3. Summary of phase 1 improvements

Phase 1 provides for an increased financial assistance rate (FAR) of 50 percent effective from 1 July 2005. This increase applies to all local authorities operating the scheme that agree to implement the 11 improvements to the scheme's purpose, eligibility and entitlement.

This additional assistance is subject to local government funding not falling below budgeted 2005/06 levels. These improvements are explained in more detail in section 4.

Phase 1 improvements

1. The following Total Mobility scheme purpose statement is nationally agreed and applied: 'The Total Mobility scheme is to assist eligible people with impairments to access appropriate transport to enhance their community participation. This assistance is provided in the form of subsidised door-to-door transport services wherever scheme transport providers operate.'
2. The founding central tenet¹ of the Total Mobility scheme, and the role of local authorities in providing the scheme, is supported and strengthened.
3. The Total Mobility scheme parameters are clearly defined.
4. The following Total Mobility scheme eligibility criteria are nationally agreed on and applied:
   • 'An eligible person must have an impairment that prevents them from undertaking any one or more of the following five components of a journey unaccompanied, on a bus, train or ferry in a safe and dignified manner:
   • 1. Getting to the place from where the transport departs
   • 2. Getting onto the transport
   • 3. Riding securely
   • 4. Getting off the transport
   • 5. Getting to the destination.'
5. People with impairments who meet the criteria for the Total Mobility scheme and are able to use bus, train or ferry services some of the time, but not all of the time, should be eligible for the scheme (eg people with impairments such as epilepsy or arthritis).
6. People who meet the criteria for the Total Mobility scheme and have an impairment that has lasted, or is expected to last, for six months or more should be eligible for the scheme.
7. Children with impairments who meet the criteria for the Total Mobility scheme should be eligible for the scheme.²
8. People with impairments who meet the criteria for the Total Mobility scheme and live in residential care should be eligible for the scheme.³
9. The fare subsidy for the Total Mobility scheme should be nationally consistent and standardised at 50 percent.
10.   The Total Mobility scheme should have no minimum fare threshold.
11.   There are no restrictions on the purpose of the trip for the Total Mobility scheme.

¹ The provision of a subsidised transport service to eligible people with impairments is consistent with local government responsibilities to the transport disadvantaged, and part of core business. For further information, see page 10 of the Ministry of Transport's final report (MoT, 2005).

² It is not intended the scheme be a substitute for transport services that are the responsibility of other government agencies, such as the Ministry of Education, which is responsible for all school-related travel.

³ It is not intended the scheme be a substitute for transport services that are the responsibility of the rest home provider, or be used by the rest home to provide transport for organised activities.