Help understanding motability and grants

mellyham

I am joining as I would

Like to understand more about mobility and grants available to help with the cost towards advance payments

poppy123456

To join the Motability scheme you must be claiming either high rate mobility DLA or PIP/ADP Enhanced mobility. For help towards the advance payment you must apply for the grant before you order your vehicle. If you order the vehicle first then you will not be able to claim the grant. https://www.motability.co.uk/get-support/faqs/can-i-apply-for--financial-help/

When you apply for the grant if successful, Motability will give you a choice of vehicles suitable for your health conditions. See link above for more information.

Jimm_Alumni

Hi @mellyham, welcome to the Scope community 😀 I hope Poppy's answer has helped answer some of your concerns. If you'd like to read more we also have an advice section on motability here: https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/driving-and-motability

mellyham

thank you to you both, this has been helpful

mellyham

so, just to update you. My partner has been on PIP enhanced rate since November 2021 and like so many others believed that going for a mobility car took all of your pip money. We now realise this is not the case. Now that he needs a car, as mine is not suitable for him, we go out and look at all the models he would be comfortable in, find one, get an overwhelming sense of relief only to discover his award expires Feb 25 and therefore has less than 12 months left on it. Reading up on this for him, he won’t be able to get one now until his review next year, is this still the case or is there a solution for this? Any help greatly appreciated, thank you.

Jimm_Alumni

I'm afraid there is no way around the 12 month limit. You could enquire given how long reviews can take, but I have not personally heard of an instance where someone gets on the scheme with less than 12 months award.

poppy123456

Unfortunately, as he's not currently a Motability customer then yes it's at least 12 months remaining on your award. For existing customers if their lease is due to end they can place another order even if their award ends within 12 months.

There's no leeway for this. There's lots of information available on their website. https://www.motability.co.uk/how-it-works/

mellyham

thank you to both of you for responding.

Update** my partner has called PIP and they have advised that it has been extended for a further 13 months but the actual letter will not be sent until December/Jan. They have advised us to go back to the garage and try again, if not successful at the garage then my partner is to call them back 🤞🤞 There’s still hope. I’ll let you know on Wednesday after we have been back to the garage.

poppy123456

Hmmm, there's long delays for PIP review decisions for the majority of people. Forms are sent out about 8 months before your award is due to end. If a decision hasn't been made within 35 days of your award ending your award will be extended for 1 year and a letter will be sent out to you. The letter won't be sent out before that.

Motability will not allow access to the scheme with an award of less than 12 months for new customers. Your partner can report changes to start the review sooner but there's risks with this and no guarantee that the award will continue and not only that a decision could still take anything up to about a year.

mellyham

spoke to a friend of mine today, her daughters PIP was due for renewal in January this year, she has had a 2 year extension but like us is waiting for the award letter, in the meantime (March to be exact) she has been able to secure a car on mobility with no award letter/extension letter sent out to her as yet. The guy at the garage she is having the car from was able to contact PIP and it’s all been approved. So something is happening behind the scenes. In regards to my partner he’s going to do as PIP have advised him and go back to the garage Wednesday, tell the salesman what they have advised my partner to do and see from there. If it fails again then my partner has been told to call PIP straight back and they will speak directly with the garage. I’ll keep you posted.

mellyham

** UPDATE**
My partners car is on order, the garage called mobility, mobility called DWP and all approved, DWP have extended it for 13 months award letter won’t be with us until December. Current award letter accepted and new date been given to Mobility by DWP for the car to go ahead.

Hope that helps someone who is in the same situation, in desperate need for a mobility car with less than 12 month’s remaining on their award. The same thing has happened with my friend also and her award has expired whilst waiting for her review.

Albus_Scope

I'm glad the story has a happy ending @mellyham that's brilliant news. 😊