DO YOU QUALIFY FOR MOTABILITY?

Allowances used on the Scheme

The Motability Scheme helps disabled people get mobile by exchanging their mobility allowance to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair. To be eligible to join the Scheme, you need to receive one of the following mobility allowances and must have at least 12 months' award length of your allowance remaining.

• Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (HRMC DLA)
  This allowance is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and can be used to cover the cost of a lease agreement with Motability Operations Ltd. As of 11 April 2019, this allowance is £61.20 per week
• Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (ERMC PIP)
  As part of its welfare reform programme, the Government has started to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for disabled people aged between 16 and 64. The Motability Scheme works with PIP in the same way as is it does with DLA. As of 09 April 2019, this allowance is £61.20 per week.
• This allowance is provided by Veterans and can be used to cover the cost of a lease agreement with Motability Operations Ltd.
  As of 11 April 2019, this allowance is £68.35 per week.
• A new allowance called Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) was introduced as part of the Welfare Reform Act 2012. Those who receive this allowance will be eligible to join the Motability Scheme.
  As of 11 April 2019, this allowance is £61.20 per week (this refers to the mobility element, which is the same rate as HRMC DLA and ERMC PIP)
• The Attendance Allowance cannot be used to lease a car through the Motability Scheme.

ELIGIBILITY FACTS

A popular misconceptions regarding eligibility for the Motability Scheme is that there is an upper age limit, which is not the case. In fact a third of Underwoods Motability customers are aged over 65. You only need to be receiving one of the allowances listed above and you will eligible for the Scheme. The confusion occurs as the Department for Work and Pensions does have an upper age limit of 64 for people applying for disability related benefits for the first time. If you are applying for disability related benefits for the first time and are aged 65 or over, the Department for Work and Pensions will request that you register a claim for Attendance Allowance, which is not eligble to use for the Motability Scheme.

One of the greatest parts of the Scheme is that Parents (or guardians) are able to lease a car on behalf of a child aged three years and above, who is receiving the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance. That’s great news for parents who child is disabled to get them out and about!

HOW TO CHECK IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE

If you are still unsure and need help or confirmation whether you are eligible for the allowance, you can contact one of the following agencies:
- To enquire about claiming Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment, telephone 03457 123456 or visit the DWP website.
- To enquire about claiming War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement or Armed Forces Independence Payment, please contact Veterans UK on 0808 191 4218 or visit the Veterans UK website.

It is important to know that neither Underwoods nor Motability decides who receives the allowance, only The Department for Work and Pensions decides. If for whatever reason you lose the allowance during your lease, Underwoods will make arrangements for the return of the car, you will however only pay the cost of the lease up until the car has been returned, not for the full remaining length of the lease agreed. If you paid an Advance Payment, this will be refunded to you on a pro-rata basis.