You may be entitled to Personal Independence Payment.

This can be a long process and it took me eventually emailing my MP who contacted the DWP on my behalf.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:

• a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability

• difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.

You can also read about PIP in Welsh (Cymraeg).

How PIP works

There are 2 parts to PIP:

• a daily living part - if you need help with everyday tasks
• a mobility part - if you need help with getting around

Whether you get one or both parts and how much you get depends on how difficult you find everyday tasks and getting around.

If you might have less than 6 months to live, you’ll automatically get the daily living part. Whether you get the mobility part depends on your needs. Find out how to claim and how much you’ll get if you might have 6 months or less to live.

Daily living part

You might get the daily living part of PIP if you need help with:

• eating, drinking or preparing food
• washing, bathing and using the toilet
• dressing and undressing
• reading and communicating
• managing your medicines or treatments
• making decisions about money
• socialising and being around other people

Mobility part

You might get the mobility part of PIP if you need help with:

• working out a route and following it
• physically moving around
• leaving your home

You do not have to have a physical disability to get the mobility part. You might also be eligible if you have difficulty getting around because of a cognitive or mental health condition, like anxiety.

How difficulty with tasks is assessed

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they’ll look at:

• whether you can do it safely
• how long it takes you
• how often your condition affects this activity
• whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment

Your carer could get Carer’s Allowance if you have substantial caring needs.

Motability Scheme.

The Motability Scheme provides a simple way to lease a new car, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV), scooter or powered wheelchair without the worry of owning and running one.

Since it began in 1978, the Motability Scheme has helped millions of disabled people and their families gain independence and freedom, with an overall customer satisfaction of 98%. The Motability Scheme is delivered on a day-to-day basis by Motability Operations Ltd, under contract to Motability.

Motability, as a national charity, may be able to provide charitable grants to disabled people who would otherwise be unable to afford the vehicle, adaptations or driving lessons they need.

Find out more about Charitable Grants.

Who can join the Motability Scheme?

Over 640,000 disabled people and their families across the UK are benefiting from the freedom and independence provided through the Motability Scheme. 

The Motability Scheme is available to anyone who receives one of the following allowances, with at least 12 months remaining:

• Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP);
• Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (HRMC DLA);
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS);
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP);
• Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Child Disability Payment (CDP); and
• Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of the Adult Disability Payment (ADP).

Carers and parents can drive on behalf of the disabled person, so parents of children (from the age of three) and non-drivers can apply to join. The vehicle must be used by, or for the benefit of, the disabled person.

If you have not yet been awarded one of the above allowances, you will need to have this before you can apply to join the Motability Scheme.

How does the Motability Scheme work?

If you receive one of the above qualifying benefits and have at least 12 months remaining on your award, you can apply for a Motability Scheme vehicle.

With the Motability Scheme, all or part of your mobility allowance is transferred to Motability Operations Ltd for the duration of the lease period. Some vehicles are available at less or no more than the cost of the weekly allowance, while other, more expensive vehicles, require an additional payment (known as an Advance Payment) to cover the cost of the lease.

How to join the Scheme

If you decide that the Motability Scheme is right for you, there are a few steps you need to take in order to lease a new car, WAV, scooter or powered wheelchair:

1. Choose a vehicle - test drive it and consider adaptations.
2. Find a dealer - there are over 4,500 Motability Scheme dealerships in the UK.
3. Order the vehicle - the dealership’s Motability Scheme specialist will assist with each order .

Every lease includes:

• Insurance (for up to three named drivers for cars and WAVs). 
• Servicing and maintenance.
• Full breakdown assistance.
• Tyre repair and replacement.

Leasing a car or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) will also cover:

• 20,000 mileage allowance per year of lease.
• Window and windscreen repair or replacement.
• A choice of adaptations, many at no extra cost.