logiclee

What you all need to do is pray you never need a disabled badge.

I would give up absolutely everthing we have if my wife could be well enough not to need hers. You never realise that your health is the most important thing you have until you don't have it.

I've had the same problem as the thread starter as we both look young(ish) and healthy, the ignorance of some people is astounding.

And motabilty? That's a joke, if you have worked all your life and saved, pay all your bills in full and fill in all the forms truthfully you won't get it unless you are paralysed or have your legs amputated.

As always there are those that abuse the system and create the problems for those who are genuine.

Lee

Stueyb

Lee, you are very right on some bits ie there is a lot of abuse of the system. I know of people who get them and yet are capable of f*cking full on fistycuffs if someone upsets them (try bashing an oap because of the way he parked). He works Cash in hand, as does his mrs and yet the get a nice new vauxhall Astra every few years, nice council house for £50 a week and they can buy it and sell it for a fortune . Dont think they have ever worked an honest day.I admit they probabily are the exception to the rule.

As for the badges, I know of several people who have badges because of their disabled relatives (legitimat idea etc) but then abuse it to park where they like and then the honest people (such as my own mother) who take these people out have no use of the badge because of these selfish people.

Here is a radical thought and its not meant to be provocative but why should we the tax payer fund other peoples cars ?

Admittedly its not the people in questions fault but I personally am sick and tired of people taking the **** and having to pay out of my pocket (well indirectly as the money comes from taxation) for people who get such subsidies off the government. I have never once claimed dole although I was entitled to it.

I pay for my car
I pay for my petrol.
I pay my mortgage
I go to work everyday
I work for what I get.

Now I also know that a fair portion of people who have motability do work long and hard but why on earth should they get a car gratis (well ok you can get a basic astra 1.6 for your entire disability living allowance) when their pay is actually the same as an able bodied person. To give them less would be to be in contravention of the Disability Rights act I believe.

I dont mean to argue or make light of these peoples plight but its a legitimate question. Why should we foot the bill for people who are too silly to get life/medical insurance (yes I realise a lot of people are born with conditions)

Before any of you start banging on as well, my girlfriends brother has a rare genetic illness so is wheelchair bound. She is dutch and they have a good system there were they will give you a portion of the money relative to how much you earn. Also the rest of it is made up in tax breaks. This works out well and he has a converted Ford Transit minibus converted for him and it was done without much of a burdon on the tax payer.

Oh and by the way with regard to what happened if.. I have medical and life insurance. I dont leave it to chance

logiclee

Why.....

The same reason we pay income support, dole, and any benifit really.

Social responsibilty.

The worst off (Health as well as financialy) should be supported by the rest of society. If someone has no earnings because of their disability and would be housebound without transport I have no problem with them getting a car.

But it's the same with any benefit there are those that abuse it and make it look bad for those that genuinly need it.

There are other issues as well.
I have a bigger problem with family allowance and child benefit for instance. If you have kids then pay for them! Why should other tax payers pay? This is two fold, there are those with ten kids who expect the state to keep them and what about high earners with small families, why should they receive benefits?
Having kids is a choice, being disabled isn't.

Lee

logiclee

We had both at the time Lorraine's illness started but niether covers you for loss of earnings. Yes your medical condition gets treated but that's it unless you die. Most insurance policies only cover you short term for loss of earnings.
Our family income dropped by nearly £30000 when my wife had to give up work. Luckily I am a high earner too so our lifestyle is comfortable.

But if my wife lived on her own she would be dependant on the state.

And remember most people cannot afford private medical insurance.

Lee

Stueyb

Your are perhaps right in some respects Lee, in that we should support the less fortunate in society (to a degree) and I agree that they should be supported. Just gets my goat when I see my taxes going on things such as:

People who claim unemployment and or disability and work but have no real intention of taking a job that pays NI. In my eyes they should work or get nowt unless they genuinly have a problem. If I had my way I would abolish the welfare state (well most of it, or at least for the following)

Teenage mothers/Lizze Housewap types. WTF should we pay for that chav scum to have an easy life.

Do away with income support/child benefit - as Logicless said above

Immigrants - they came here, not our responsability to feed/cloth them.

Council tennants who buy cheap and sell high. Right to buy should be abolished. Subsidising chav scum to live the life of riley and then sell the house and make 40K plus profit and then expect the council to rehouse them to repeat it again. Again, not all council tenants are chavs, just a lot of em.

If we did that, we would cut the social security bill in half !!

Spoon

The amount you have in the bank makes no difference whatsover to whether or not you get a Motability vehicle.

To be eligible for any of the Motability schemes you must be receiving one of the following benefits:

Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance
War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement

An application for a car can also be made on behalf of a child aged three or older, who is entitled to the mobility allowance, and even if you don't drive, but receive the allowance, you can apply for a car as a passenger and propose two other people as your drivers.

logiclee

To get any rate would be nice. We fill the forms in correctly as I'm not going to lie to get benefits we are not entitled to and have been turned down twice. Yep I don't need the benifit but I'm paying 40% tax and so did Lorraine when she worked so if I Lorraine is genuinly entitled to something then we will apply. (Got nothing yet though)
Lorraine takes Morphine up to four times a day. Christmas 2002/New Year2003 she spent 7 weeks in hospital trying to overcome the side effects of her pain relief. In 2003 the furthest we travelled from home was only about 20 miles other than our main holiday when we managed an 80 mile trip to the coast. That was only possible after we paid to have a specialised bed installed in the caravan we were stopping in at a cost of over £700.
If you are on the social gravy train you can get "Help" to fill in the forms, ie- they tell you what to put to be succesfull. I won't sink that low.

Hope that was a typo.


To be honest the mobility scheme is a godsend to those who need it and cheaper for the tax payer. If a disabled person who genuinly can't get about without their own transport can be made mobile then it is not only ethically correct but means they can be idependant and not require carers to do tasks such as shoping.

As always it's the spongers that spoils the idea of the scheme for those in need.

Also remeber that if you work hard for a living, would never sponge, are determined, strong willed and always pay your way the only thing that will stop you is your health.

Cheers
Lee

Edited to add, please ignore bad spelling due to wine.

Stueyb

I do apologise Lee, my typing is poo

J S W

I like both options as I get to wait outside until you finish your shopping and use my *oversized* fist too smash you in the face.

You wouldn't feel so clever then.

imlach

Some people in this world deliberately set out to abuse the system.

Yes, there aren't really any laws supermarkets can apply, but they do rely on people's good morals.

If you need a disabled space because you are incapacitated (disabled badge or not), then you should use one. It's there to help you.

If you have young kids, then please use the M&B spaces. They're there to help too.

If you don't fall into the above categories, why fight the voluntary code of conduct? You fall into the "I can use it if I like cos it's not law you know" camp. BORING.

Just park in the normal spaces like everyone else.....does anyone really enjoy the potential pointing/staring/hassle/grief they may get when abusing the voluntary system? Is it really worth it to save a few steps of walking to the supermarket.

BedHog

I don't have a problem with disabled parking spaces, lets get this clear. And I think that they should be enforced properly. Nothing worse than seeing some idle sod park there when half the car park is empty.

But I do have a problem with disabled people who think that society owe's then something. Earlier this week I was rammed in a supermarket by a very fat lady (probably couldn't walk cos of that, nothing else) in an electric chair who had a go at me for not moving. I was standing reading labels -the real obstacle was a trolley opposite nothing to do with me. (I gave her a piece of my mind and mentioned salad, whereby another couple had a go at me - i just laughed and walked off)

I have a disabled friend (due to an accident, lost use below waist) and he is so normal. Takes everything in his stride and does everything himself where possible.

imlach

I suspect a number of cases are due to clinical depression. I'm absolutely positive the incidence of it will be higher in the disabled community for obvious reasons.

We all have bad days, and I'm sure being physically incapacitated means a higher number of those days per year.

Some tolerance of others is always a rare, but welcome, attribute. I'm sure your friend is one of the ones that sees life as a positive experience and has accepted & moved on with his limitations, but I'm sure he probably still has his bad days?

BedHog

No one could have gotten more depressed than my friend, his accident was back in maybe 95 and he was in and out of hospital for maybe 7 years. A 'simple' back fracture that lost the use of his legs developed MRSA and ended in a leg amputation. (He was told once he wouldn't survive, luckily a nurse did further research and found a specialist that helped). He is now back working part time and has a car courtesy of mobility (and living with the nurse that helped him - very nice too - always fancied her at school lol)

I'm very tolerant of disabled people as long as they are realistic. A kerb is not society against them, it's just the way things are. Yes there are many things they still struggle with but it's improving all the time.

And they have to realise they are all different to, my mate is very independant - I wouldn't dare try to help him. Others expect you to do everything for them and have everything done for them.

imlach

...yes, everyone is different, and everyone has their own thresholds of tolerance.

I'm sure that 0.1% of people walking around a supermarket at any one time have suffered a bereavement within the last week or month. You wouldn't know this from looking at them, but if you get in their way, they might give you a shed load of unwarranted abuse, and you'd assume given your lack of insight into their lives that they deserved a ****load of abuse back from you. However, if you knew they'd lost their son/wife/father the day before, you'd probably hold back.

Ditto the disabled person who is perhaps having a bad day for whatever reason, but because you can see they are a) fat, and b) in a wheelchair, you have immediately come to your own conclusion, and retalitated on an easy target by referencing "salads" etc.

Given being consigned to a wheelchair can mean incapacity, not everyone is going to be able to exercise/avoid depression/live properly, and obesity just could be a consequence of incapcity rather than the cause of it.

Who knows.....but you're prejudging. I'm sure your friend is prejudged by people that don't know him, and given your views on his independence, I suspect you'd be the first to correct anyone that prejudged him?

BedHog

lol no actually I wouldn't hold back. Someones loss doesn't give them the right to abuse me.

And as for judging someone in a wheelchair - I certainly don't and I'm sure most people don't. I will always open the door for someone in a wheelchair - I will always offer to help them up stairs etc....But some expect it and don't thank you - some even abuse you for even offering to help.

As for the original post about Disabled parking spaces. What are they for?

As far as i can see they are like Mother and Baby spaces - more space. Someone in a wheelchair can easily cross a car park - all they need 'generally' is a little more room to open the car door fully.

Maybe if they put the disabled spaces further away they would stay empty?? Probably not a popular idea but practical. Either that or enforce them properly. I've a few times asked people why they have parked in disabled spaces, a few times 'oh I'll only be a few minutes' but generally abuse, you can guess what.

imlach

I think we're both singing from the same hymn sheet in our views. I ask them the same questions, and it nearly always ends in abuse.

I (and I have said it 10000 times on here) just despair at the lack of general respect, courtesy, and morals of the majority in this country these days.

It's not even a young person thing. I've held countless doors open in shops for "sweet old ladies" and you may as well be the invisible man. No thanks, no acknowledgement, no nothing. Common courtesy doesn't cost anything, and is polite.

BedHog

I don't know when our society got so ignorant (self-obsessed) but it won't change soon. But there are still plenty of people around who say thank you/sorry/excuse me so maybe there is hope.......

logiclee

It's society that's the problem and being disabled doesn't come into it.

I know smart, well dressed, intelligent people who wouldn't give you the time of day and I also know teenage, skinhead, youths who are polite and well mannered.

Any type of person can be fit and well and any type of person can be disabled.

The fat women would probably have had the same attitude if she had been walking and couldn't get her trolley through the gap in the supermarket isle.

Lee

scoobybitch

the motability cars are taken in place of DLA (disability living allowance) they get one or the other not both and trust me the cars are not as easy to get hold of as you seem to think. Some cars come with nil deposit but my dad needs an auto because when he is bad his left leg is near enough useless. He wanted a car he could just sit into and not sit 'down' into like a picasso or something, instead he ended up with a focus because all deposits for MPV's were at least £1,000. As for work some people are only allowed to work for so many hours a week depending on their disability.
Some people do think the world owes them a favour but we could apply that to anyone eg - old people - Im sick of hearing the line 'young people these days' people that sponge off the doll and really do have no intention of working, illegal imigrants, single mothers claiming every benefit under the sun & CSA the list could go on & on. Lee I'm sorry for the situation your in and I do agree that you should get the benefit, it took my dad several doctors to convince the government that he should be on early retirement on health grounds. If the government reassessed half the benefits they give out the people that really deserve them might end up getting them.

S.B.

Neither would you when you are up for assault

Spoon

Not strictly true as DLA Is made up of two components, care and mobility.

Only the mobility part is taken to pay for a motability vehicle. The care portion remains with the recipient.

Imlach- You've saved me typing a fair bit.

Interesting to see what other peoples views on disability are in here as it's never far away from any one of you even though most are totally oblivious to the dangers on the road/home everyday.

Stay safe.

carl

All I know is that my grandparents aren't eligible for some reason, despite the fact that my gran can't walk and is confined to a wheelchair. I don't think she gets War Pension, although she did used to get an extra 3 and 6 a week or something for having a bit of shrapnel embedded in her leg (not related to her current disability).

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

You are all so selfish, round Wilmslow the so called 'disabled' spaces are solely for the use of very important BMW owners who are in a hurry to pick up a bottle of champers and something nice for tea, I have seen it so many times, it really winds me up when they see you looking and give you a 'go on say something' look like they would rather come to blows than admit they are wrong, next time I may just fight to the death, so there.


Seriously, I give a lift to a colleague who has Cerebral Palsy and cannot walk, work have painted two disabled spaces as the previous system where they put a cone out was abused by people moving it and plonking their vehicles there even though they had seen him being helped out of the car in that space every morning for the last few months, I had people being unpleasant over the phone when asked to move their cars.

Life with a disability is difficult enough, why do some try to make it harder ?

carl

Where I used to work there was a disabled space in each carpark, with a hatched out space next to it. The hatched out part had a ramp, so that someone in a wheelchair could avoid having to go up the kerb.

Nearly every day, some **** would park in the hatched out part

imlach

Basically, anyone that comes on here and tries to justify why THEY should have the moral right to park in a space allocated for a disabled person when they don't need it is a very very VERY VERY selfish person.

I can see absolutley ZERO reasons why anyone who is driving a car containing ZERO physically impaired humans can justify their unsocial behaviour.

logiclee

We have mostly sorted out the problem of people parking where they shouldn't at work.

Our works foreman filled some 120litre drums with concrete setting a hook in the top. Any car parked wrongly now gets the concrete drum dropped behind their car.

When they want to get out they will have to endure at least an hour wait for the forklift to come and move it.

That's not just for disabled parking but any illegal or inconsiderate parking.

Cheers
Lee

Leslie

As ever it is disappointing to see some of the attitudes about the disabled which are being expressed on this thread. Maybe it is difficult to really understand what is is like to have such a restriction placed on your life, but not impossible to accept that it can be frustrating and unpleasant.

The selfishness behaviour of so many who decide to park in disabled slots because it is "only for a few minutes" is inexcusable. Also those who use their disabled relative's car badge for their own convenience. The point is that if they get caught for that then their relative can easily have the blue badge taken back by the Council. Not very fair on that person is it?

There are many other instances of grossly thoughtless behaviour these days. People seem to be in such a hurry now that they will often just "walk through" a disabled person who cannot move quickly enough to get out of their way. I regularly find myself being almost knocked over by these people. Such bad manners let alone the obvious risk to myself. The locals in this part of the UK are very well mannered and helpful but we all dread holiday season when all the "trogs" come here from upcountry with their overbearing and unpleasantly superior attitudes. they seem to think that coming here on holiday entitles them to do what they like and also to sneer at the rest of us for living here since they regard us as inferior members of the human race.

The guy who mentioned that it is not too much extra trouble to cross the entire carpark in a wheel chair is really beyond the pale. What the hell do you know then? You should be ashamed of a remark like that. Really demonstrates your caring personality to us all!

Not all disabled people use a wheelchair anyway. In my case, I can walk about 30 yards with an armcrutch before it starts to hurt, and the pain is additive as I walk further. Remember I have to walk back afterwards too. You should just think about that and start to use a bit of constructive imagination too. Incidentally, like many people I prefer to get my own car rather than use my eligibilty for Motability. I prefer not to use a service that others may need more than me.

I see an awful lot of sheer jealousy and unpleasantness shown towards the disabled, it has been an eye-opener to me. Must be due to this age of greed and selfishness which seems to have developed in recent years. It is good to see all the support for the disabled which has also been demonstrated on this thread however.

Les

lone wolf

One problem I often come across is the fact that I own, and have owned, cars not normally associated with disabled people and my cars always get extra scrutiny when parked in disabled parking spaces. The best one was when I had my Turbo mk3 Supra, did I get some funny looks from people with that car cos it had blue badges in the front of it...

Maybe we should always drive Metro's and Fiesta's...

I have used the blue badge scheme since 1989, not thru choice either...I don't see why we should be pigeonholed into owning small basic cars...and as to those people in carparks who question the validity of my badge cos I now drive a fecking big BMW 635 CSi....one of my ' you ask a stupid question and you will get a kick in the knackers' looks usually suffices quite nicely, thank you.

douglasb

To the driver of the K reg WRX who parked in a disabled space at Tesco in Congleton about an hour ago - your disabled sticker appears to have fallen off your windscreen. Either that or you are a cvnt.

J S W

Funnily enough that really doesn't worry me, with the state of our current legal system they would probably not press charges.