Mileage rate cuts has left carers broke
David O'Leary • Published 27 Jan 2012 09:30
12 Comments
A BORDERS carer claims he has been forced to stop buying treats for his disabled child after council bosses slashed his mileage rate.
The local dad-of-two, who has asked not to be named, has seen his fuel bills more than double following Scottish Borders Council's decision to cut the rate available to carers from 36p a mile to just 13.9p last August.
Since then the single dad has struggled on in silence as his debts have increased.
But when faced with the stark choice of either paying for petrol or taking his son to the cinema, he decided to speak out.
He said: "The council cut the rate in half and doubled my costs in one fell swoop. They seem to believe that all carers have access to a mobility vehicle but I don't qualify for one as during the week my son stays in a facilty in Dundee.
"I collect my son on a Friday afternoon and drop him back on a Monday morning. I used to have that petrol money put away each week but now I also have to use the money I had set aside for treats such as going to the cinema or buying him toys.
"This then has had a knock-on effect which has seen me slipping further into debt. I've now had to reduce the treats and I'm giving serious consideration to stopping driving my son to and from the school.
"Incredibly If I did this it would cost the council more as they'd have to pay for a carer and taxi."
The man's fifteen-year old son suffers from ADHD and foetal alcohol syndrome and a key part of his treatment requires both the use of rewards and treats and bonding time with family members.
At present in the Borders, there are another seven families in the same situation, each slipping further into debt due to being deemed uneligible for a mobility vehicle.
However their cause has now been taken up by local Tory councillor Gavin Logan, who at yesterday's (Thursday) council meeting in Newtown St Boswells, demanded to know how such a wholly unfair situation came to pass and what would be done to correct it.
Executive Member for Social Work Ron Smith explained how the decision to cut the mileage rate was made following a review of the Additional Support Needs, Transport to schools policy between October 2010 and January 2011.
During this review, SBC's insurance chiefs stated that insurance companies would not cover mobility vehicles if they were used for hire and reward i.e. any payment made for, or on behalf of a passenger to give them the right to be carried in a vehicle.
A situation they felt was being constituted by the payment of a 36p per mile rate.
It was then agreed to introduce a standard payment that treated everyone who received a parent assisted rate in the same way, settling on 13.9p per mile.
Councillor Smith said: "A focus group made up of managers from Integrated Children's Services (ICS) and Transport was put together to look at this problem. That group was keen to see if some compromise could be found so that parents could receive some payment towards their travel costs but which did not impinge on the hire and reward clause.
"The 13.9p rate they felt is a contribution towards travel costs rather than a payment made in lieu of actual costs incurred. This is not seen as hire and reward and therefore it is possible to use this rate to offer families some contribution towards their costs."
He assured his colleague Councillor Logan that the current situation regarding those Borders carers without access to a mobility vehcile would be looked at.
Speaking afterwards Councillor Logan said: "I'm extremely glad that Social Work have agreed to discuss these rates with me and I will press for a happy conclusion to this current situation.
"It is my view that these rates need to be fully reassessed and backdated to last August.
"In no way should Borders carers be financially worse off due to their ineligibility for a mobility vehicle."
This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 27 Jan 12
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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Eyeball
Unregistered User
Jan 27, 16:34
Report commentHow much do the local councillors get paid and local council officials....what is the mileage rate for them.
Recommend?
Yes 2
No 8
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Taxpayer
Unregistered User
Jan 30, 11:13
Report commentThe comment of
"The 13.9p rate they felt is a contribution towards travel costs rather than a payment made in lieu of actual costs incurred. This is not seen as hire and reward and therefore it is possible to use this rate to offer families some contribution towards their costs."
Is correct.
There are hundreds of families who don't get this money who have their children in care but give their children all the treats that the need and are no worse off.
Monies received before £57.60, after £22.34 (based on 4 trips = 160 miles) Cost of fuel based on a car that gets 40mpg and at 133.9p per litre/6.09 gallon = £24.36. So therefore he is only £2.02 worse off!
Recommend? Yes 13
No 0
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Taxpayer
Unregistered User
Jan 30, 11:23
Report commentRE "Eyeballs" comment.
Councillor would be paid in year 2010-2011 40 ppm for the first 10,000 miles and 25ppm thereafter. For the year 2011-2012 this will increase to 45ppm and 25ppm. Anything above these rates is taxable. (HMRC).
Recommend? Yes 9
No 0
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The working class
Unregistered User
Feb 3, 23:08
Report commentI find it very disappointing that Mr Logan is supporting any profitable payments for this man, given the party that he represents are committed to ensuring that people do not become dependant on the tax payers purse to support them self or their family.
I know this family and would suggest that the real reason for the increased cost in taking his son to school is more about the fact that last year he replaced his small budget economical vehicular with a brand new top of the range gas guzzling 4x4, which must have cost in excess of £20,000.
This is very disturbing given that neither the older sibling (who is now of working age) nor the father work! and they are both very fit and able.
Who is the fool here, us the tax and community charge payers, Mr Logan or the parent in this case?????????????
Open your eyes Mr Logan and commit to your party policy!
Recommend? Yes 6
No 0
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Confused
Unregistered User
Feb 4, 07:09
Report commentIn response to the above comment, in regards to 4x4. If this man in question is not eligble for a mobility vehicle how can anyone afford such a car! Not working living of every benefit available with free rent etc looks like the way forward! Surely more questions need to be asked here???
Recommend? Yes 10
No 1
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Taxpayer
Unregistered User
Feb 5, 10:33
Report commentRe confused's comment: He was paying for it on the monies made on the higher mileage rate he got before. Now that he has a 4x4 "gas guzzler" he cannot afford to run it. simples
Recommend? Yes 7
No 0
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Confused
Unregistered User
Feb 5, 17:57
Report commentRe Taxpayers response, not fuel the brand new 4x4.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 0
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Taxpayer
Unregistered User
Feb 5, 18:12
Report commentRe Confused: purchased on a 3 year lend/lease. Through the social, need a car to collect son? Check the road tax disc you may find its a mobility vehicle
Recommend? Yes 7
No 0
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Employed
Unregistered User
Feb 6, 09:15
Report commentRe Taxpayer: I read this article as the man doesn't qualify for mobilty vehicle.
I work full time, we cannot afford to treat our children to what we would like, think alot of working class families are in the same situation at the moment! Never used to think twice about going for a run in our modest family car, not these days.
Recommend? Yes 5
No 0
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Taxpayer
Unregistered User
Feb 6, 11:00
Report commentAs I said earlier this vehicle will be on a 3 year lease, costing about £200 per month. Allowances from the social will pay towards to cost of the vehicle as he he needs a car to pick his son up, plus any other disability living allowance, plus the extra income he used to receive before the rates were cut, estimated to be around £22+ per week = £90 and there you, more than are 3/4 way to paying for a car each month.
Recommend? Yes 10
No 0
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The working class
Unregistered User
Feb 9, 19:49
Report commentall the wellfair reforms in the country does will not address situations like this and lead to a better, fairer system for all !
still think that it is ironical that a conservative Councillor would support any cause that would assist people to gain any extra cash from the state. Would love to hear his response on this debate and see if he is still of the same view.
Would be very good if councillors were to consider the hole picture before they start to campaign for people.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 0
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Taxpayer
Unregistered User
Feb 9, 23:57
Report commentAs you have said its ironic there's been no response from the Councillor concerned or any other elected member but his face has been in the papers. Guess what the local elections are due in a couple of months.Perhaps he he just wants his face seen or to be doing something? Now that is perhaps the BIGGER question?
Recommend? Yes 3
No 0
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