DriverCare conditions
For all
professional drivers an accident, illness or injury could mean the
permanent loss of their licence. And no licence means no
job. However, professional drivers who are members of
Unite can benefit from a unique service to support them at work -
DriverCare.
The extra benefits offered by DriverCare are substantial but
certain conditions apply. The details on this page are for guidance
only: members should telephone the Helpline on 0845 3000639 or
contact their local representative or regional
office for further assistance.
Conditions
- Basis of scheme
- Qualifying period
- Pre-existing condition
- Duty to inform DVLA
- Waiting period
- Use of licence within 12 months requirement
- Not using licence
- Licence expiry
- Voluntary surrender of licence
- Age limit
- Death
- Contributions
- Licence types
1. Basis of scheme
The purpose of the scheme is to provide loss of licence cover to
members who lose their means of livelihood as a result of having
their professional driving licence permanently revoked for medical
reasons. To ensure the scheme meets this objective a number of
rules are incorporated to prevent the scheme having to bear the
cost of meeting claims which do not fall into that definition.
2. Qualifying period
Members are required to have been in membership and paid
subscription for 39 weeks before becoming eligible for loss of
licence benefit.
3. Pre-existing condition
Members will not be eligible for benefit if the condition that
leads to the revocation first arose before joining the scheme.
(This limit does not apply to members of the distress scheme prior
to July 1997.)
4. Duty to inform DVLA
All drivers are under a duty to inform the DVLA of any change in
their health that may affect their ability to drive safely. This
applies whether or not the condition is believed to be temporary
and whether or not the member's employment has been terminated by
the employer on the grounds of ill health. Failure to notify the
DVLA may well result in scheme conditions not being met and a claim
therefore being unsuccessful.
5. Waiting period
If the DVLA medical guidelines permit re-application after
further treatment of the condition, or a period of recovery, a
waiting period is applied to the claim. The claim will be
reconsidered at the end of the waiting period or if additional
medical evidence becomes available that the condition is permanent.
The period is determined by reference to the DVLA medical
guidelines and is a maximum of 24 months.
The revocation letter from the DVLA may not always indicate a
re-application may be made and, unfortunately, GPs may not always
be fully conversant with the guidelines. However, the DVLA
guidelines are the sole determinant of whether a waiting period
will be applied.
6. Use of licence within 12 months
requirement
Benefit cannot be paid if the member has not driven
professionally for more than 12 months before the date of the
revocation. However, if the DVLA has been informed of the change of
health in the 12 month period and has advised that it does not
intend to revoke the licence at that time, then the claim will be
considered if the licence is subsequently permanently
revoked.
The 12 month rule applies whether or not the condition and
therefore the revocation was originally assessed as permanent or
temporary. Members should not avoid informing the DVLA on the basis
that their condition is temporary because if it subsequently proves
to be permanent this cannot be accepted as a waiver of the 12 month
rule.
7. Not using licence
The benefit is provided for members who are actively using their
licence in the course of earning their livelihood. There is no
entitlement to benefit if the member was not using the licence in a
professional capacity prior to the revocation or the manifestation
of the medical condition that caused the revocation.
8. Licence expiry
If a licence expires during a period of ill health the member is
required to notify the DVLA in the normal way. As in condition 6
above, the 12 month rule cannot be waived on the basis of the
initial view that the condition is temporary and that notification
was not necessary at that time.
9. Voluntary surrender of licence
The scheme cannot meet a claim based upon the surrender of a
vocational entitlement. It is necessary for the DVLA to issue a
notice of revocation or refusal on medical grounds.
10. Age limit
Benefit is not payable if the revocation or refusal takes effect
after the member's 60th birthday. Personal Accident and Assault
benefit is available up to age 65.
11. Death
Benefit is only available on permanent loss of licence. It is
not available where a member dies before revocation or refusal has
been notified. The scheme is designed to provide assistance in
circumstances of loss of livelihood not covered by other products
such as life assurance etc.
12. Contributions
In order to preserve eligibility to benefit it is essential that
members maintain contributions whilst a claim is being assessed and
also during any waiting period.
13. Licence types
The scheme covers holders of PCV, LGV and ordinary licences
issued by the DVLA. Licensed Hackney Cab and Tram Licences issued
by local authorities are also covered. Members must register the
type of licence(s) held when joining the scheme.
Remember, the details on this page are for guidance
only: Unite members should phone the Helpline on 0845 3000639
or contact their local representative or regional office for
further assistance.
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