Welcome to my blog. My name is Darren. I own several rental properties in Western Australia. Once I had made the purchases, I discovered that several of the properties needed extensive work before I could rent them to tenants, so I had to hire construction contractors, plumbers, electricians, waste disposal experts and roofing experts to make sure the homes were in top condition. Once I had repaired the buildings, I contacted a letting agent who put them on the market for me. I learnt a lot from working with some many different businesses so I decided to start this blog to share everything I know.
Moving around is often hard enough for persons with disability. It gets even harder for those who aren't lucky enough to own personal vehicles. The government of Victoria understands this and it strives to make life easier for residents who suffer different types of disability.
Discussed below are answers to three common questions that persons with disability might have about the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP)
What Is The MPTP?
The Multi-Purpose Taxi Program is a joint initiative between the government of Victoria and the National Disability Insurance Agency. This initiative aims to make taxi transportation more affordable for persons with disability. This acts as an incentive for disabled people not to use the more "crowded" forms of public transport, thereby making it more pleasant and more convenient for them to get around.
The membership based initiative achieves its main objective by offering subsidized taxi fares to its members.
What Kind Of Subsidies Does The MPTP Provide?
Members of the MPTP are issued with a membership card, which they're supposed to present to the taxi driver in order to qualify for subsidies. The subsidized amount differs according to the length of the trip and according to the type and extent of disability suffered by individual members.
As a guiding principle, MPTP members could pay up to $60 less for every trip they make using a taxi. For some members there's an annual cap on the number of subsidized trips that one can take, while there's no cap for others. Members for whom the annual cap does not apply include the legally blind, and those who suffer from dementia, paralysis and various forms of brain damage. The average wheelchair user is an example of a member for whom the annual cap applies.
The MPTP also covers the lifting fee for its members who use wheelchairs/scooters. However, indirect costs of using a taxi (e.g. airport fees, parking fees when the taxi is waiting for you and road tolls) are not covered by the MPTP and members have to pay the mentioned costs out-of-pocket)
What Does It Take To Become A Member Of The MPTP?
You'll need to fill an application form and send it to the Taxi Service Commission. Your doctor will also need to fill a separate form giving details of your disability.
Once your application is received, you'll be assessed for eligibility and you'll receive feedback. If successful, you'll be required to pay the requisite fee before your membership card is issued. After you receive your card, you'll be required to renew your membership after every six years.
For more information about taxi services, you can also contact companies like United Taxis.
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