§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the need for people disabled after their 65th birthday to benefit from the Motability scheme. [132374]
§ Maria EagleThe Motability scheme helps severely disabled people who are physically unable, or virtually unable, to walk to obtain vehicles on favourable terms by using their payments of the Disability Living Allowance higher rate mobility component, or a War Pensioners Mobility Supplement paid by the Veterans Agency of the Ministry of Defence, to service a leasing or hire-purchase agreement.
The vast majority of people can expect to have some restrictions on their mobility as they get older and it is reasonable to expect them to make provision for this. However, disability is more financially disruptive, in terms of lost opportunity to earn and save, for people who have the very considerable disadvantage of being severely disabled relatively early in life. This is why the Disability Living Allowance mobility component is available only to severely disabled people who claim help with their disability-related extra costs before age 65.
The Government believe that these arrangements are fair and sensible and, in particular, that it is right to give the most help to those who are severely disabled early in life and who may face limited opportunities to work and save. We therefore have no plans to change the upper age limit for claims to Disability Living Allowance.