Taxi Driver Online

Hi there,

Please excuse my intrusion onto your forum. i am not a driver, but I registered on the forum to ask for advice and opinions regarding the Access to Work scheme.

I am currently applying to the DWP for help with costs relating to taxi fares to and from home. the cost is approx £30 each way and is required 4 days a week.

I am disabled and driving is no longer an option for getting to and from work, and public transport currently isn't suitable because of the restriction of the use of mobility scooters on the tram service in Manchester.

I have phoned and written to 12 taxi companies as I need 3 quotes to satisfy the DWP, yet I have had only 1 response providing said quote, and 4 have said they will not deal with access to work clients.

Just so I can get a better understanding of the system from a driver/taxi company view, what are your experiences of the Access to work scheme?

Many thanks for taking the time to read and respond.

Stu.

Hello Stu.

I am a Taxi driver in Lincoln, and have been operating an "access to work" contract for two years, with no problems at all. The client pays 12.5% of the monthly bill directly to me, and the DWP pays the remainder through "BACS" (Bank Automated Credit System) into my bank. He sorts out the paperwork with his company, I invoice for the calendar month. Worth about £7,000 a year. What's not to like?

Do you need an accessible taxi? Check to see if the companies you have written to have wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Do you work regular 0900/1700 hours or do they vary? A one man band regular driver may be best for you. Unfortunately It's a bit out of my way to take on!

Any more questions, ask away!

To other drivers out there, Access to work contracts are well worth taking on. They're no Frazer Eagle!

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Former taxi driver

I have been doing them for 15 years a few pointers

1) they usually set a budget for the job and if no other quotes come in and your existing one is within budget they will accept it

2) Not sure where you are but are the firms you asked to quote local or from a neighbouring town ?

3) In many cases they may try and find an aternative bus/train option but that is often not viable if you have to get to work or finish outside timetable times you may have to prove this we did one a year ago for just over 6 months where the client had to send in all the local bus timetables to prove he couldn't get there in time !other than by taxi

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Hi. Thanks for the advice.

I would prefer a 'one man band' but the DWP have insisted it is a company? no idea why. I don't yet need a WAV, but it may be necessary in future.

Also, they (DWP) have said I am responsible for the contract with the taxi company. They will not get involved according to the email I have from them. The Taxi Co invoices me, i invoice the DWP, they pay me what they contribute, i pay the taxi co.

That is what I am concerned about, it could realistically be 5-6 weeks after they invoice me before I can pay the taxi co knowing full well what the DWP (or any Government dept) are like for making payments.

My hours are fixed more or less. 9am til 6:30 Mon - Thurs.


Hi, Thanks for the advice.

1) Thanks

2) I've asked 6 from close to home (within 3-4 miles of home) and 6 from central Manchester where I work.

3) That is my concern. There is a tram service from my home town into Manchester, but I have big problems with standing and walking and I very rarely get a seat on the tram because of the volume of people and as yet i've only ever been offerred a seat once by a very kind lady. The rest of the time despite obviously having problems standing (the walking sticks are a big give away) people just ignore me, or when I ask if I can sit down, refuse.

They have not mentioned to possibility of checking public transport yet, but I do expect this to come up before the process is over.

One more question to you both.

When I do drive I drop my daughter off at school on the way. The school is on the main road, there are no detours to make, it is on the actual route to work.

Would you accept an additional passenger? You know where I'm going with this.... i.e. would you, if you were my driver, allow my daughter to ride with us and drop her at the school, or is this a no, no.

All i can think of is back up if the car goes tits up or the driver was to fall ill, its a good job the education dont implement this rule....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Good point... Didn't think of that.

Many Thanks.

I've thought of another question for you all. Hope you don't mind.

What happens in situations where I would need to start/finish early/late, at short notice. Is it simply a case of ringing up as soon as I know the details or are the times I agree at the start of the contract set in stone?

Thanks again

On the other hand, when it IS a 1 man/1 car the customer/client deals direct with the driver, no 3 way messages, etc when things change

keeping county/DWP staff in the dark is usually a good thing

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

One contract which i did for over ten years we never knew from one day to the next what time he was starting work taxis are generally capable of being flexible but a one man band may be less so however as far as the contract goes the start and finish times are irrelevant thats down to you to tell them when you want picking up

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector