Hi, my name is Alison. 2 years ago I was diagnosed with FND and fibromyalgia 20+ years ago. I haven’t driven for 3 years now, and I’ve reached the time to get behind the wheel. I’m going to apply for motorbility. Could anyone advise me. I’m going crazy relying on others and public transport. HELP😫😫😫😫😫
Many thank
Aly x
Sorry I know how difficult it is not being able to drive and stuck trying to get others to take you places or having to rely on buses etc. It does really take your independence away. I haven’t driven for at least 3 plus years but I take daily seizures so I know the DVLA is never gonna give me my licence back. Sorry that I cannot answer your question about motability but I’m sure someone will be able to on here. Good luck. Cheers Lou
You should talk with your primary care physician and specialists, and allow them the opportunity to address your concerns. They will be best in assisting you. Good luck to you! Say a little prayer 
Were you medically told by a Doctor that you should not drive if not you should be free to drive but I would make an appointment to see your GP just to make sure you have ticked all the boxes.
Motability as long as you get the higher rate for Motability you can get a car on that platform. If you struggle to pay the advanced payment In the car chosen you can apply for a grant to pay deposit provided you don’t have funds tucked away. get an assessor to come out to you at home he can the assess your needs and advise best vehicle for you. Hope this helps.
Hi, you need to be on the enhanced rate of mobility, i.e. 12 points, to get a car. When you are on this the paperwork the DSS send you has a certificate in it which states you get the higher rate of mobility and this is what you need to take to a dealership. Look online at Motability vehicles and go through the vehicles that are available. There are plenty there that do not need any deposit so you will have a lot to choose from. When you see a car you like, you go to that car manufacturers dealership and make an appointment with the motability salesperson and he/she takes you all through the paperwork. It is an easy thing to do and they know so much about it and take all the pressure off. They will also inform you what you need to bring. Hope that helps.
Hi,
All the funding goes through PIP. You have to have support to fill out the very invasive forms and provide a great deal of evidence - which they will probably not read. You will then be assessed by a very rude "professional" because they don't believe your specialist. Take someone with you for moral support or if you suffer from fatigue ask to be assessed at home. It took me a week to recover from mine. Record proceedings to protect yourself and if you feel like making a complaint you'll have the evidence.
You will be turned down on your first application. You will not receive the reason why. You will ask and they still won't tell you the specific reason. This is so you can't prepare yourself for tribunal. If you appeal at tribunal it takes over a year and the tribunals have now changed from a chat around a table to a courtroom setting. A judge a GP and someone from the DWP sitting behind a barrier, higher than you. You'll have to go through security, metal detector and all like your a potential terrorist. Whilst waiting you sit in a small room with cameras on you where you'll be watched constantly. They will even have cameras on the approach to the courtroom.
The person from the DWP (supposedly a disability specialist) has the say over the doctor and judge. They will refuse you on the slightest technicality, even if they can see that you desperately need help. If it comes to appeal at tribunal they will go though everything you have said for at least two hours, over and over again. It's pure torture. Cut them of at the pass and ask them to tell you why they have refused you. You never know it may work. I was only told right at the end and if I was told at the beginning I would have been able to remember the answer. By then I was exhausted and couldn't remember that the reason my specialist had discharged me was because he moved hospital. It was enough for them to refuse me and at that point I was mostly bed bound.
Without PIP you will have to go through a similar process to get a blue badge. You do not qualify for a blue badge automatically by using a wheelchair. The world has gone mad.
I'm not saying this to be negative, it's merely a warning. You have to be in a very, very strong place mentally to tackle these people, even with support. It left me curled up in a ball ready to take every tablet I had and I'm usually a strong person. I am unfortunately far from alone.
Legal charities will not help you - anyone receiving funding from the government can't help you as this is seen as acting against the government. You may find help through a disability hub or citizens' advice bureau, but there will be no one to go with you available to assessments or tribunal.
Just think before you apply. All the best if you feel up to it. x
Hi FNDcrazy,
I am not sure about your FND symptoms but only Drive when you feel okay and get your car adapted with a wrist grip, push and go accelerate and get an automatic car too. It’s still very strenuous but at leas you can go about your day. I would advise if you can afford it get a Nissan qushaqui and get a hoist inserted for your scooter if you use one to get around or get an automatic foldable electric wheelchair makes everything easier and gives you your independence back. Go on the mobility scheme if you have a high mobility PIP (personal independence payment) score for your car call up the dealership or first go on mobility scheme website just type that up on google choose your car and call the dealership and they will look after you.... I hope these things help you.
Just read the other replies and thought of something that might help you.
Complete you PIP form carefully, you will be assessed ask for home assessment because you suffer from fatigue maybe and are house bound, ensure you have someone there to answer the door etc. Hope that your assessment is on as extremely bad day for you where your symptoms are apparent and you cannot do any of the exercises they ask if you. Like lifting your leg etc..make sure you show your pain too if you suffer from it.
I would advise if no professional has expressly told you you cannot drive, keep that to yourself otherwise you are opening a can of worms that will spiral out of control. Make sure the way you fill out your form does not go against you when you want mobility granted over 12points.
So do not say anything on the form that may incriminate you for them to say her points should be lower. Example, I can walk more than 20metres but I get very tired when doing so but I can do it. So it’s either you can or you can’t walk that far, that is the defining factor between getting 12points and not.
The forms are crazy. You have to fill it out as your worst case scenario not sometimes I feel better and other times I’m ok. I find these forms are designed to catch out genuinely suffering and disabled people such as yourself and I...!!!
I wish you a lot of luck but brace yourself for the girls, keep copies before sending ❤️
FND 😢
FND
FND
FND
Misdiagnosed with FND 
