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BBC News NI business correspondent Patrick Fee reported on a disabled woman in Northern Ireland criticizing potential changes to the Motability scheme. This scheme enables people receiving certain disability benefits to lease vehicles such as cars, scooters, and powered wheelchairs at a reduced cost. However, there are concerns that taxpayers may be subsidizing premium cars instead of focusing on essential mobility. Farah Black, one of over 50,000 scheme users in Northern Ireland, emphasized how the scheme gave her the confidence to drive again.
After experiencing a serious injury and life-threatening sepsis that led to her leg amputation, Farah Black relied on a wheelchair for mobility. For 12 years, she did not drive, but the Motability scheme provided her with the financial support and confidence to get back behind the wheel. Opting for a luxury BMW, she took on the additional cost as an advance payment, a common practice for Motability users. However, a source within the treasury suggested that changes are being considered to address perceived “unfairness” within the scheme.
With about 50,000 luxury cars currently leased through the Motability scheme across the UK, potential changes could involve restrictions on vehicle types, removal of tax exemptions, and adjustments to eligibility criteria. Farah Black highlighted the importance of her car’s additional safety features and automation in facilitating her return to driving. She expressed confusion about how such changes would impact the Treasury, emphasizing the significance of choice for disabled individuals and the autonomy to drive what they desire.
Disability Action’s Ciaran Gorman, a driving instructor and medical assessor, underscored the importance of unadapted cars and non-disabled drivers within the Motability scheme. These elements are crucial for the scheme’s functionality, even though they may contribute to public misconceptions. Nuala Toman, Disability Action’s Head of Accessibility, urged the Government to reconsider its proposed alterations, asserting that such changes would disproportionately affect disabled individuals, pushing many deeper into poverty and isolation. She emphasized the vital role the Motability scheme plays in addressing challenges faced by disabled people regarding transportation and financial constraints
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