Moving from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

I’m new to the Scheme

Do I need to wait until I’ve been reassessed for PIP before I can join the Scheme?

If you're looking to join the Scheme for the first time and you’re thinking of trading in a car you own, we recommend you wait until your PIP reassessment is finished first.

If you’ve started being reassessed, you’ll need to wait until you've had confirmation you've been awarded PIP before you order a vehicle, even if you have 12 months or more left on your allowance.

If you're awarded PIP, just let us know. You’ll need 12 months or more left on your allowance to join the Scheme.

If you do not get PIP after reassessment

If your reassessment from DLA to PIP is not successful, you will not be able to lease a vehicle on the Motability Scheme anymore. We’ll help you return your vehicle and we’ll support you through this change.

You’ll have eight weeks from when your allowance payments end to return your car.

You will not need to make any lease payments after your last DLA payment, and you might be able to get a pro-rata refund for your Advance Payment, if you made one.

We’ll write to you with all the information you need, including the transitional support package.

If you're appealing a PIP reassessment and you're later awarded the higher rate mobility part of PIP, you might receive a backdated payment from the DWP. We’ll ask you to repay to us any outstanding lease payments for the time you still had a Scheme vehicle, if you want to re-join or stay on the Scheme.

How we’ll support you

If the DWP let us know you’re not eligible after reassessment, we’ll write to you about how to return your vehicle.

You’ll get a support package, as long as you return your car to the dealership in good condition and by the agreed date. Here’s what to expect.

If you joined the Scheme before 2013

If you return your vehicle within eight weeks*, you’ll get a transitional support payment of £2000.

Or you can choose to keep your vehicle for 26 weeks* and you’ll get a transitional support payment of £500.

If you joined the Scheme in 2013

If you return your vehicle within eight weeks*, you’ll get a transitional support payment of £1000.

Or you can choose to keep your vehicle for 26 weeks* and you’ll get a transitional support payment of £250.

If you joined the Scheme in 2014 or later

You can return your car with no further payments to make. We'll refund any Advance Payment on a pro-rata basis and you may be eligible for a pro-rata Good Condition Payment.

Have a scooter or powered wheelchair? See how the support package can help.

You’ll also get

• Financial support to fit the same adaptations to a non-Scheme vehicle, if you need these
• Our staying mobile guide, which includes advice on buying a used car, information on insurance, maintenance and other mobility solutions

• A full claims history letter and details for an insurance broker who might be able to give you can insurance quote. Call 0300 037 037 to ask for a copy of your letter, or you can do this in your Motability Scheme online account

We review this package regularly and we might make changes to it.

Find out more about PIP

Gov.uk

You can find more information about the DWP's plans for DLA and PIP on the Government's website.

If you live in the UK(opens in a new window)

If you live in Northern Ireland(opens in a new window)

Disability Rights UK

This is an independent charity. You can read its guide about claiming PIP and some factsheets.

Disability Rights UK(opens in a new window)