the matter of Barbara no longer being visited by the District Nurse.

Some of our readers have suggested getting Barbara a WAV. Two problems ... she is unable to even get out of bed ... the attempt to hoist her in a hospital grade engine crane, was not a pleasant experience , and has not been attempted since ... and where could she go, most places/houses are not wheel-chair friendly. She would love to go swimming again, but feels the obstacles are insurmountable.

602

PS, we still have the engine crane (£800+, but somebody else picked up the tab) occupying a lot of space in our living room.

[The Shed]

Nothing is ever as easy as it should be. Though one can only hope that if I ever need that sort of support it would be the nubile young female cleaning my 'bits' 😀
Though I am not sure that comments about them not wearing 'vests' would go down to well in this crazy 'politically correct' world ?
Your Cleaners appear to care more than some of your 'carers' 
My local Council Leisure Centre has a hoist for users to access the pool but Barbara needs to want to get out, otherwise the whole procedure of 'lifting and shifting' all becomes to stressful.
Best wishes and don't let the B * * *  grind you down.

[w3526602]

Hi Shed,

My mate in Wales had a similar "vest" problem, w1th his cleaner. She would strip off the upper support garment before starting work ... said it got in the way. Unfortunately, her husband was the local  Police Sergeant motorcycle speed cop.

I've just remembered, if Barbara is accompanied by her wheel-chair, she would be able to access rooms/bathrooms in Travel-Lodges". On the other hand, before her last fall (two weeks in hospital) she was able to transfer from bed to wheelchair, to arm-chair and WC, etc, subject to the occasional fall during transfer, which required an ambulance trip to hospital. She can no longer transfer to/from anywhere, so has been totally bed-bound for several weeks. with no foreseeable change. At least she can play silly ******* with the power controls on her bed. I wonder if Travel Lodges can supply a crane?

Users of wheel chairs (manual and powered) can buy a new and adapted motor car, VAT free. A "power" chair is VAT, free, but must not be steered by a tiller nor steering wheel, nor by handle bars ... which leaves steering the driving wheels, either by hand, or a single joystick to control speed and direction of the individual motors.

I wonder if WAVs are VAT exempt?
602

[w3526602]

Me again, quick Google ...

I see that Attendance Allowance is "reckonable". This is the first time I've seen it mentioned in relation to vehicle eligibility. I am not yet a wheelchair user, but Barbara is (assuming she can transfer from bed to wheelchair)

602

VAT Exemption For WAVs

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) and adapted cars are VAT exempt. If you’re entitled to buy VAT-free goods, your supplier should not charge you VAT, so the price advertised by WAV converters and used WAV suppliers is exclusive of VAT.

VAT Exemption Rules For Motorists With A Disability
You can buy a vehicle free from VAT if the following conditions apply:

You are a disabled wheelchair user.
You are an individual purchasing on behalf of a wheelchair user.
The vehicle has been designed to enable a wheelchair user to travel in it.
The vehicle has been substantially and permanently adapted to enable a wheelchair user to travel in it.
When a charity purchases a vehicle that will be made available to a wheelchair user (or users).
For the VAT exemption to apply, a wheelchair user is defined as 'any disabled person who normally uses a wheelchair (electrically powered or otherwise) in order to be mobile'. Someone who only occasionally uses a wheelchair would not qualify for the VAT exemption.

HMRC acknowledges that in some circumstances a person with a disability may be unable to purchase or drive a motor vehicle themselves. So as long as the purchase of a car or WAV is primarily for the use of the disabled person and that all the qualifying conditions are met, a zero VAT rating will apply.

There is no VAT refund system and there’s no facility for HMRC to refund VAT to you if you’re charged VAT incorrectly.

VAT Relief On Adapted Motor Vehicles

Apply For Finance For Your WAV
Many people choose to use the Motability Scheme to lease their WAV. To find out more, take a look at our new WAVs and the Motability Scheme page. If you would prefer to own your vehicle outright, there are a number of options available to you. Some people who are buying a new or second-hand WAV have the money available and choose to pay for it outright. Most though would choose to buy their WAV with the help of a loan. You could look at standard car loans, but you may prefer to find a company that specialises in finance for WAVs and adapted vehicles. If you are buying a used WAV, some of the suppliers you will speak to are also authorised finance brokers.

Specialist WAV finance companies include:

The Car Loan Warehouse

Evolution Funding (My Car Credit)

Some of the benefits of choosing to finance the purchase of your WAV include:

You do not need to be in receipt of a qualifying DLA or PIP Mobility Allowance
You do not need to be registered disabled before the age of 65
You do not need to pay an upfront Motability Advance Payment
WAV finance applications can be supported by including the details of any income you may receive in the form of disability or income support benefits. When you submit your application, these can be taken into consideration on their own or together with any employment or pension income.

Benefits that can usually be taken into consideration when applying for WAV finance include:

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
Carer's Allowances
Attendance Allowance
The War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement (WPMS)
The Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)

Choose Specialist WAV Insurance
There are several insurance companies that specialise in WAV insurance. Many of the leading insurance companies struggle to fully understand converted vehicles due to the fact that the vehicle may be derived from a commercial vehicle, the suspension may have been lowered and seatbelt positions altered, which are all key elements when converting a standard vehicle to a WAV.

Specialist WAV insurance companies to consider include:

Fish Insurance

Adrian Flux Insurance

If one of the drivers of the vehicle has a disability or illness, any relevant medical conditions that could affect their ability to drive must be declared when you apply for vehicle insurance. Conditions that should be declared include poor eyesight, sleep apnea, epilepsy, strokes and physical disabilities.

Under the Equality Act 2010, vehicle insurers can't penalise you for being disabled. This means that they cannot refuse you coverage, increase your premiums or increase your excess because of a medical condition (if it was declared when the DVLA issued your driving licence).

Insurers are allowed to increase an insurance premium if they believe that the chance of you causing an accident has increased. However, they have to inform you of their reasons why and provide evidence.

Grants For WAVs
Charitable Grants are available to some Motability Scheme WAV customers. Motability (the Charity) have several grant programmes to help support the independence of disabled people with their personal or other transportation needs.

Motability Grants

There's also the Access to Work grant programme. If you’re disabled or have a physical or mental health condition that makes it hard for you to do your job, you could apply for an Access to Work grant.

Access To Work Grants

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles WAVS & Adaptations New WAVS & Motability Used WAVs Search For A Used WAV WAV Assessments Sell My WAV

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[The Shed]

Wow 602 ! if that was a quick google I have a long way to go with my research 'projects' ? 😀
Yet again nothing is as easy as it should be.
Note of caution, anyone looking for credit try as many options as possible as APR can vary greatly.

[w3526602]

Note of caution, anyone looking for credit try as many options as possible as APR can vary greatly.

Hi Shed.

We bought our present bungalow using Equity Release, which has a fixed interest rate of 4%. I think that we do NOT have to make any payments, so the lenders benefit from the interest compounding. Barbara did not like that idea, so we repay £1,000 a month. (Which is devalued by the previous months added interest, but will eventually clear the debt).

The lenders offered £25 reward for good ideas. I pointed out that most mortgages are scheduled to be paid off BEFORE you die, while Equity Release Mortgages need not be repaid UNTIL you die, but the option is there to allows you to overpay each month.

My £25 arrived by return of post.
 
I see that our lender is now offering FIRST mortgages on Equity Release terms, but demand that any existing mortgage is repaid at the same time, which means they have to lend you more.

602

[w3526602]

PS.

Equity Release lenders do not demand that you make any[/b] payments .... but even at only 4% interest (compound), the debt quickly escalates, unless you pay off the interest each month.

Our first house (in Cromwell Road, Caterham) cost us about £5,000, when I didn't actually have a job. (The estate agent who arranged the mortgage, later spent a couple of years in jail). I was very relieved to sell the house four years later, in 1971, making 100% profit. Last time I looked, it had been sold for over £300,000.    Apart from being almost new, it wasn't a particularly nice house.

602