With his hand on the lever, he leans forward. The body weight helps to brake the car. The throttle is controlled by pulling the lever. Although the power steering makes it easy to turn with minimal force, Andreas Leine With (41) has to turn the steering wheel with effort. – I think it costs more than people understand, he says. Everything is getting heavier and heavier. The muscle disease is gradually weakening him and the specially adapted car he depends on has also started to go on strike. As a wheelchair user at work, Andreas is entitled to a specially adapted car from Nav. A car with a wheelchair lift, and where, among other things, throttle, steering and brakes are adapted to each user. He has spent tens of thousands on car repairs. Because Andreas can’t just trade in the customized car. – I am hampered at work, it is a big burden. If the car breaks down again, I’ll be sitting here and not getting anywhere. It is heavy, tough and ugly. He adds that he is dreading the road trip to confirmation in Trøndelag and the Danish holiday in the summer. The disease gradually weakens Andreas. For example, it becomes harder just to turn the steering wheel in the car. That is why adjustments and special adaptations are important. Photo: Anders Haualand / news Can’t get to work The father of the family lives outside Drammen with his wife and two children, and he works as a psychologist. For the past six years, Andreas has been 100 per cent dependent on a wheelchair. The disease causes muscle wasting and there is no treatment. – We don’t quite know what kind of disease it is, but the symptoms resemble a form of spinal muscular atrophy, he explains. 12 years ago, Andreas applied for his first Nav car, and waited for 23 months. Now this car is about to break down – and the wait could be even longer. – Have you had to cancel appointments with clients? – Yes. The accelerator and brake are manually controlled in the specially adapted car. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news War and pandemic Liv Welde Johansen is director of Nav aids and facilitation, and says the following to news: – From the time you apply for a specially adapted car until it can be put into use, it will necessarily take time. Liv Welde Johansen at Nav. Photo: Live Marie Hagen Wold / news Nav points out that the waiting time can be one year. Or more. Johansen apologizes for the delivery challenges, but says this is beyond Nav’s control. The pandemic and the war in Ukraine are cited as causes that have caused a global shortage of certain parts for car production. Nevertheless. It took time before too. Nav cars In summary as of April 23, Nav has 240 cars that have been ordered, but not delivered, for conversion. The cars are divided into 5 in 2021, 111 in 2022 and 124 in 2023. NAV does not have exact figures on how many are waiting for a specially adapted car at any given time. After an application to Nav, there is a processing period before the applicant is invited to a meeting. Then to find the right car and equipment that is needed. Nav primarily looks for used cars. If you don’t have Nav used cars, they are ordered from abroad. When the car has been ordered, there is a round of tenders among car builders in Norway. Finally, the car must be approved by the Norwegian Road Administration. (Source: Nav) The average time from when the user applies until the car is handed over has increased. From 15.3 months in 2020 to 19.5 months now. This is shown by figures from Nav. – Do you think the arrangement is good enough? – The arrangement is good. We are very unhappy that it is taking so long, Johansen replies. Andreas Leine With believes it takes an unnecessarily long time and points out that just the paperwork for Nav takes four months. – Why can’t they just start right away? he asks. Johansen believes the process Nav could cut into is more about what happens to the car when it arrives in the country. – There is little we can influence before it arrives in Norway. – The work I do is important, and there is a great need in society for my services. The little bit I get to work now depends entirely on me getting there in a good way. The car is the key in that, says Andreas. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news – If the car broke down, I could probably get a taxi to work from Nav. But a taxi for a summer holiday in Denmark, I’m pretty sure I won’t get that. Independence is important to me. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news The home is also specially adapted to Andreas’ needs. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news – Right now the car is running. But the uncertainty makes it difficult – and it eats away, says Andreas. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news The family dog Balder also wanted to be in a photo. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news “You have to fix it yourself” When his less than 10-year-old car broke down last summer, it had traveled 148,500 km. Nav’s main rule is that you can get a new car loan when the car is at least eleven years old. If the loan has been granted for travel to work or education, an application can be made for replacement when the car is at least eight years old and has traveled 150,000 km. After the car accident, Andreas Nav asked: “Can I be allowed to apply again?” The answer was: “No, that’s not possible. You have to fix it.” – The system is very rigid, he sighs. It may take a long time before Andreas gets a new car. In the meantime, he’s keeping his fingers crossed that it doesn’t break down. Again. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news – I wish Nav saw the importance of this. The solution was to pay for repairs for over NOK 70,000, and then drive the car far enough so that he could apply for a new car. If he hadn’t done that, he wouldn’t have had a car. – Fatigue is part of the disease, but an unreliable car and aids that cannot be trusted cost extra. Over NOK 70,000 in car repairs: – I’m lucky I’m not alone. If I had only relied on my income, I wouldn’t have had a chance! Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news – I want to be a good psychologist who can come to the office as agreed. I want to drive the boy to chess practice. – What does all this do to you? – Independence is an important factor for me. I wish Nav also saw the importance of this, concludes Andreas. Hello! Glad you read all the way down. Did you get any thoughts while reading this article? Do you have tips for other news, reports or stories that news should tell? Please send me an email. I am a journalist at news Oslo and Viken and work in a group that aims to highlight diversity. Tips and information are treated confidentially.
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Wheelchair users must wait 19.5 months to get a specially adapted car from Nav – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
