People receiving disability benefits from Social Security Scotland will not be affected by a series of changes being introduced to the Motability Scheme from July 1.
Scottish Customers Exempt from July Changes
Motability has confirmed that customers receiving Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Child Disability Payment (CDP) and Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA) will continue to access the current lease package while discussions with the Scottish Government continue.
The organisation said the changes announced for customers across the UK from July 1 "will not be introduced for customers who receive their allowance from Social Security Scotland" at the present time. Motability said this is because the scheme operates under a separate agreement in Scotland known as the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme (AVES).
Ongoing Discussions with Scottish Government
The update on the Motability website states: "Because of this, changes to the Scheme in Scotland need to be agreed with the Scottish Government before they can be rolled out."
The organisation said discussions with the Scottish Government are continuing about what changes will be introduced and when. In the meantime, customers receiving an allowance from Social Security Scotland can continue to place an order as normal under the current lease package, provided they are in the final three months of their lease.
What Scottish Motability Customers Will Keep
For a three-year lease, customers will continue to receive:
- A 60,000-mile allowance
- Up to eight tyre replacements
- A 5p excess mileage fee plus VAT
- No VE103 administration fee to take a vehicle abroad
For a five-year Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) lease, customers will continue to receive:
- A 100,000-mile allowance
- Up to 10 tyre replacements
- A 5p excess mileage fee plus VAT
- No VE103 administration fee to take a vehicle abroad
Motability also confirmed the Trustees of the Motability Foundation have approved a one-off discretionary grant to cover the additional costs of maintaining the current lease package while discussions with the Scottish Government continue.
The organisation said it will provide further updates once future arrangements for customers receiving allowances from Social Security Scotland have been agreed.
Changes Being Introduced from July 1
Motability said changes are being made to the Scheme from July 1 in response to tax changes announced by the UK Government in last year's Autumn Budget. The changes for new orders placed on or after July 1 include:
- A mileage allowance of 30,000 miles for a new three-year lease
- A mileage allowance of 50,000 miles for a new five-year WAV lease
- An excess mileage charge of 25p per mile, including VAT
- Up to six tyre replacements during a three-year lease, including up to four for accidental damage
- Up to 10 tyre replacements during a five-year WAV lease, including up to six for accidental damage
- A £22 administration fee for a VE103 certificate needed when travelling outside the UK with a Motability vehicle
It is important to be aware there will be no changes to existing leases.
