From constipation to ‘tennis elbow' all bizarre ailments netting Brits brand-new cars under corrupted Motability scheme

The Sun

7 hours ago

TAXPAYERS are funding cars for drivers with ailments including constipation and "tennis elbow".
The £600 million-a-year Motability scheme offers essential support to individuals with severe physical or mental disabilities.
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But new figures have laid bare how the scheme - which vital to giving those with physical or mental disabilities access to reliable transportation - has been corrupted beyond recognition.
The keys to 40 cars were allocated to individuals with 'tennis elbow', a condition that 'causes pain around the outside of the elbow' but is typically resolved with rest, according to the NHS.
And 20 individuals suffering from constipation made use of Motability, along with ten people struggling with a 'failure to thrive'.
Over 32,000 new cars were handed over for people suffering anxiety or other depressive disorders, while 800 went to individuals with obesity.
While obesity can lead to mobility challenges in severe cases, some believe this inclusion is too broad and leaves the programme's goodwill open to exploitation.
What's more, the data shows that 770 cars were leased to individuals with alcohol misuse problems, with 220 going to those with issues around drugs.
The data was released in response to a Parliamentary Question, published by the Guido Fawkes website and reported on by the Daily Mail.
The scheme, which costs some £600m and is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, supports around 589,000 claimants in England and Wales as of 2024.
It allows beneficiaries to exchange part of their Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for a car, powered wheelchair, or scooter, essentially giving them options tailored to their needs.
It also allows friends or relatives to drive the vehicle on their behalf of the claimant, further expanding its usefulness.
Furthermore, the initiative drives a significant portion of new car purchases in Britain - accounting for one in five sales across the country.
This heavily supporting the automotive industry in the process and, in turn, creating jobs.
ADHD/ADD: 9,090
Alcohol misuse: 770
Anxiety and depressive disorders: 32,160
Anxiety disorders - other/type not known: 2,600
Back pain: 6,760
Constipation: 20
Depressive disorder: 7,460
Elbow disorders - other/type not known: 50
Obesity: 800
OCD: 650
Phobia - social: 190
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis): 40
Allergy risk of anaphylaxis unknown or not fully assessed: 10
Failure to thrive: 10
Food intolerance: 20
It provides those who are physically or mentally unable to gain access to reliable transportation - which can reduce isolation and improve mental health, thus enabling them to engage more fully in society.
But there are claims that people are exploiting the system.
Some influencers have even been found to boast online about obtaining these vehicles for minimal costs, and even advising others on how to maximise their benefits.
Earlier this year, we reported on one balaclava-wearing influencer who gave viewers a step-by-step guide to obtaining PIP and Motability - and even suggested followers could take the government to court if turned down.
In one video, he shows viewers how to pick up an Abarth 695 Sport, usually worth £31,000, for 'basically free'.
He said: 'To get this car, all you have to do is pay £599.
"This car is an automatic with nearly 200 brake horsepower, and it does 0-60 in 6.5 seconds.
The Sun Says
Motability scheme has been corrupted beyond recognition by obvious scammers
CAN there be a greater example of how our welfare system has spiralled out of control than the grotesque monster that Motability has become?
For decades the scheme provided a lifeline for profoundly disabled people.
But since Covid, Motability has been allowed to mushroom into a massive industry way past its original remit.
A system designed to help the most vulnerable use their Government PIP payments has now warped into a £7billion company supplying one in five new cars in Britain. How?
Because thousands claiming to have issues such as anxiety have been allowed to sign up for luxury BMWs and Mercedes 4x4s.
Taxpayers are now even coughing up for people who say they are depressed to claim free driving lessons.
The Sun is NOT suggesting genuinely disabled people shouldn't be protected.
But Motability has been corrupted beyond recognition by hordes of obvious scammers.
Labour must ignore the hand-wringers, concentrate on the genuinely needy.
And end this insanity once and for all.
Hardly good news when debt has ballooned and billions for defence spending is urgently needed.
She's right to try to slash the burdensome red tape unnecessarily tying up businesses.
But here's a couple of bigger ideas for the Chancellor to add to her growth wish list:
Axe Ed Miliband's ruinous Net Zero targets.
And stop whacking taxes on families and business.
"Did I mention it has a full exhaust system, which absolutely sounds insane?'
And another user explained in a video how her four-year-old autistic daughter would be 'driven around in style' after replacing their Vauxhall Zafira with a new Skoda Kodiaq.
The family motor is typically worth £36,000, but can be picked up on Motability for just £3,299.
John O'Connell, at the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: 'The Government must look at the criteria before this situation gets worse.'
But Motability Operations said: 'To use the Motability Scheme, you must receive a higher rate mobility allowance.
'Eligibility for the allowance is determined and awarded by the Government.'
Another systemic issue flagged by critics is the three-year replacement cycle for vehicles provided through the scheme.
It's argued that this timeframe is unnecessarily short, given the durability and longevity of modern day motors, while replacing vehicles every three years escalates costs and raises concerns about wastefulness.
Labour peer John Mann questioned the necessity of such frequent replacements.
He said: 'Motability is making too much money. It needs tighter criteria. There needs to be a return of some of this money they have accrued to the exchequer.
'I also question why it is necessary for its customers to change to a new vehicle so regularly. Cars last a long time and the whole point of Motability must be to help people live a normal life. Three years per car is too short a time frame.'
While concerns around the scheme's overall financial management, eligibility criteria and misuse are certainly valid, the Motability scheme remains a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of Brits with genuine mobility challenges.
Many believe reforming the programme to address certain issues and prevent exploitation could ensure it continues to fulfil its mission - without compromising its vital role in supporting disabled individuals.