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"Not disabled enough" for PIP/Motability - but "too disabled" to lease a car!

paxo1992

Hi there,

I wondered if you could offer any advice on my situation. I have cerebral palsy which affects my movement, coordination and strength on my right side but I am generally mobile and active and 'pass' as someone without a disability. However one of the main areas of day-to-day life this affects is how I drive. I was assessed before learning to drive and am restricted to driving automatic cars with left foot accelerator pedals only.

I've tried a few times to apply for PIP with the aim to use this for the Motability scheme but have been turned down each time because I don't fit the criteria. However I find I am always at such a financial disadvantage from driving because of my disability; namely the cost of adapting cars myself, having to have automatic cars which are more expensive, the initial Driveability assessment, and driving lessons which cost me more than double the average. I feel the Motability scheme is designed exactly for someone like me who needs to drive adapted cars but somehow I just don't seem to qualify.

I've also tried to lease cars the 'normal' way and yet I don't qualify for that either because I have a disability! I've been told numerous times that I can't lease a car and have it adapted myself because the adaption would significantly lower the car's resale value. I can't seem to win! I'm not 'disabled enough' to use the Motability scheme, but 'too disabled' to lease a car in any other way!

I feel a bit stuck and really don't feel like I have any options when it comes to driving without paying outright for a car. I seem to fall within a strange grey area. I wondered if anyone else finds themselves in a similar situation, or were able to either help me navigate the PIP/Motability scheme or point me in the direction of any alternative schemes?

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Comments

Ross_Alumni

Hello @paxo1992

Welcome to the online community

I can tell how frustrated you are with this, and I completely understand why. Sorry that you are finding this such a challenge, it must be really inconvenient.

Have you tried going through Driving Mobility? Perhaps they would be able to provide you with some guidance about your options and how you could adapt a vehicle outside of the motobility scheme.

In terms of PIP, have you had a look at the PIP descriptors and compared them against how your condition impacts you on a typical day? You can view them on this page.

This is a very supportive and welcoming site to be a part of so I’m hopeful that you’ll find it to be a positive outlet. Feel free to have a look around and get involved wherever you’d like 😊 I have included below a few of the pages I’d recommend having a look through to get used to things:

The virtual coffee lounge which is one of our categories, in which we play games and talk about general subjects such as hobbies and interests
The recent discussions page, which shows an overview of everything happening across the community
The categories page, which shows a full list of discussion groups on the community

If you have any questions at all then don’t hesitate to ask.

poppy123456

Unfortunately, without a PIP Enhanced mobility award you won't be able to access motability scheme.

Have you ever got some expert advice regarding a PIP claim to check that you could qualify? You also mention being refused a few times. Have you ever challenged those decision's? If not is there any reasons why?

PIP mobility awards have nothing to do with your ability to drive. Nor do they consider any financail disadvantage. What they look at is your ability to stand with at least one foot on the floor and walk outside on flat surface. If you can walk they will look at how far you can walk, can you do this regularly, reliably and without pain and discomfort?

If you're a wheelchair user and are unable to stand and put one foot on the floor and move more than 1 metre then this should be 12 points which would be Enhanced mobility.

Are you able to buy a car yourself without being on finance? Is a loan an option for you? Doing this it would mean the car would be yours once the loan is paid off. Leasing a car is completely different so you will be more restricted on the adaptions you can do.

With regarding the PIP i'd advise you to get some expert advice and for this you should start here. https://advicelocal.uk/

OverlyAnxious

I'm in a similar position, albeit with different restrictions, so know how frustrating it is.

I would have benefitted so much from access to the Motability scheme when I first applied for PIP back in 2019, and even in 2020 when I finally won a daily living award through tribunal. Though it is sadly too late now, I've lost the ability to drive altogether. Despite now being effectively housebound, and unable to use any form of transport, I still don't fit the descriptor for enhanced Mobility!

I don't understand why Motability don't operate in the same way as the Blue Badge scheme. Allowing people who don't automatically qualify to put in a 'manual' claim that is considered on a case by case basis.

I can't really offer any advice on top of what Poppy has said though. If you do fit the descriptors then it's definitely worth trying for PIP again. But if not, buying privately sounds like the only realistic option. Out of interest, is the left foot accelerator not easily removed and returned back to standard at the end of a lease?

Alex_Alumni

Thanks for your query @paxo1992

I would certainly encourage you to try again with PIP, I also have mild CP that also affects my right side, I use a left foot accelerator and a steering ball, and I receive the enhanced PIP award for mobility, so I am able to access an adapted car through the Motability scheme.

I can completely understand your frustrations here, it seems baffling how many disabled people can be left not fitting in any 'boxes'.

@OverlyAnxious I second the idea that Motability should work more like the Blue Badge scheme. We can't all be one or the other, that's the nature of disability after all, often it fluctuates or is invisible as well.

Out of interest, is the left foot accelerator not easily removed and returned back to standard at the end of a lease?

I'm not sure on this, all I know is that when I flip up the right foot accelerator pedal in my automatic car, the left one comes down on the other side of the break pedal, and vise versa. I don't know how complex it is to install or remove. My steering ball is quite easy, that's fixed onto the wheel and can be unscrewed to take it off.

OverlyAnxious

Alex_Scope said:

Out of interest, is the left foot accelerator not easily removed and returned back to standard at the end of a lease?
I'm not sure on this, all I know is that when I flip up the right foot accelerator pedal in my automatic car, the left one comes down on the other side of the break pedal, and vise versa. I don't know how complex it is to install or remove. My steering ball is quite easy, that's fixed onto the wheel and can be unscrewed to take it off.

Thanks Alex, that's very interesting.

I have a lot of experience with vehicle maintenance & repair, but virtually no experience with adaptions. The way it's designed with both a right & left pedal does sound like it wouldn't be too difficult to remove at the end of a lease. But also really no need to remove it if the second pedal just flips up and out of the way when not in use. I guess there might be some insurance implications though.

Alex_Alumni

You're welcome, I would gather there might be some insurance implications yes @OverlyAnxious, but I'm certainly no expert on those details