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Kelly’s Blog
Hi everyone! This month’s blog focuses on the Motability Scheme and choosing the right wheelchair accessible vehicle for your individual lifestyle.
The Motability Scheme enables disabled people to use their higher rate disability living allowance (or PIP) to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair through a Contract Hire Scheme. Currently over 620,000 people use and benefit from the Motability Scheme, that is 1 in 3 people who are registered disabled. Since its inception in 1978, the Scheme has provided over four and a half million cars, powered wheelchairs and scooters.
Motability Grants Scheme
As well as Contract Hire, Motability has a grants scheme, which was set up to help disabled people who would not be able to afford a wheelchair accessible vehicle, adaptations or driving lessons. Grants are means tested, so in other words, the amount of income and capital you have can affect your eligibility. If you meet the criteria, Motability offer financial support towards the best value solution to help you cope with your mobility needs.
Independent wheelchair driver solutions
If you plan to drive from your wheelchair and decide to apply for a Motability Grant, after completing the paperwork a Motability Assessor will come out to your home to carry out an assessment. There are a lot of questions asked around the space you need, the equipment you need to carry, and the people that will be regularly travelling with you. It is important that you get across your lifestyle, the way you like to travel, and communicate the size of the vehicle you would like. I have a small Fiat Qubo Drive From Wheelchair vehicle, which is perfect for me as I didn’t want anything bigger. I wanted something that I could drive and park easily, also that was fuel efficient. I do a lot of miles for my business, so fuel economy was high on my list.
The team at Sirus can offer advice on all forms of financing your vehicle, including the Motability Scheme, and the team at Motability are great. You can get in touch with them directly to discuss your individual requirements.
You can call the Grants team on 0300 456 4566 or visit
https://www.motability.org.uk/grants/charitable-grants-available/ for more information.
Here is Motability’s guide to drive from wheelchair vehicles.
Contact me via Sirus or on twitter @kellypeebz
Kel x