How Can I Get Help With Moving Costs For Disabled Persons?

This blog answers the question “Help with moving costs for disabled persons? Moving costs for people with a proven disability are minimized by registering for a blue badge or through direct use of your disability benefit payments through the motability scheme.

How Can I Get Help With Moving Costs For Disabled Persons?

Disabled people can avail support from the Motability scheme or use allowances from the DLA payments to pay for mobility costs. The motability scheme and the blue badge provide certain exemptions and special privileges on vehicle related charges and for disabled persons. You can lease a car suiting your disability needs through the motability scheme.

The scheme also covers costs for a replacement car and insurance on most of the vehicle as well as a fuel allowance for your journey. The option of hiring a car or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle through the motability scheme is very economical compared to actually buying or leasing one from some other option.

The motability scheme has a personal allowance for its members which is fully paid for by their disability benefits such as the Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or the Adult Disability Payment.

What is the Motability Scheme?

The motability scheme helps cover expenses for leasing a car, leasing a powered wheelchair or leasing a scooter. To be eligible for the Motability Scheme you will need to prove that you receive one of the following disability benefits:

  • The War Pensioners Mobility Supplement
  • The Disability Living Allowance (higher rate mobility component)
  • Child Disability Payment (higher rate mobility component)
  • The Armed Forces Independence Payment
  • Personal Independence Payment (enhanced rate mobility component)
  • Adult Disability Payment (enhanced rate mobility component)

How can I apply for a vehicle tax exemption if I am disabled?

You can apply for a vehicle tax exemption (for being disabled)  if you qualify to recieve the following benefits:

  • The War Pensioners Mobility Supplement
  • The Disability Living Allowance (higher rate mobility component)
  • Child Disability Payment (higher rate mobility component)
  • The Armed Forces Independence Payment
  • Personal Independence Payment (enhanced rate mobility component)
  • Adult Disability Payment (enhanced rate mobility component)

Your vehicle needs to be registered either in your own (disabled person’s) name or your designated driver’s name. Your vehicle may only be used for your personal use.

You may qualify for a council tax reduction of 50% if you claim the following disability benefits:

  • Personal Independence Payment (mobility component at the standard rate of £24.45)
  • Adult Disability Payment (mobility component at the standard rate of £24.45)

You will need to include the following documents in your application:

  • Your vehicle registration certificate of V5C logbook
  • A MOT (New Vehicle Test) Certificate
  • A check or pay order, in the name of “DVLA Swansea” for a value of 50% of the full car tax charge for your vehicle.
  • An application for vehicle tax (V10) form completed and with required documents attached

What is a Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass?

The Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass allows you to travel for free across London and nationally all over the UK. To be eligible for using one you need to be a resident of London and comply with one of the following statutory disability conditions:

  • Being hearing impaired
  • People who have had their arms amputated, don’t have both arms or are suffering from a long term loss of the use of both upper limbs.
  • People suffering from a disability which affects their ability to walk or have had an accident which has impaired their walking capacity.
  • People suffering from Dysarthria, which prevents them from speaking normally or speaking at all.
  • Failing the DVLA driving licence test due to incompatibility with Section 92 of The Road Traffic Act 1988 (physical fitness requirement) which proves a “relevant disability”
  • People suffering from a learning disability which includes severe impairment of logical reasoning functions, intelligence functions and social skills.

To apply for The Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass from your local council, if you are eligible, you will need to contact your council (by using their phone number or email address) Given below is the list of council’s offering the Disabled Persons Freedom Pass:

  • Barnet Council  Phone : 020 8359 4131
  • Bexley Council     Email: travelawards@inspirecommunitytrust.org
  • Brent Council    Phone :  020 8937 5796        Email:  independenttravelteam@brent.gov.uk
  • Bromley Council   Phone : 030 0303 8669
  • Camden Council   Phone : 020 7974 6435/5919
  • City of London Council   Phone : 020 7332 1224
  • Croydon Council  Phone : 020 8726 7100   Email : travel.service@croydon.gov.uk
  • Ealing Council  Phone :  020 8825 8161    Email : csprocessing@ealing.gov.uk
  • Enfield Council   Phone : 020 8379 1000   Email : ctravel@enfield.gov.uk
  • Greenwich Council. Phone : 020 8921 2388  Email: mobility-duty@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
  • Hackney Council.  Phone : 0208 356 6262  Email:mobilityteam@hackney.gov.uk
  • Hammersmith and Fulham Council Phone : 020 8753 6681  Email : freedompasses@lbhf.gov.uk
  • Haringey Council Phone : 0208 489 1000 
  • Harrow Council    Phone : 020 8901 2680  Email : concessionarytravel@harrow.gov.uk
  • Havering Council Phone : 01708 434 343
  • Hillingdon Council Phone : 01895 556633
  • Hounslow Council  Phone : 020 8583 3073
  • Islington Council   Phone : 020 7527 8444  Email : freedom.pass@islington.gov.uk
  • Kesingston and Chelsea  Phone : 020 7361 2390 Email : accessible.transport@rbkc.gov.uk
  • Kingston Upon Thames   Phone :  020 8547 5005  Email : concessionarytravel@kingston.gov.uk
  • Lambeth Council   Phone : 020 7926 7777 Email : accessibletransport@lambeth.gov.uk
  • Lewisham Council   Phone : 020 8314 9844
  • Merton Council    Phone : 020 8274 4901
  • Newham Council.  Phone :  020 8430 2000
  • Redbridge Council. Phone : 020 8554 5000  Email : Redbridge.freedompass@necsws.com
  • Richmond Council. Phone :  020 8831 6312  Email : AccessibleTransport@richmond.gov.uk
  • Southwark Council.  Phone :  020 7525 2146  Email : disabledtravel@southwark.gov.uk
  • Sutton Council  Phone : 020 8770 4578  Email  : concessionarytravel@sutton.gov.uk
  • Tower Hamlets Council.  Phone : 020 7364 5003 Email : mobility.support@towerhamlets.gov.uk
  • Waltham Forest Council. Phone : 020 8496 3000 Email : mobility.services@walthamforest.gov.uk
  • Wandsworth Council. Phone : 020 8871 8871
  • Westminster Council. Phone : 020 7823 4567 

How can I register for getting a Blue Badge?

You can register for a Blue Badge by following the procedure given here. To qualify for a Blue Badge, you need to meet the following requirements:

  • You are claiming the daily living component of the Disability Living Allowance
  • You qualify for receiving the Personal Independence Payment because you cannot walk unassisted for a distance exceeding 50 metres. You should have scored a minimum of 8 points in the “moving around” activity of the PIP assessment test.
  • You are suffering from a disability which is likely to cause you bodily harm from walking
  • You are registered with your local council as “Severely Sight Impaired” and have a doctor’s certificate as evidence of this disability.
  • You are eligible to claim the War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement. This covers a range of disabilities from problems walking, to severe sight and hearing impairments.

If none of the conditions given above are fulfilled you will still be considered eligible subject to further assessment. You will qualify for this intermediate eligibility status if:

  • You can drive a vehicle and suffer from severe upper limb disabilities
  • You are applying in place of a child aged 2 years (or older) who has a permanent or severe disability which hampers their walking ability.
  • You are applying in place of a child aged under 3 years of age, suffering from a health condition which requires them to be in proximity of a Mobile Emergency Care Service Unit (at all times).
  • You usually are apprehensive of spending time in public places and are fearful of going out into social events.
  • You feel that your actions or responses in public can become very extreme or dangerous and you are also unable to restrain these responses.
  • You find it difficult to accomplish daily mobility tasks such as moving around the neighbourhood. You are also unable to plan a driving trip and navigate your way on the road.
  • Walking is a very strenuous exercise for you due to the pain you experience, shortness of breath or due to the overall slowness of the entire process.
  • You are unable to walk unassisted by mobility aids, a wheelchair or physical support.

Upper limb disabilities (for a Blue Badge)  are assessed according to the following criteria:

  • Having a severe upper limb disability in both arms
  • Being unable to use a parking metre or facing serious difficulties while operating one.
  • Being able to drive a vehicle regularly

It can take upto 12 weeks for your blue badge application to be processed. 

What is the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) and how does it help reduce my medical expenses?

Benefits for pension-age homeowners on medical travel expenses are available through the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. If you (are pension age and) have an impairment in physical or mental functions, you may be able to claim certain medical travel expenses as a disability support deduction. 

Which documents do I need to support my claim for medical (travel) expenses?

Do not send any documents with your council tax return. Keep them in case the National Health Service (NHS) asks to see them.

You need to provide the following proof to support your claim for healthcare traveling expenses.:

  • A referral from a registered medical practitioner to an NHS hospital for additional treatment or tests
  • The appointment for which you are availing of travel costs must be different from the initial medical referral visit to the hospital or specialist
  • Proof that you or your partner receive one of the following benefits. Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment, and Support Allowance, Working Tax Credit with Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit with a disability element, State Pension Credit or Guaranteed Pension Credit.
  • You or your partner must meet the criteria for the NHS Low-Income scheme (which is mainly not having savings or investments above £16000 or not having savings above £23,250 if you are permanently residing in a care home)
  • Receipts must show the name of the person or company to whom the expense was paid.

 You are ineligible to claim help for medical travel costs in the following situations:

  • You cannot help with travel costs if you are visiting someone who is admitted to a hospital.
  • You cannot claim help with travel costs if you are visiting a General Practitioner, dentist, or another physician for a routine check-up
  • You cannot claim help with travel costs if you are traveling to receive urgent primary care services during out-of-hour periods (6 pm to 8:30 pm on weekdays and weekends.

What is the Disabled Persons RailCard?

You are eligible to apply for the Disabled Person’s Railcard if the following conditions apply to you:

  • You are claiming the Personal Independence Payment
  • You are claiming the Disability Living Allowance (mobility component at the higher or lower rate or the care component at the higher or middle rate)
  • Are suffering from a visual impairment
  • Are suffering from a hearing impairment
  • Are suffering from epilepsy
  • Are claiming the Attendance Allowance or the severe disablement allowance
  • Are claiming the War Pension or Service Disablement Pension for a disability condition of 80% or higher
  • Have bought or leased a vehicle using the motability scheme
  • Are claiming the War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement

You will also need to provide the following documentation evidence along with your Disabled RailCard membership application:

  • A copy of your Disability Allowance award letter showing your claim of (benefit) payments within the past 12 months
  • A copy of your Personal Independence Payment award letter, showing (evidence of) the payments you have obtained within the past 12 months
  • To prove a visual impairment, a copy of your Visual Impairment Certificate CVI
  • A copy of your leasing agreement for a car or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle under the Motability scheme (dated within the past 12 months)
  • A copy of your award letter for the War Pension or Service Disablement Pension
  • A copy of your award letter for receiving the War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
  • A copy of your award letter for the Attendance Allowance Benefit payment or the Severe Disablement allowance benefit payment.

Conclusion

This blog post addressed the question “How Can I Get Help With Moving Costs For Disabled Persons?” People who have registered as disabled can be provided with financial help for covering moving costs through the motability scheme. This scheme uses money from your claimed benefit payments to pay for travel costs and use of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles.

Please feel free to comment on the content or ask any questions in the comments section below :

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) : How Can I Get Help With Moving Costs For Disabled Persons?

What is the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement?

The War Pensioners Mobility Supplement is paid out in conjunction with the War Disablement Pension for covering extra mobility expenses. These extra costs for moving around after being physically disabled (while on service duty) can be used to pay for purchasing a new or special vehicle under the motability scheme.

You must fulfill the following requirements for being eligible to get this supplement:

  • Your war disablement pension payment should be as a result of the amputation of one or both legs 
  • Your war pension should be claimed at a rate of 40% or higher
  • You are unable to walk outside unassisted and if you have suffered vision loss (at 90% or more) or If you have suffered hearing loss (at 80% or more) caused by war experiences or while on active service duty before 6th April 2005

What is the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit?

The Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is a weekly benefits payment for compensating disability or illness suffered due to a mishap at work (or an exposure to a disease at your workplace). The disability or illness suffered by a work related accident or the disease contracted while working can also occur at an approved employment training course.

To be eligible for claiming the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit you need to verify the following information:

  • You were working when the accident or event occured
  • You were attending an approved employment training course at the time the event occurred
  • The work accident leading to your illness or disability took place in England,Wales or Scotland

You can also claim the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for suffering from a disease or contracting a disease at your workplace or employment training scheme. The following list of 70 diseases can be verified for claiming this benefit payment:

  • Asthma
  • Chronic Bronchitis or Emphysema
  • Deafness
  • Pneumoconiosis
  • Osteoarthritis of the knee in coal miners
  • Leukaemia 
  • Cataract
  • Dysbarism
  • Osteonecrosis
  • Subcuteaneous cellulitis of the hand

(i)           fixed flexion deformity of one or more metacarpophalangeal joints greater than 45 degrees 

(ii)         fixed flexion deformity of one or more interphalangeal joints 

Disease or injury conditions caused due to biological agents:

  •     Anthrax-cutaneous
  •  Anthrax-pulmonary
  •   Glanders
  • ·Infection by leptospira
  •  Ankylostomiasis-cutaneous larva migrans
  • ·Ankylostomiasis-iron deficiency anaemia
  •   Tuberculosis.
  •    Extrinsic allergic alveolitis.
  • ·  Infection by hepatitis A virus
  • ·   Infection by hepatitis B or C virus
  • · Infection by Streptococcus suis. A very rare form of meningitis from exposure to infected pigs or pork products.
  • ·        Avian chlamydiosis
  • ·        Ovine chlamydiosis

·        Q fever, caused by contact with animals, their remains or their untreated products. 

·        Orf caused by contact with sheep or goats, or with the carcasses of sheep or goats. 

·        Hydatidosis caused by Contact with dogs

  • ·        Lyme disease, which is caused by

Exposure to deer or other mammals of a type liable to harbour ticks harbouring Borrelia bacteria

·       

  • Anaphylaxis which is caused by

Contact with products made with natural rubber latex

  •    Anaemia with a haemoglobin concentration of 9g/dL or less, and a blood film showing punctate basophilia

which is caused by the use or handling of, and exposure to the fumes, dust or vapour of, lead or a compound of lead, or a substance containing lead

  • ·        Peripheral neuropathy

 Central nervous system toxicity

  • · Central nervous system toxicity characterised by parkinsonism which is caused by The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes, dust or vapour of, manganese or a compound of manganese, or a substance containing manganese.
  • ·        Phossy Jaw which is caused by

Work involving the use or handling of, or exposure to, white phosphorous.

  •  Peripheral polyneuropathy or peripheral polyneuropathy with pyramidal involvement of the central nervous system, caused by organic compounds of phosphorus which inhibit the enzyme neuropathy target esterase.
  • Primary carcinoma of the bronchus or lung

What is the Blind Person’s Allowance?

The Blind Person’s Allowance is an extra payment added to your personal allowance for being registered as severely sight impaired.To be eligible for getting the Blind Person’s Allowance you need to certify:

  • You are registered with your local council as severely sight impaired. This needs to be proved by a letter from your council stating your condition
  • You have a Certificate of Vision Impairment signed by your general practitioner or eye doctor..

The standard tax free personal allowance is £12,570. The Blind Personal Allowance is a yearly payment of £2600, added to this allowance. The total basic sum adds up to £15,170

You can choose to transfer your Blind Person’s Allowance to your spouse or civil partner. This can be done in the following circumstances:

  • You are married or in a civil partnership
  • You are living on the same property as your spouse or civil partner
  • Regardless of whether your civil partner or spouse is severely sight impaired.

You can transfer your Blind Person’s Allowance to your spouse or civil partner even if they don’t live with you in the following circumstances:

  • You are unable to live together owing to old age or illness
  • You are unable to live together because you are employed in a workplace located at a substantial distance from your home.
  • You are on service duty in the British Armed Forces
  • You are unable to live together because either of you is a student or is attending a training course.
  • You are unable to live together because you are in detention.

Citations

War Pensioners Disability Supplement and War Widowers Pension Allowances