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Beginners Guide to the Motability Scheme

Beginners Guide to the Motability Scheme

Mobility is freedom.  Whether it be a device like a wheelchair or a walker, or something like an adapted van, being able to go where you need to is freeing.  These things are expensive!  In the case of an adapted van, you have to pay not only for the van itself but also any modifications you might need.  For wheelchairs and scooters, you might need custom seats, straps, or any number of things.  They say you can’t put a price on freedom, but somehow it’s still expensive.  Thankfully there’s The Motability Scheme, which gives assistance to those who are in need, and are already receiving other services.

What Does The Motability Scheme Do?

The motability scheme allows you the freedom you need by helping you pay for mobility devices–whether they be a van, wheelchair, or scooter.  These are leased vehicles, so you will turn them back in when your lease expires.  They will also help cover any adaptations you may need to make your vehicle work for you.  The beauty of motability is that you can pick your dealer, so you have options.

Am I Eligible?

The number one question with every scheme, “am I eligible?”  In order to qualify, you must already have a higher rate mobility allowance.  To get more information on the higher rate mobility allowance (HRMA) click here.  Also, please note that due to the current pandemic, this program is not currently taking new cases until July 1, 2020.

How Does the Motability Scheme Work?

You choose the vehicle, then exchange your higher rate mobility allowance.  You choose the vehicle and price that works for you and your budget.  Leases are three years, or five if you are leasing a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.  Motability takes care of insurance and maintenance, and will cover up to three named drivers so you can have other people drive if necessary.  As their website says, all you need to do is pay for fuel!

Cost of Running Your Car

Though most of your expenses will be covered by The Motability Scheme, there are a few things you will need to keep in mind, and potentially pay for.  You will need to pay a fixed amount of any claim for loss and damage, known as an insurance excess.  This is outlined in the RSA Motability Cover Insurance Booklet.  You are also responsible for any parking or speeding tickets, and any theft of personal property within the car, such as wheelchairs, jackets, and mobile phones.

Having the freedom to get to doctors appointments, to the grocery, or just to a friend’s house is something that should not be taken for granted.  It can be expensive to drive, especially when you need a special vehicle to do so.  Programs like The Motability Scheme are important and can offer the freedom disabled people need to live happy, fulfilling lives.

WaterSure: Getting Help with Your Water Bills

WaterSure: Getting Help with Your Water Bills

We’ve been talking a lot about ways disabled people can save money or get funding for the things we need to be independent, and today is no exception.  Water bills are expensive, but necessary to survive.  Today we’re going to talk about the WaterSure scheme, who qualifies, and how to apply.

What is WaterSure?

Watersure is a scheme that allows for people with medical needs or households with children to get cheaper water bills at a discounted rate.  To qualify, you need to either be on a water meter or be waiting for it to be installed.  Under this scheme, your water bill will be capped, meaning you won’t pay more than the average bill for your area.  There may be some instances where your bill is even lower, but this depends on where you live.

Who Qualifies?

It should be no surprise by now that you need to qualify for programs like WaterSure.  In order to get a lower rate, you have to prove that you actually need it.  In order to qualify for WaterSure, you must:

  • be on a water meter or have applied for one and be waiting for it to be installed, or be paying an assessed charge because it’s not possible to fit a meter at your property  
  • be on certain benefits
  • have a high essential use of water.

Which Benefits Do I Need to Be On?

There’s a whole list of benefits that you can be on to qualify for WaterSure.  What specific ones can vary by location, however all suppliers require at least one of the following:

  • Universal Credit
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income Support
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Pension Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Child Tax Credit awarded at a rate higher than the family element.

High Essential Use of Water?

What exactly do they mean by “high essential use of water?”  Isn’t water in and of itself essential?  For the purposes of this, high essential use of water means:

  • someone in the household has a medical condition for which they need to use a lot of water, or
  • you have three children or more under 19 and in full-time education living in your household.

People with the following medical conditions will automatically qualify if they also meet the previous criteria:

  • desquamation (flaky skin disease)
  • weeping skin disease (eczema, psoriasis or varicose ulceration)
  • incontinence
  • abdominal stomas
  • renal failure requiring dialysis at home  – although you won’t qualify for WaterSure if you’re already getting a contribution to your water costs from the NHS
  • Crohn’s disease
  • ulcerative colitis.

Applying for WaterSure

To apply for WaterSure, you will need to contact your water supply company and fill out a form.  You will need to provide proof that you qualify, such as an awards notice from another benefit.  Some companies will allow a stamp from your doctor confirming a medical diagnosis.  If your water supplier won’t accept a stamp, you’ll need to pay for a doctor’s certificate. Some water suppliers will reimburse the cost of the certificate.

When Do I Start Getting Help?

After you have been accepted into the program, you will start getting help from the start of the billing period during which you first applied.  Note that if your sewage and water companies are different, your water company should inform the sewage company to adjust your rate.

Like with other benefits, you may need to reapply every year or so.  This varies from company to company, so ask if this is something you need to do.

And that about wraps us up for today!  For more information about WaterSure, I highly encourage you to go here and read more.

Saving Money on Leisure Activities

Saving Money on Leisure Activities

It should be no secret by now that having a disability is expensive.  There’s extra equipment disabled people need to be independent, and that gets pricey.  My family and I joke that I didn’t come with batteries, because I need a wheelchair to get around.  In addition to hardware, disabled people often employ Personal Care Attendants (PCAs), take extra medications, and have to modify their living spaces.  However, disability doesn’t stop someone from wanting to have fun.  But a lot of times, fun costs money.  With all these extra expenses coupled with the fact that disabled people might be low-income, how can we save money on leisure activities?  The UK has a lot of discounts for people with disabilities, you just have to know where to look.

Cinema Tickets

It’s no secret that going to the cinema is expensive.  Tickets alone can cost an arm and a leg, not to mention the snacks!  Did you know that disabled people can get an extra ticket for a PCA or friend when they go?  The CEA card allows for a disabled individual to bring one companion to assist them with getting tickets, snacks, or any other help they might need.  You can apply for the CEA Card here.

Theatre Tickets

If the cinema isn’t your style and you prefer live productions, you’re in luck!  Lots of theaters have discounts for disabled people, and sometimes offer free tickets for carers.  Unfortunately, unlike the cinema, there isn’t a specific card to sign up for, so you’ll have to do the research yourself.  Just know that these discounts are common and it doesn’t hurt to ask!

National Trust and English Heritage Properties

Sightseeing can also be expensive.  There’s so much history in the UK but paying for tours and entry adds up quickly.  For these two kinds of leisure outings, you can get a special card allowing for the entrance of a carer.  The disabled person doesn’t get a discount themself, but allowing for a carer to get in free is still a fantastic deal.  You can apply for a National Trust card here and a Heritage Property card here.

Public Libraries

Something as simple as your local public library also has money-saving discounts for disabled people.  Now, I know what you’re thinking:  “how do you save money at a library, which is free?”  Well, I’ll tell you!  Though each library is different, some offer fee forgiveness for late and overdue books, free computer access, and free use of audio and visual materials.  Each library is different, so don’t go in expecting all of these, but some do offer them.  

Football Matches

Football matches can get expensive quickly.  Prices vary based on where you want to sit (or are able to sit if you require accessible seating), or even what teams are playing.  Like lots of the other activities, there isn’t a special card to get for specific discounts as each stadium handles it differently.  Just know that you might be entitled to discounted prices or free seating for a PCA.

Other Activities

I am a firm believer that it doesn’t hurt to ask.  Do you want to go to the zoo?  Call ahead and see if they have a disability discount.  Is there an exhibit at an art museum you’ve always wanted to go to?  See if their website says anything about people with disabilities bringing a carer!  You may need to plan ahead a little bit, but if that means saving some money on your leisure activities, I think it’s worth it in the end.  So go, have fun!  Get your discounts!

BT Basic: Your Guide to Low-cost Phone and Internet Service

BT Basic: Your Guide to Low-cost Phone and Internet Service

One of the nice things about living in the modern world is that we can communicate with anyone almost instantly via phone.  For people with disabilities, having the ability to use the phone is extra important as we may not be able to physically go places as easily.  Whether it be PCAs or our doctors, or even friends and family, there are a lot of things that we need to keep up to date on.  Phone plans can be expensive, especially when you might not be able to work full-time due to disability.  Luckily, BT Basic is a service that provides low-cost phone service to those that qualify, giving people more independence.

Do You Qualify for BT Basic Phone Service?

Like most things we discuss here, there are requirements you must meet in order to receive BT Basic.  These requirements are that you must be getting one of the following benefits:

In addition, you must also be the named account holder to apply.  

What BT Basic Offers

BT Basic allows for individuals, not just the disabled, who are low income have access to a phone line.  There are specifics, however, like other phone plans.  Under BT Basic, you will get:

  • Local and national UK phone numbers that begin ’01’, ’02’ or ’03’ 
  • UK mobile numbers ‘07’
  • ‘08’ numbers
  • International calls

What Doesn’t BT Basic Cover?

Like most services, there are certain things BT Basic won’t cover under the discounted rate.  The two things BT Basic does not cover are:

  • Calls made through the operator 
  • Premium-rate numbers

For these calls, you will be charged the standard BT rate, which you can find on their website here.

How Much Does it cost?

Having phone access is great and necessary, but it can cost a lot.  BT Basic is discounted, but by how much?  What are the fees associated with it?  BT Basic will charge you either monthly or quarterly, and you will be charged:

  • Low monthly line rental of £5.16 that comes with a call allowance of £1.50. You also get free weekend calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers (up to 60 minutes).
  • Monthly ‘Price Cap’ of £10 for calls starting 01, 02, 03 and UK mobiles starting 07 and to 08 numbers. Which means, after you have used your £1.50 call allowance, you pay a maximum of £10 a month for calls to the above numbers.

On their website, they state that these numbers are subject to change if they feel you are going over the £10 a month, but they will contact you first.

BT Basic + Broadband

In addition to a phone service, you can also get broadband internet for a discounted rate.  When bundled with the phone service, it will cost £10.07 a month.  You won’t need to pay a connection charge, but you will need to pay a postage fee to get the connection hub sent to your home.  Under BT Basic + Broadband, each month you will get:

  • 15GB usage, which typically means you can:
    • browse the internet for up to half an hour a day
    • stream enough video to watch one standard definition film a month
    • Upload 100 photos to Instagram or Facebook a month
    • Listen to 100 music tracks (or ten albums) a month
    • Play online games for an hour a week
  • BT Virus Protect & BT Parental Controls
  • BT Wi-fi, with access to over five million public wireless hotspots in the UK. See our help section for BT Wi-Fi  

If you go over your monthly limit of 15 GB, you will be charged extra and be notified via email.

Applying to BT Basic and BT Basic + Broadband

Now that you know what the services offer, how do you apply?  They can be reached at 0800 800 864 during their working hours of 8am-6pm Monday-Friday to ask for an application.  They will start your application process, and you’ll be given forms to fill out.  They are going to need the following information to prove that you qualify:

  • your date of birth
  • your National Insurance number
  • confirm the benefit you are receiving
  • remembering to sign and date your application before returning it in the pre-paid envelope. 

After the forms are submitted, they will be reviewed as quickly as possible and you will be contacted if they have any further questions.  

Phone and internet are basic necessities in today’s world.  Luckily, for disabled people and people who are low income, there is an affordable option.