Thanks, Just sent an e-mail to the ATW grant people (below), see what they say
Thank you for calling me to tell me that you think that the access to work scheme cannot help me for the reason below
The use of a motability car.
This I understand you have taken on advice and from guidelines that you use. You also mentioned that I should look at the access to work website in order that I could better understand your reasons. I have looked at the website Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK and failed to see the guidelines or better understand your reasons. Is this the correct web address? Perhaps you could point me to the correct place please.
I have to say at this point that I fail to see how my having a motability car affects the issue, the government has allowed me a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) after a questionnaire and assessment, a portion of which is for enhanced mobility, what I do with this (lease a motability vehicle for my benefit as a passenger for when my wife drives me somewhere, as well as the rest of the family as a family car) money is my own affair, to help with my day to day living and does not affect my claim for access to work grants (as per your website) . If you are saying that PIP does affect the access to work grant then I humbly suggest that you change the website as its criteria is misleading and probably does not exclude 90% of the disabled population.
On a personal note, if I may reiterate my circumstance, I Am a 50 year old male with Multiple Sclerosis – Primary Progressive (MSPP), a condition first diagnosed some 9 years ago and a disability. I have been in full time employment since the age of 23. As I think you are not aware (and I a apologize if this is not the case) MSPP is a degenerative order affecting the myelin sheath around nerves in the brain. This results in nerves not working (right foot, foot drop in my case) at all or working slowly, this then affects tiredness as more has to be done to achieve a similar result. Tiredness then affects the nerves and it all becomes a downward spiral. For me this is never going to get any better and to honest has got worse over the last 6 months with balance also being affected and is probably why I have not looked into an access to work grant before. Mobility is becoming a serious issue for me, and I now use a wheelchair for trips out, shopping, anything that may require walking. So the use of public transport where walking is essential, is not possible without the threat of personal injury or the missing of the service especially when carrying a pc.
Currently I work for Grant Thornton UK LLP in their Northampton office, some 70 miles from where I live. The journey by car is becoming arduous and to that extent I have been allowed to work from home for three days of the working week, however I have been told that I may be required on occasion to get to the Northampton office on a third day. To reduce my travelling and the impact on myself and possibly other road users I have taken to stopping in a hotel overnight, this is not ideal for me or my family.
All this is only done because of my disability and so could you tell me if it is possible to apply for a grant for hotel expenses or heat, electricity and water for the days that I am at home.
Thank you for your attention
Jonathan White