The Department for Work and Pensions has broken its silence after a petition against changes to the Motability Scheme for Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance claimants gained 60,000 signatures.
Petition Sparks DWP Response
The petition, hosted on the Parliamentary website, warns the DWP and the Labour government that recent budget announcements taxing advanced payments and reducing mileage allowances are unfair to vulnerable individuals. It argues that many disabled people earn significantly less than the average wage, and increased costs could make it difficult to afford a car. The petition also highlights that disabled people often rely on cars for short journeys, where others might walk, causing mileage to accumulate quickly.
“While those living in big cities could potentially rely on public transport, public transport is often rare in rural areas, which may potentially take people’s independence away,” the petition states.
DWP's Official Response
In its response, the DWP said: “The Government and Motability have worked in partnership to develop reforms which strike the right balance between delivering a key service for disabled people and fairness to the taxpayer.” The department added that these reforms are expected to save over £1 billion by the financial year 2030/31 and will not affect eligibility for the Motability Scheme or disability benefits.
The DWP further explained: “In determining these changes, Motability have taken careful steps to ensure the Scheme remains good value and accessible for disabled people. This includes engaging with Scheme customers about prospective changes, the feedback from which has informed the changes.”
The petition remains open until 15 July 2026. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
