There is concern that the Motability Scheme – which leases new cars, including EVs, in exchange for disability benefits money – is increasingly being exploited by friends and family members of claimants.
However, disability rights groups defended the “life-changing” scheme and warned against demonising hundreds of thousands of people who need Motability cars and use them legitimately.
Two appointed friends or family members are allowed to use the cars so long as they are helping the disabled benefits claimant.
The customers subject to one or more claim of misuse related to their vehicle rose from 12,000 in 2022 to more than 17,000 last year, according to figures provided by Motability Operations.
Last year saw a further spike in cases, with 5,300 claimants having their vehicles taken away.
But Motability Operations said the rise reflected the growth in eligible customers. The number of benefits claimants using the scheme stands at 815,000 – up from 650,000 in 2022.
“As the scheme has grown, so have the number of reported cases [of misuse]. That’s to be expected, and we’re responding with even greater focus.
People claiming personal independence payments (PIP) are eligible for a Motability car – but only if they get the highest, “enhanced” rate of this disability benefit.
Motability Operations’ own expansion from 650,000 to 815,000 customers since the end of 2022 reflects the rise in PIP claimants from 2.8 million to 3.7 million during the same period.
The company now accounts for one in five of all new cars bought in the UK – around 390,000 of the 1.9 million sold last year.
Claimants labelled ‘freeloaders’
And Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice has claimed the Motability system had been “hijacked” by “freeloaders” trying to get a “free car”.
square BENEFITS Why I give benefits claimants advice on TikTok
Read More
There is also criticism that luxury models such as Mercedes Benz and BMWs worth over £50,000 are available under the scheme. But up-front payments are also required – ranging from £499 for the cheapest cars to £8,000 for the most expensive.
Noah Bear Nyle, a benefits expert who gives advice on TikTok and YouTube, said it was “understandable” that some disabled people on these platforms were “celebrating” getting new Motability cars if they are entitled to them.
Nicholas Fearn, 28, uses a Motability car after qualifying for the enhanced mobility rate of PIP. He has autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorder, and also has arthritis in both knees.
Nicholas Fearn, who has autism and mobility issues, qualifies for a Motability car (Photo: Supplied)“If someone is genuinely abusing the scheme, it’s right action is taken against them,” said Fearn, a freelance journalist. “But getting a Motability car isn’t easy. It requires a lot of medical evidence and a rigorous assessment, which is very stressful.”
Reality of the scheme
The expert – also a director at the Disability Policy Centre – said the idea that a growing amount of taxpayers’ money was being spent on the scheme was misguided.
Dr Carew also said there was a high bar to getting the 12 points needed for the enhanced mobility payment, pointing to official Government figures showing fraud in the PIP system is zero.
“It needs tighter criteria,” he told The i Paper. “I understand that in some situations it’s vital for a relative or friend to be able to help disabled people.
Lord Mann also believes Mobility Operations is “making too much money” and called on the Government to examine how the whole scheme operates as part of its plans to tighten up PIP criteria.
Mobility Operations has said the large reserves are needed to protect the scheme’s “long-term sustainability” in a fluctuating market which has seen major changes in car prices.
Earlier this week, its chief executive Andrew Miller told the Financial Times that the company would review the number of drivers allowed to use each vehicle, as well as increasing the use of tracking devices for possible misuse.
“We have to start looking at tracking more to try and counter some of the very valid challenges we’re getting on people using the scheme in not the way it’s intended,” said Miller.
The Government has been approached for comment.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Taxpayer-funded cars taken from 11,000 benefits claimants for abusing the system )
Also on site :