The Motability Foundation has extended its Bespoke Passenger Solutions (BPS) grant programme until March 2029. The scheme, which has distributed £15 million over the past four years, provides funding for specialist wheelchair accessible vehicles.
The Motability Scheme allows certain DWP disability benefits to be exchanged for a vehicle lease. More than 915,000 people currently use the service, which supports disabled people receiving the enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Eligibility also extends to those receiving War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement (WPMS), Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP), or the Scottish benefits Enhanced rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment or Higher rate mobility component of Child Disability Payment.
What the BPS grant covers
BPS offers funding towards large and very large wheelchair accessible vehicles where extra facilities are required beyond basic wheelchair access. The grant helps cover the Advance Payment for an appropriate vehicle, including the cost of the vehicle itself and any necessary adaptations.
Vehicles can be modified to include specialist facilities such as personal hoisting, changing space, privacy and storage, enabling people to travel safely while supporting their mobility and personal care needs.
The scheme's eligibility criteria states that you can apply if you are a disabled person or the appointee for a disabled person on the Motability Scheme, or in the process of joining, and you have no plans to change your wheelchair within the next 12 months. In addition, the scheme's support must be essential for medical appointments, education, employment, volunteering or exceptional circumstances.
Impact of the programme
Since the grant programme launched in 2022, more than £15 million has been awarded through 475 grants to Motability Scheme customers. There are currently 400 BPS vehicles in operation, supporting people and families throughout the UK.
BPS recipients often have overlapping medical, physical, cognitive, communication and sensory needs. The organisation said: "Having a bespoke vehicle can make a significant difference to everyday life, helping them to travel more frequently and reliably and take part in the activities that matter to them."
The decision to extend funding comes after an evaluation of the programme's impact. The assessment concluded that BPS vehicles can facilitate improvements in social connections, wellbeing, choice and control, and access to healthcare and other activities - while also providing enhanced assistance to carers.
Prior to receiving BPS support, many beneficiaries faced restricted space, manual handling difficulties and vehicles that could not safely accommodate medical, mobility or personal care needs, Motability said. This could mean that travel involved greater risk, additional effort and increased stress.
How the grant helped one family
Two years ago, 20-year-old Tyler and his family received a BPS vehicle. Tyler was born with spastic quadriplegic Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease and cannot walk or sit unaided. Travelling was distressing for him before they were awarded a grant, the family said.
His mum, Teresa, described the difference the vehicle has made, saying: "We couldn't have afforded to purchase this without the help of this grant. Tyler is so much more comfortable now whilst travelling, thanks to the hoist and rock and roll chair. He knows if he needs to have a stretch, we can stop and do so, which we have done on numerous occasions."
Their vehicle is spacious enough to carry all of Tyler's equipment as well as their two small dogs, enabling Tyler to visit museums and the Able2b gym for boxing sessions. "We are all so grateful for this [BPS vehicle] and honestly can't express how much of a difference having this vehicle has made to our family," said Teresa.
Grant Programme Manager Helen Rose said: "For disabled people with multiple and profound care needs, having the right facilities inside a vehicle can make a significant difference to everyday life. That's why we're delighted to be able to continue with our BPS grant programme. The evaluation has demonstrated the positive and life changing impact BPS has on both disabled passengers and their carers, making their journeys and personal care easier to manage."
