Age UK response
Updated 22 February 2021
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Thank you for inviting us to comment on the SSAC consultation and research on the mobility needs of disabled people and the Motability scheme.
As you are aware, older people who develop a disability after reaching State Pension Age (SPA), and are claiming Attendance Allowance (AA), are unable to lease a Motability vehicle or get exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty. This is because they are unable to claim the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or the enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payments (PIP) – which would qualify them to access the scheme. In our view, this is unfair and discriminatory (despite a ruling by the courts). Older people who receive Attendance Allowance should be assessed for the scheme based on their mobility needs rather than receipt of DLA and PIP.
A number of older disabled people have raised this issue with Age UK and cannot understand why they don’t qualify access to help with a car, mobility scooter or powered wheelchair through the Motability scheme. This curbs their independence and may stop them from working if they are not in a position to pay for these items themselves.
Many older people with disabilities rely on driving themselves, or having their vehicle driven by a carer. They are not able to use public transport, so cannot benefit from the free bus pass. They could benefit hugely from leasing an adapted vehicle, with support from a local mobility centre, which would enable them to get to a doctors surgery, attend hospital appointments or obtain medical treatment, allowing them to remain independent and stay safe. This in turn would reduce demand on the NHS and social care services.
Previously the Government has justified the age limit for receiving a disability benefit to help with mobility on the grounds of cost and the priority of supporting younger disabled people to work and save. Age UK strongly disagrees with this, as older people with mobility impairments need to remain active and socially connected. Even in the context of the current benefit system we see no justification for not allowing older people access to the Motability scheme.
There is a great deal of evidence that preventing older people from driving, especially in rural areas, has a hugely detrimental impact on their health and wellbeing and reduces their capacity to stay active and independent. This situation could be alleviated by improvements in access to accessible public transport, but for many older people where these services are unreliable or not available, a vehicle is essential.
It would be extremely helpful if the consultation research could investigate the impact of the current rules on older people and the logic of excluding them from the scheme after SPA. This should include reviewing whether the cost arguments are correct given the wider financial implications of older disabled people being excluded from the scheme
As part of the research we would strongly urge the Committee to consider the benefits of extending the scheme to older people who receive Attendance Allowance and to review whether Government policy on this matter stands up to scrutiny.