Latest news with #Motability
The Sun
an hour ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Fury as hundreds of people with alcohol issues allowed to swap benefits payments for new cars
A SCHEME allowing benefit claimants to swap payments for new cars has been used by hundreds with drink issues. Figures show 770 people with alcohol-related problems lease cars from the Motability charity. Another 220 have drug misuse issues. Claimants must receive an enhanced rate for significant mobility difficulties in their disability benefit to qualify for the state-funded scheme. Motability came under fire recently as it emerged people online boasted of gaming the system to get new cars 'basically free'. John O'Connell, at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Taxpayers will rightly question how alcohol misuse qualifies someone for a brand new car on the Motability scheme. 'With nearly 6,000 people receiving enhanced PIP for alcohol dependency, it's clear the system is in urgent need of reform. 'The government must take a hard look at the criteria and amend it before this situation gets worse.' Motability said: 'Anyone with an unspent drink-driving conviction cannot drive our vehicles.' Motability has grown rapidly since Covid and now buys every one in five new cars sold in the UK. 10 PIP freebies worth up to £40k 1
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Disability Rebellion says welfare bill will 'strip people of their independence'
Protest forum and organisation, Disability Rebellion, calls out Prime Minister Keir Starmer for PIP cuts that will strip people of their independence, wages and strand them in their homes. On July 1, MPs are set to debate the Disability Benefits cut, a decision that could have detrimental effects on the disabled community and those with special learning needs. According to the House of Commons' UK Disability Statistics from 2023, over 16.1 million disabled individuals live in the UK, many of which rely on the governmental DA (Disability Allowance) and PIP (Personal Independence Payment) to live and earn independently. At 7PM, MP's will gather in the House of Commons to debate and vote Keir Starmer's proposal to cut these benefits, leaving many Brits in an anxious state as their standard of living is on the line. Keir Starmer 's office have campaigned to Labour MPs to vote in confidence of the welfare bill in a desperate attempt to 'save' the £5million estimated cost of national DA. The Prime Minister sought a compromise with the disabled community via an amendment to the bill that protects exiting PIP claimants and maintains the health sector of Universal Credit. However, Starmer's olive branch has been firmly rejected. Mike O'Brien, a leading member of Disability Rebellion, spoke exclusively to the Mirror on the expected fallout of Labour's cuts, should they be voted in favour. Mike stated: "Within our organization and our community, there's a lot of worry at the moment about what's going to happen with the welfare reform. We understand that the concessions have been made, but, the general feeling is that the concessions don't go far enough and they don't offer enough protection". On the immediate effects concerning disabled peoples' independence, he said: "First of all, you're looking at a loss of income, but then it's also going to affect people's independence". For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox. He explained that those currently on PIP "are on the higher rate of mobility, they can get a Motability car, but, if for whatever reason they do lose their PIP, they lose that Motability car - basically, that's going to impact their independence. Some people rely on these cars for getting to work. So, they're going to have to either give up their jobs or rely on public transport". The Disability Rebellion spokesperson added: "The government are basically saying that it's about getting people into work. They don't seem to understand that, first of all, PIP isn't an 'out of work' benefit. You can actually claim it while you're working. And they [MPs for the cut] just don't seem to understand the effects that taking people's PIP away will have on their ability to carry on working". A dejected Mike shared his anxieties for the vote, highlighting how his community had all come together in fear of their current way of life, their income and their independence being held at stake, as well as sharing his belief of the decline of mental health for many potentially forced into isolation by the bill. "It will definitely have a knock-on effect on people's mental being and their physical well-being because if you're not feeling well mentally then that can knock onto your physical being as well". Interestingly, Mike opened up about his personal feelings towards the decision to push back the debate till 7PM, suspecting this to be a political move to sway the vote. In a moment of vulnerability, he claimed that "the general consensus seems to me that Labour want to spend money on defence". "Because of Liz Kendall's self-imposed fiscal rule, the general consensus is that all these things are going to be done off the backs of disabled and more vulnerable people in society," added Mike, highlighting the upcoming fears on the Winter fuel cut. "There's definite feelings of dread amongst the people in our community and amongst people within other organizations. We've just learned that the debate has been pushed back because the parental leave debate has gone on. People are now worried that they are doing this deliberately to limit the debate time around the PIP bill so that there can't be as many questions asked". Disability Rebellion is an organisation aiming to fill the gap and support those who may have struggled to attend physical protests due to mobility restrictions or being housebound. The organisation aims to fill that gap for those who wish to get involved. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
New Blue Badge and concession travel card update for people on PIP
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed changes to the proposed welfare reform Bill on Monday. How to apply for a Blue Badge The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that people on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) using the disability benefit to access other support services including the Blue Badge scheme, concessionary travel or Carer's Allowance, will not be impacted by welfare reforms when they are introduced next year. Following a statement in Parliament on Monday, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall responded to topical questions from MPs on the potential impact of changes to PIP eligibility for 3.7 million people currently receiving payments of up to £749.80 every four weeks. Ms Kendall made it clear that existing claimants will not see any changes to their entitlement. However, Labour MP for Gravesham, Dr Lauren Sullivan, sought clarity on the future implications for PIP as a passport benefit to other services. Dr Sullivan said: 'PIP is, of course, a passport to freedom for many other things such as the Carer's Allowance, and many local authorities use PIP for Blue Badges and bus passes. Does the Secretary of State have a plan to mitigate the impact of the potential changes to PIP eligibility on access to Blue Badges and bus passes for disabled people?' Ms Kendall responded: 'As I said in my statement, existing PIP claimants will continue to have that benefit. It will not be affected even if they have a reassessment, and neither will all the passported benefits. 'Carer's Allowance is the best known, but all passported benefits will be included in that protection.' Last week, Conservative MP Danny Kruger urged the DWP to include a review of the Motability Scheme as part of the UK Government's planned benefits reforms. The shadow minister put the suggestion to the senior DWP ministerial team during oral questions on June 23. The MP for East Wiltshire said: 'One area where the Government do not seem to be looking for savings is in the Motability scheme. It was supposed to help physically disabled people get around, but now we have 100,000 new people a year joining the scheme, many of them not physically disabled at all.' He highlighted how one in five of all new car purchases are bought through the Motability scheme which is 'costing taxpayers nearly £3 billion a year'. Mr Kruger added: 'I know that the Minister will blame us (Conservative party) for the system, but the fact is that the Government are not even looking at Motability. They have had a year, and it is their policy now. Will the Minister commit to a proper review of the Motability scheme, and if not, why not?' Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms, responded: 'I am not sure whether the shadow Minister wants me to go further or not so far - he seems to be facing both ways. He is right that we are not at this point proposing any changes to the Motability scheme.' The Motability Scheme enables people in receipt of a disability benefit, with an award for the higher or enhanced rate of the mobility component, to transfer some or all of the payment to lease a new car, wheelchair-accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair. As well as a new car, customers also benefit from insurance, breakdown assistance, servicing, maintenance, tyres and windscreen repairs as part of the package. The latest price list for leasing packages shows there are now more than 800 vehicles to choose from. It's important to be aware the DWP does not oversee the scheme, but instead facilitates a direct transfer to Motability of a claimant's payment - in part or full - if they elect to join the nationwide scheme. The higher rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is worth £77.05 each week, some £308.20 every four-week payment period. The latest figures from the charity behind the Motability Scheme (Motability Operations) show there are now 815,000 customers across the UK, including around 80,000 living in Scotland. The Motability Scheme, or Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme as it is known for those on devolved disability benefits such as Adult Disability Payment (ADP) or Child Disability Payment (CDP), offers an affordable way for disabled people to get around outside more easily.
Spectator
7 days ago
- Health
- Spectator
Our benefits system isn't helping people with mental health problems
There are moments in politics when you have to say something people won't want to hear. This is one of them. Our welfare system is in crisis. By 2030, one in every four pounds raised through income tax will be spent on health and disability benefits – more than the entire UK defence budget. In increasingly dangerous and uncertain times, no one could claim that this is sustainable. Drastic action is needed, and after a year in office Labour have finally cobbled together a set of welfare cuts. Sadly, their ham-fisted plan solves nothing. There is growing evidence that what we're doing isn't helping people with their mental health For a start, they barely stem the flow of people onto benefits. Three quarters of a million more people will join the sickness benefits rolls this parliament. And £5 billion in savings sounds good – until you realise the bill is rising to nearly £100 billion. It's a drop in the ocean. What's more, while you don't often find me agreeing with the Labour left, this plan is also deeply unfair. The new assessment framework is so badly thought through that it could have been designed by a random number generator. 77 per cent of people with arthritis could lose their PIP (Personal Independence Payment) entitlement. So could 62 per cent of those with heart disease. Meanwhile, fewer than half of those with anxiety look likely to miss out. Worse still, the mobility element of PIP – the one that allows people with ADHD to qualify for a new car through the Motability scheme – hasn't even been touched. To get the bill down properly, what's needed is a fundamental rethink about which conditions should qualify for long-term financial support, and why? When I first became shadow welfare secretary, one of the statistics that most shocked me was that the majority of new disability claims in this country are now for mental health issues. Most frighteningly, this rise is partly being driven by young people – people who should be in the prime of their lives. Before I entered politics, I campaigned for better mental health care. I fought for parity of esteem between physical and mental health. I have no doubt that reducing the stigma around mental illness in society has saved lives. But at no point during this fight do I think we intended for young people suffering bouts of depression and anxiety to be signed off to a lifetime on benefits. In fact, there is growing evidence that what we're doing isn't helping people with their mental health – it's fuelling isolation, loneliness and dependence. We know that good work brings purpose, structure and connection to someone's life, and a 22-year-old placed on long-term sickness benefits due to anxiety may spend the rest of their working life out of the labour force. That's not just bad for the economy – it's a tragedy for that young person. Of course, people struggle during periods of poor mental health. But do those conditions generate the same kind of practical, day-to-day costs as, say, life in a wheelchair? That's what benefits were designed to support. It's time to say it: we've been getting it wrong on benefits for mental health. Research published by the Centre for Social Justice today shows that by narrowing eligibility – focusing support on those with more severe conditions – we could save nearly £9 billion a year. That's before you even count the enormous economic benefits of someone in their 20s going through life earning and contributing, rather than sitting at home. This isn't about denying anyone's distress. Conditions like anxiety and depression are real. But they're also treatable. Imagine what could be done if even a tiny fraction of that £9 billion were reinvested into mental health services: expanding talking therapies, scaling up social prescribing, and funding the next generation of mental health research. This will cause a fight. People have spent years campaigning for mental health to be treated like physical health, and I was one of them. But if we are going to create a sustainable welfare system, this is a fight we're going to need to have.
Daily Record
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
DWP urged to review Motability scheme as part of new welfare reforms
Conservative MP Danny Kruger has urged the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to include a review of the Motability scheme as part of the UK Government's planned benefits reforms. The shadow minister put the suggestion to the senior DWP ministerial team on Monday during oral questions. The MP for East Wiltshire said: 'One area where the Government do not seem to be looking for savings is in the Motability scheme. It was supposed to help physically disabled people get around, but now we have 100,000 new people a year joining the scheme, many of them not physically disabled at all.' He highlighted how one in five of all new car purchases are bought through the Motability scheme which is 'costing taxpayers nearly £3 billion a year'. Mr Kruger added: 'I know that the Minister will blame us (Conservative party) for the system, but the fact is that the Government are not even looking at Motability. They have had a year, and it is their policy now. Will the Minister commit to a proper review of the Motability scheme, and if not, why not?' Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms, responded: 'I am not sure whether the shadow Minister wants me to go further or not so far - he seems to be facing both ways. He is right that we are not at this point proposing any changes to the Motability scheme.' The Motability Scheme enables people in receipt of a disability benefit, with an award for the higher or enhanced rate of the mobility component, to transfer some or all of the payment to lease a new car, wheelchair-accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair. As well as a new car, customers also benefit from insurance, breakdown assistance, servicing, maintenance, tyres and windscreen repairs as part of the package. The latest price list for leasing packages shows there are now more than 800 vehicles to choose from. It's important to be aware the DWP does not oversee the scheme, but instead facilitates a direct transfer to Motability of a claimant's payment - in part or full - if they elect to join the nationwide scheme. The higher rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is worth £77.05 each week, some £308.20 every four-week payment period. The latest figures from the charity behind the Motability Scheme (Motability Operations) show there are now 815,000 customers across the UK, including around 80,000 living in Scotland. The Motability Scheme, or Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme as it is known for those on devolved disability benefits such as Adult Disability Payment (ADP) or Child Disability Payment (CDP), offers an affordable way for disabled people to get around outside more easily. PIP reforms There are currently 3.7 million people across Great Britain in claim for PIP, however, the UK Government expects that figure to rise by a further 750,000 to 4m by the end of the decade and has proposed a raft of new measures to make the benefit sustainable for future generations. Proposed package of reforms to overhaul the welfare system, include: Ending reassessments for disabled people who will never be able to work and people with lifelong conditions to ensure they can live with dignity and security. Scrapping the Work Capability Assessment to end the process that drives people into dependency, delivering on the UK Government's manifesto commitment to reform or replace it. Providing improved employment support backed by £1 billion including new tailored support conversations for people on health and disability benefits to break down barriers and unlock work. Legislating to protect those on health and disability benefits from reassessment or losing their payments if they take a chance on work. To ensure the welfare system is available for those with the greatest needs now and in the future, the UK Government has made decisions to improve its sustainability and protect those who need it most. These include: Reintroducing reassessments for people on incapacity benefits who have the capability to work to ensure they have the right support and are not written off. Targeting PIP for those with higher needs by changing the eligibility requirement to a minimum score of four on at least one of the daily living activities to receive the daily living element of the benefit, in addition to the existing eligibility criteria. Rebalancing payment levels in Universal Credit to improve the Standard Allowance. Consulting on delaying access to the health element of Universal Credit until someone is aged 22 and reinvesting savings into work support and training opportunities through the Youth Guarantee. DWP also launched an online consultation on the new proposals to coincide with the publication of the Green paper. The consultation can be completed by anyone and is open until 11.59pm on Monday June 30, 2025 - you can find full details on here. It's important to be aware that the proposed reforms announced by the DWP will not affect people in Scotland claiming Adult Disability Payment. The Scottish Government announced earlier this week it has no plans to mirror the proposed changes to devolved disability benefits.
