Motability is a scheme developed to offer affordable, worry free motoring through an all inclusive leasing package to people who are disabled, their families and carers to help them regain their independence. It works using the principle that people who receive disability benefits can exchange all or part of their mobility allowance to lease a new car with out any of the worries that go with buying or running older models which could be more at risk of wear and tear. It can also help disabled people going in to the world of employment with their needs to travel to different locations for meetings or conferences etc. Different car dealerships through out the country help to run the scheme so there are a variety of options that disabled people can choose from when looking for a new vehicle.
You can get a Motability car or vehicle if you’ve been awarded:
the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
the enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) or War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
You may also be able to get a car on the motability scheme if:
The Motability Scheme can help you lease a car if your child is aged 3 or over and is entitled to either the:
higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
enhanced mobility component of Personal Independence Payment
There are over six hundred thousand disabled people who currently receive benefits and supports through the Motability scheme. Claimants can choose from a wide variety of vehicles to aid them with their transport needs. Sometimes these vehicles may need to have adaptations made to them to make them easier for a disabled person to access and use.
Anyone who receives a vehicle on the Motability scheme will not own the vehicle outright but will have it on a three year lease where they will be responsible for it’s upkeep and maintance.
The Scottish Government assumed responsibility for delivering Disability Assistance benefit payments in April 2020.
However, due to the impact on the Scottish Government, Social Security Scotland and public services in managing Scotland through the Covid-19 pandemic, a decision was made to delay the launch of Disability Assistance payments.
This means that for now, disability benefits will continue to be delivered by the DWP, although Social Security Scotland recently confirmed that families of disabled children living in Dundee City, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles will be able to apply for the new Child Disability Payment from July, 2021 as part of a pilot scheme before a full roll-out in the autumn.
After Social Security Scotland takes over the delivery of Personal Independence Payments, they will be known as the Adult Disability Payment and there will be some changes in the claims process which people need to be made aware of to ensure they maintain their support and are not left out in the cold or isolated from the rest of society. Firstly there will be no face to face assessments unless they are absolutely necessary. They will be conducted in a location and at a time that most suits the applicant. This will help them feel more at ease with the process as they are more likely to be well suited to the location and surroundings.
Another change will involve the Motability Scheme which lets disabled people lease vehicles and maintain their independence when they may be experiencing difficult circumstances due to their health.
The Gov.Scot website explains: “People who receive the highest rate of the mobility component of Adult Disability Payment [formerly PIP] will be able to transfer either the whole or part of the money they get for the mobility component to access the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme.”
The new Scottish scheme is very similar to the existing Motability scheme. People on the existing scheme will be able to keep their vehicles and mobility aids until their lease ends. They will then need to join the new Scottish scheme to ensure that they maintain their support and can be as independent as possible.
