[Paul_1964]

A bit of a delicate question here. my friend currently has a mobility car that has about 6 months to go on his 3 year contract. he gets the car due to his wifes health problems, he was talking to me last night and was very upset, his wifes condition is getting worse and its likely in the next 12 months to 2 years she will have to move into a nursing home full time. the home she would be moving to is about 10 miles from their home. That means he couldn’t still get a mobility car in her name and to be honest he feels it wouldn’t be right to do so anyway since shes living in the nursing home full time at that point.

now the questions i cant answer. since this is likely to happen can he just extended the lease on the current car rather than apply for a new one that he may only have a few months. he has done nearly 17K miles in his current car and i know if you have only done low mileage you could extend the lease but hes over that mileage. he still will need a car when she does go into care so he can visit etc and so he would like to buy the car he has at that time but if he does extend the lease and that was another 12 months do mobility take that into account when setting the price he would have to pay? do they allow people to buy  cars that the leases as been extended on?

I said to him that if at the time the excising contract finishes if his wife is still at home he can apply and get a new car , he can return it if and when she goes into care even if that was a week later  but he would rather keep the car he as and hopes that would cost him less to buy later.

any thoughts??

Thanks

Topic

[Wigwam]

Motability are allowing lease extensions with little questioning because of the shortage of new cars and long waits regardless of mileage. I would suggest when the time comes your friend asks Motability to extend for 2 years – saying he can’t find a suitable replacement that he can afford.  He can then hand the car back when he no longer needs it or if his wife’s benefit is withdrawn.  Buying cars from Motability is generally not worthwhile. They tend to charge retail price and offer no guarantee.  Best to hand the car back and buy a replacement from a dealer who can also offer finance.

[joss]

Taken from the Motability web site https://www.motability.co.uk/get-support/faqs/going-into-residential-care/

What happens if I go into residential care?
You can continue your lease as long as you’re still getting your higher rate or component mobility allowance.

You also still need to benefit from your Motability Scheme vehicle.

The only real way to find a definitive answer is to talk to customer service. You could argue that your wife would still benefit as it would allow you to visit her on a regular basis, even take here on days out.

Joss
Current car: BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In metallic Portimão Blue. 04:10:2025
Previous car:Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.

[Paul_1964]

hi Wigwam and Joss, Thanks for the replies.

am i right in believing for my friend to continue to be the main driver of the car and hence  the car being kept at his home that his wife can be no more than 5 miles from his address, i know that was the case some time ago .

can the care home say that they want the mobility money or stop him from having the car so they get the the money anyway? I know he would be happy to take her to any hospital trips etc she needs and of course he wants to visit regularly.

[RogerWilko]

My understanding, and I’m happy to be corrected, is that if the principle Motability leaseholder goes into hospital for a length of time,  the car is taken away. Could that be the same with a Nursing home?

[BigDave]

I don’t think anyone here can answer the OP’s question reliably as there are so many technical variables involved.

It can boil down to who is funding the place in the home (i.e. self-funding, Local Authority or NHS etc)  and whether it is actually a nursing home (where nursing is given) or a care home (where only perosnal care is given). Or even a hybrid if both types of care are needed.

Depending on the actual scenario from the above, the OP’s friend’s wife may or may not keep her relevant Mobility allowance.

The OP’s friend maybe better getting all the facts involved (if even known yet) and to approach a Welfare Rights organisation or CAB etc as it may affect other finances/benefits etc as well, particularly if Local Authority funded (or part funded) due to the financial means test (carried out seperate to the needs test).

A rough guide to the complexity is here, including the last sentence:

[Paul_1964]

Thanks BigDave

Thats a good starting point, at this early stage i think i will just pass on the comments i have received here. at the time her situation changes i will advise speaking to CAB as i think  it will be a nursing home funded by the Local council. Thanks all.

 

[Glos Guy]

I cannot answer the question about care homes, other than to say that travelling to and from the home to see his wife is clearly for her benefit, just as a carer travelling to and from work to provide an income to support a partner who is unable to work is.

The 5 mile rule is designed to stop abuse but is very flexible. My wife (the PIP recipient) can no longer drive. I was concerned that if I was away or in hospital my wife would be housebound and unable to visit me, so I asked Motability if I could add one of my daughters who lives 12 miles away. They didn’t bat an eyelid and were more than happy. In reality, she’s only driven it once in 18 months (and that was with me, so that she didn’t drive it for the first time in an emergency) but it’s reassuring to know that if anything happens she is able to.

[Author]

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