[jambutty]

Originally Posted by Ianto.W.

I have read this thread with interest, as I have been refused attendance allowance three times never mind mobility allowance that the Blue Badge goes with, to get mobility you have to get it for three years to qualify for a car, the other allowance is called motability allowance that the badge goes with, this is first given for one year and has to be applied for again. Attendance allowance is for someone to see to your basic needs ie; cooking a meal etc. The only way a cancer patient can get any of these benefits is if your consultant says you have only six momths to live. So you lucky beggars that have got it any other way "good luck to you".

I think that you are misinformed about Mobility Allowance and the Blue Badge.

The criterion for getting a Blue Badge or Mobility Allowance is based on the ability to walk a short distance without pain or you have to be accompanied by someone else because you are blind or just physically being unable to walk at all. And the condition has to be, for all intents and purposes, permanent. Thus someone with two broken legs in plaster would not qualify because hopefully they would recover in time and be able to walk again.

The rules for getting the Mobility Allowance were a bit stricter than for getting a Blue Badge, which is why if you qualify for the Mobility Allowance the issue of a Blue Badge is a forgone conclusion.

There are two rates of Mobility Allowance but unless the rules have changed once granted you do not need to apply again. Although you may be called in for a re-assessment. If you qualify for the lower rate you can still get a Blue Badge on the strength of it.

If you qualify for the higher rate you can opt to use all or part of the 4 weekly allowance to lease a new car from quite a large selection or you can pay some money out of your own pocket to lease a car that costs more than the allowance. Some of the larger and flashier cars require a cash deposit from £50 upwards. The lease term lasts for three years where after you return the old one and get a brand new one of your choice.

There is an annual mileage limit of 20,000 miles, I think. If you exceed that limit you pay a mileage charge of 5p per mile, I think. The vehicle comes taxed and insured with, in my case a £75 excess on any claim. There is no limit to how many claims you can make. The car is serviced annually for free and you can have up to 4 new tyres in three years. Kwik Fit will repair any punctures for free. You also have automatic membership with the RAC. Before the lease expires you have to pay for the MOT that a three years old car requires, although some dealers may not ask you to. Lookers where I get my car from does. Skinflints!

My 1.8 Vauxhall Astra automatic with ABS, electric front windows, passenger and driver air bags and radio CD player, internal central locking uses all of my higher rate of Mobility Allowance.

The Attendance Allowance comes in three flavours, low, medium and high and is granted to those people who cannot look after themselves to some degree.

The system is not perfect and I have heard of cases where the applicant would appear to have a good case to receive both allowances but haven’t been able to get any. There is still an element of ‘luck of the draw’ about it.