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today i got my letter for the grant for needing an auto box.
i ordered the car in dec, delivery march/april ish.
as i have had the grant before it has all happened automatically and all i have to do is ring them when i take delivery an they will issue a cheque, although i will ask i theyy can do a bacs pmnt.
so well worth applying for if your a veteran.
the max grant is £660 mines £621 which is the full ap.
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Mmmm, it has been £660 max for a long time now, at least 15-20 years.
I do recall a few years ago there was discussion ongoing at Veterans UK (or SPVA as it was at the time), about increasing it, at least with inflation. I bet that plan was side lined.
Could be again time to run it up the flagpole and see who salutes!
Mind you as the current Sec of State has not even get round to tabling the Statutory Instrument uprating all War Pensions in line with inflation for April 2023, don’t hold your breath.
Mitch, do you have any more details on the Veterans Auto Grant please?
basically ring the motability grants team they will send you the form, you fill it out explaining why your injury means you need an automatic, you may need a doctors letter it all depends. in my case as i get a war pension because of damage to knees and hips it just got straight through. some times it involves a bit of to and fro but its worth the hassle because in my case its been a one hit thing.
each time i now renew a lease it happens automatically. your allowed one grant every three years. i lost out on one changeover as i ended the lease early as i needed a higher car.
@FiestaRed, apparently now its started automatically when a veteran orders a car, just make sure the dealer ticks the box for adaptations required auto box. then the grants team will get in touch.
Brilliant, thanks for all the help Mitch. Really appreciated.
yes @BigDave considering an auto is prob about £1500 more on the price of a car at least these days.
its not even close to covering the aditional cost.
mind best not complain too loudly or they will stop it.
It’s a shame it’s not open to all veterans who need an auto.
Though I think I’d qualify for a grant, I haven’t applied. My first car, 5 years ago, I inherited £3,000 because my dad died, and paid just short of £2000 for the AP.
The person I enquired about grants with was not too friendly, so didn’t ask again.
This time I am borrowing, low interest credit card rates. So, yes, an auto grant would come in very handy.
It’s a shame it’s not open to all veterans who need an auto. Though I think I’d qualify for a grant, I haven’t applied. My first car, 5 years ago, I inherited £3,000 because my dad died, and paid just short of £2000 for the AP. The person I enquired about grants with was not too friendly, so didn’t ask again. This time I am borrowing, low interest credit card rates. So, yes, an auto grant would come in very handy.
T.O.M
Providing you are a veteran in receipt of WPMS the process is quite easy.
As Mitch says above, just make sure the dealer ticks the adaption box for Automatic Transmission (in anycase Veterans UK will write to you if you order an auto but don’t claim the grant).
If you are a new ‘auto grant’ customer, Veterans UK check that your accepted War Pensionable disability would most probably need an auto and often okay it just on that. Rarely does it go as far as needing an assessment.
It really is worth trying again – the worst they can say is ‘no’.
yes @BigDave considering an auto is prob about £1500 more on the price of a car at least these days. its not even close to covering the aditional cost. mind best not complain too loudly or they will stop it.
Mitch,
I wouldn’t hold my breath on it, but apparently an increase is being looked at. Same with the £750 House Adaptation Grant, which has been set at £750 since the year dot!
As I say, don’t expect it to be increased imminently, as the MOD are currently pleading poverty to the Treasury, but more mid/longer term there maybe a little movement.
Dave.
Bigdave
What is a house adaptation grant and what is the criteria for applying and getting it?
Thanks.
Bigdave What is a house adaptation grant and what is the criteria for applying and getting it? Thanks.
Mike,
It is available to War Pensioners who need adaption(s) to their house (either owned or social/rented with landlord permission) to help with their War Pensionable disability.
The adaption must affect the fabric of the fabric of the house – ie not a freestanding aid/adaption.
Apply via Veterans UK. A report of what is needed from an Occupational Therapist usually helps. It is usually a lot quicker than applying for a Disabled Facilities Grant though and is not means tested.
As I intimated though, the problem is that the maximum amount (£750) hasn’t risen this century! In the late 1990’s I got the en-suite bathroom/shower converted to a wet room within the maximum grant. Nowadays, I doubt it would even pay for the tiling alone!
It is usually a lot quicker than applying for a Disabled Facilities Grant
We applied for a DFG for my dauagter for a wider drive, dropped kerbs, a porch with easy access, and other bit’s and bobs, which came to around £20k. From the initial application and an OT assessment it took over 2yrs for the DFG officer to even come and look. By this time I had the shell of the porch built, along with narrow drive and front garden dug up and flattened. He was a nice and agreed to carry, which he said they don’t have to do on with and and credited my account £900 for the levelling of the garden which I had a receipt for – the porch was back handers. Work started 2 months later and the DFG officer was good enough to put a tarmac drive down rather than the usual concrete or flagstones.
To cut a long story short yes it’s a boody long time to wait as you say and is means tested for adults but, not children. I think the total grant is £3k England £35K Wales.
Lastly I couldn’t be bothered applying for the bathroom and did it ourselves.
today i got my letter for the grant for needing an auto box. i ordered the car in dec, delivery march/april ish. as i have had the grant before it has all happened automatically and all i have to do is ring them when i take delivery an they will issue a cheque, although i will ask i theyy can do a bacs pmnt. so well worth applying for if your a veteran. the max grant is £660 mines £621 which is the full ap.
Can you give me the phone number please? I’ve had the grant on my previous two cars but having collected my new one on Tuesday, I’m not sure the dealer ticket the box so would like to check.
Current car: Mini Countryman EV in very shiny black!
Previous car: MG HS Exclusive in nice shiny black.
Is this just for those on the WPMS? Or does it also stretch to those of us on AFIP?
@DougieB 08005003186
@DougieB 08005003186
Thanks.
Current car: Mini Countryman EV in very shiny black!
Previous car: MG HS Exclusive in nice shiny black.
Hi all,
I hope your well?
with regards to the auto grant for veterans May I say first of all before asking my question that all veterans more than deserve this grant however as I am a double leg amputee I have no choice but to drive an automatic and given the rising costs I would appreciate a grant that would help towards the cost of an automatic vehicle but as I am not a veteran I do not qualify for such a grant but please understand I have no resentment towards our brave veterans but merely suggesting Motability should consider others who can only select an automatic vehicle due to their disability.What’s your views on this?
Don’t forget, the £660 grant is for people who receive wpms and is payable for the difference between manual and auto box of the same make, model, engine etc, I enquired about the T-Roc Life 1.5 Tsi auto the ap is £364 and the Manual is £1281 so I thought GREAT I can use the grant to pay the ap on the cheaper auto model but was told NO you can’t have the cheaper auto model.
Apparently to receive the grant the auto has to be more expensive than the manual then it’s ok. Seems a bit backwards to me but there you go, I receive the wpms and also need an auto for my medical condition.
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