[From the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) Website]
Open consultation
How public funds can be used to support the mobility needs of disabled people
Consultation description
We are trying to gather a pool of evidence which we can draw from to help underpin our research. We would therefore welcome input from a broad range of organisations and individuals who have relevant insights or evidence to share with us.
Background to our research project
The Motability scheme allows anyone in receipt of certain mobility allowances to use this payment towards the lease of a:
- car
- scooter
- wheelchair accessible vehicle
- powered wheelchair
In association with the Department of Work and Pensions, Motability aims to support disabled people to achieve greater independence via access to affordable mobility.
The scheme is currently open to anyone in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or the Armed Forces Independence Payment. Figures from 2017 indicate that of the 1.72 million disabled people in the UK who are eligible to participate in the scheme, only 614,000 actually did so; roughly two thirds of eligible disabled people in the UK are not accessing the scheme.
While there has been a significant amount of research on public transport and accessibility for disabled people, there has been relatively little research that explores access to, and benefits of, private transport.
The focus of our research is on exploring whether the current investment in Motability, coupled with the availability of the DLA/PIP mobility component, is the best way to support the mobility needs of disabled people. In particular, the research aims to get a better understanding of any barriers disabled people may face in accessing the Motability scheme.
We are particularly interested in hearing from:
- disabled people
- carers and/or families of adult disabled people
- parents/carers of disabled children
- charities or organisations who support disabled people
Call for evidence
The committee would like to hear from anyone who has experience of and evidence on the Motability scheme. We are keen to hear about the experience of those who may be eligible for the Motability scheme but have not taken it up. Our call for evidence is based on the following questions.
1. For those who are eligible, is not leasing a vehicle through Motability a voluntary choice?
Is the decision not to use the scheme related to a preference for using public transport or is it due to other factors?
Are disability benefits used for other forms of transport or travel support; and if so what are the benefits of this?
2. For disabled people who are on enhanced mobility benefits, what are the main barriers to leasing a vehicle through the Motability scheme? Barriers could include financial, practical, information based or personal factors for example.
What are the key issues for those individuals who feel they cannot opt in to the Motability scheme?
3. How does participation/non-participation in the Motability scheme impact on the life of a disabled person?
4. How affordable are adaptations to a leased vehicle?
Does the need for adaptations put people requiring these at a disadvantage in terms of using the scheme?
What grants are available for this group of people and what more can be done to support these needs?
5. For people who are not eligible, because they do not get the enhanced rate, is there a demand for opening up access to the Motability scheme?
6. How available and/or useful is the information on the Motability scheme?
Is support available to access this information?
How easy is the process involved in leasing a vehicle from Motability for disabled people with varying needs?
7. How does the need for and/or opportunity to benefit from the Motability scheme intersect with other characteristics such as:
- different experiences of disability – for example physical impairment, mental health condition, learning difficulty
- other characteristics – such as age, gender, ethnicity
- ‘geography’ – whether disabled people live in a rural or urban environment
8. Do those using the Motability scheme benefit more financially than those eligible for the highest/enhanced rate who do not use the Motability scheme?
How to respond
Responses, focusing on the above questions, are needed by 3 December 2019 and should be emailed to:
Or sent to:
The Committee Secretary
Social Security Advisory Committee
7th Floor
Caxton House
Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA
My meds mean I can’t drive, and I have nobody to drive me around.
I have been disabled for over 30 years, for most of this time period I have been in receipt of higher rate mobility allowance, either through DLA or now PIP. My husband, who is the only car driver in the family, was in full time work until he retired 2 years ago. I needed an electrically powered wheelchair to go out any distance, but did not qualify for one through the NHS, so I chose to use some of my allowance to buy one. But I also needed to use other forms of transport to go out. For much of the time this meant using taxis, buses were not accessible until relatively recently, but also train travel etc. We needed a larger car than we would have otherwise needed in order to accommodate my wheelchair, but for most of the time my husband was using it for work.
So motability just did not meet my needs, a lease car was not supposed to be used other than to meet my needs so it would have been sat in the road most of the time. We would still have needed a car for my husband’s work commitments. And I would not have had the money I needed to pay for taxis etc, or my power chair. I needed the flexibility that having the allowance in cash gave me to use it on the transport I actually needed.
I am on lower rate PIPs need a mobility scooter even though I have sent relevant medical evidence this is been ignored. I’m going to end up having to buy my own.
Hello Vivienne, you can appeal the decision and you may be able to get higher mobility rate pip. If you want some help with this,email us at mail@dpac.uk.net and let us know the area you live in.