The Department worked closely with Motability to design an extensive £175 million Transitional Support Package for those who are no longer eligible for the Motability scheme following reassessment from DLA to PIP.

Motability allow eligible claimants who joined the Scheme before 2014 to opt to extend their lease for 26 weeks after the DLA payments end (or until a decision on their appeal is heard) and receive a smaller lump sum payment.

For those who are appealing their decision following reassessment, Motability have confirmed in a letter to the Work and Pensions Select Committee that “if a customer has opted for the 26-week retention period and Motability is satisfied that they are actively progressing an appeal, a discretionary extension to the handback period can be granted.”

Those joining the scheme after 2014 and who subsequently lose eligibility for their Motability vehicle will receive a £1000 stopped allowance support payment from Motability.

The Department worked closely with Motability to design an extensive £175 million Transitional Support Package for those who are no longer eligible for the Motability scheme following reassessment from DLA to PIP.

Motability allow eligible claimants to retain their vehicle for up to eight-weeks after DLA payment end and offer £2,000 for those who joined before 2013, or £1,000 for those joining during 2013; or, instead claimants may opt to extend their lease for 26 weeks after the DLA payments end (or until a decision on their appeal is heard) and receive a smaller lump sum payment: £500 for those who joined before 2013, or £250 for those who joined during 2013.

For those who are appealing their decision following reassessment, Motability have confirmed in a letter to the Work and Pensions Select Committee that “if a customer has opted for the 26-week retention period and Motability is satisfied that they are actively progressing an appeal, a discretionary extension to the handback period can be granted.”

The two respective parts of this question are being interpreted as referring to cases in the Garston and Halewood constituency, since April 2013, where individuals experienced the following sequence of events:

a) The number of individuals in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), and specifically using this for the Motability Scheme, that then underwent a Reassessment from DLA to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) where their PIP initial decision did not award them the enhanced rate mobility component, which therefore meant they were no longer eligible for the Motability Scheme.

b) The number of individuals from Part A that subsequently proceeded to lodge an appeal against the initial decision made at their Reassessment, and upon completing the appeal they saw the decision overturned where the post-appeal PIP award specifically included the enhanced rate mobility component, thus seeing them once again entitled to the Motability Scheme.

Information on the number of these cases could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Motability allow eligible claimants who joined the Scheme before 2014 to opt to extend their lease for 26 weeks after the DLA payments end (or until a decision on their appeal is heard) and receive a smaller lump sum payment.

The NHS are responsible for considering costs relating to travel for hospital appointments under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. This is for people in receipt of a qualifying benefit or who have a low income.

Officials for the Department for Work and Pensions meet regularly with Motability, the charity. Senior officials attend the quarterly Board of Governors meetings and at a working level, officials have regular discussions regarding the Motability Scheme. These discussions cover a range of areas of interest for both the Department and Motability. However, while the Department works closely with Motability, it is an independent charity that is responsible for the oversight of the Scheme. Legislation currently only allows claimants in receipt of the higher rate of DLA or the enhanced rate of PIP mobility component to be direct transferred to Motability and therefore join the Scheme.

The table below shows the number and proportion of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants who were in receipt of the DLA mobility component and whom on reassessment to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) received (a) a reduced mobility element or (b) a zero mobility element at the first DWP decision. Figures are prior to any mandatory reconsideration, appeal or award review.

Notes:

• Data excludes claimants who did not previously receive a mobility component on DLA.
• PIP mobility award shows the mobility award at the first DWP decision on each reassessment claim (i.e. they reflect outcomes prior to any reconsideration, appeal action and award review), where that decision was made between 8^th April 2013 and 31^st October 2018.
• “Mobility stopped” includes claims disallowed prior to assessment, claims disallowed post-assessment and claims withdrawn by the claimant as well as claimants who were awarded PIP Daily Living but received no PIP Mobility award component.
• Figures exclude rising 16s and claimants who did not respond to the invitation. Rising 16s are claimants who reach 16 years of age and so cease to be eligible for DLA but may be eligible for PIP.
• Figures include reassessment outcomes for individuals who were aged between 16 and 64 on 8^th April 2013, and include both PIP Normal Rules and Special Rules for the Terminally Ill claims.
• Totals have been rounded to the nearest 10 and may not sum due to rounding.
• Percentages are calculated using actual figures rather than rounded figures and have been rounded to the nearest 1%.
• This is unpublished data. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.