The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been forced on two occasions to clarify the rules on eligibility for the Motability Scheme if claiming Attendance Allowance, a benefit accessed by almost two million people. Ministers have issued statements after parliamentary questions from MPs over the matter.
What is the Motability Scheme?
The Motability Scheme can assist with leasing a car, powered wheelchair or scooter. Applicants must receive specific benefits - higher rate of the mobility component of DLA, higher rate of the mobility component of Child Disability Payment, War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement, Armed Forces Independence Payment, enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP, or enhanced rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment.
Officials say the Motability Scheme provides an affordable means for disabled people to lease a new car, wheelchair-accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair. Since its establishment in 1978, they say the Motability Scheme has assisted millions of disabled individuals and their families with travelling for employment, education, healthcare and other purposes.
MPs question Attendance Allowance eligibility
However, ministers have faced questions about the potential expansion of the scheme to include another benefit not presently included in the programme. Josh Babarinde, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne, recently asked the DWP's secretary of state Sir Stephen Timms "what consideration he has given to reviewing criteria for those in receipt of Attendance Allowance to be able to access to the Motability scheme."
Attendance Allowance is claimed by approximately 1.7 million people, according to government figures. You may qualify for the benefit if you've reached State Pension age and have a physical disability (including sensory impairment, such as blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition.
Your disability or health condition must also be serious enough that you require assistance with personal care or supervision for your own safety or that of others. Additionally, you must have required that support for a minimum of six months.
Government response
Sir Stephen Timms addressed the MP's enquiry regarding the extension of Motability to include Attendance Allowance, saying: "Attendance Allowance is intended to help those with a severe disability who have long term care or supervision needs which arise after reaching State Pension age. Government mobility support is focused on people who are disabled earlier in life; developing mobility needs in older life is a normal consequence of ageing, which non-disabled younger people have had opportunity to plan and save for."
He added: "There is no constraint on what an award of Attendance Allowance can be spent on, and a recipient may choose to use this benefit to fund mobility aids. Qualifying benefits for the Motability Scheme are the enhanced rate mobility component Personal Independence Payment (enhanced rate mobility component Adult Disability Payment in Scotland), higher rate mobility component Disability Living Allowance (higher rate mobility component Child Disability Payment in Scotland), Armed Forces Independence Payment and War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement."
Around the same time, Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer) also questioned Sir Stephen about "what plans they have to allow individuals who claim Attendance Allowance to qualify for the Motability Scheme."
Responding on his behalf, Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions), offered comparable guidance, while also highlighting: "Disabled people over the age of 65 can apply to their local authority for assessment under the Blue Badge Scheme, which helps people with severe mobility problems to park close to where they need to go. Assistance from other sources may be available and details can be found on the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC) website."
How to claim Attendance Allowance
You can apply for Attendance Allowance online or by post. Most applicants will need to provide a National Insurance number, address and contact details, details of the disability or health condition that you need extra help for, as well as details of your GP surgery or medical centre and details of your care home, hospital or hospice if you’re currently staying in one.
The rules are different if you are in Northern Ireland or have a life-limiting illness.
