MILLIONS of people on benefits can still purchase top-of-the-range BMWs and Ford Mustangs worth £50,000 despite Labour’s latest welfare cuts.
The controversial £2.8billion Motability scheme will not be affected by Labour’s upcoming reforms.
The shadow work and pensions secretary said the Motability benefits are ‘out of hand’[/caption]
Carer Collette Udall was able to get £21,000 in handouts[/caption]
Linda Hoey obtained seven cars by fibbing about her arthritis[/caption]
Sceptics have slammed the decision as “out of hand” as a wide range of eligible candidates could claim cash towards a new car.
Pushback comes as a series of benefit fraud cases have been spotted, with claimants exaggerating illnesses in order to qualify.
In one shocking case, mum Linda Hoey overstated the severity of her arthritis to get hold of seven cars on the scheme.
Another boasted on TikTok that they were “driving in style” after using taxpayer money to pick up a £37,000 Skoda Karoq, £30,000 Nissan Qashqai and £29,000 Kia Sportage.
John O’Connell, the TPA’s chief executive, said it was “beyond doubt that honest taxpayers are being taken for a ride by those who have worked out how to game the system”.
The benefit offers financial aid to individuals suffering from a range of conditions including mental health issues like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and anxiety.
While the government announced it is making changes to personal independent payments (PIP) this will not impact the vehicle support scheme.
Anyone claiming the enhanced level of “mobility” PIP, which tots up to £3,939, can be used to purchase a car worth up to 12 times the amount of the benefit itself.
This means cars that retail for up to £54,000 can be snapped up by the scheme.
Those who qualify could be driving a brand new BMW i4, BMW iX1 SUV, a Ford Mustang Mach-E, a£33,000 Audi Q3 and £32,000 Mercedes A-class.
Since 2016, the number of people claiming the Mobility benefits has shot up, with those eligible with ADHD increasing from 2,348 people to 35,115 – roughly 1,400 per cent.
With the number of those claiming the scheme increasing, concerns are rising over fraudsters taking advantage of the handouts.
Carer Colette Udall was able to get hold of £21,000 as well as a Motability car after claiming she was bedbound.
However, she was caught on video taking out the bins at a care home where she was working and was ordered to pay it all back Minshull Street Crown Court.
The shadow work and pensions secretary, Helen Whately said: “The Motability scheme is a textbook example of a well-intentioned idea that has got way out of hand.
“It is symptomatic of the country’s spiralling welfare costs which Labour are failing to grasp.
“This week the Government had an opportunity to step up on welfare, but they failed. Their announcement fell short on savings but has left disabled people terrified.“
A spokesman for Motability Operations said the Department for Work and Pensions was responsible for checking who was receiving benefits.
They said: “To use the Motability scheme, someone must receive one of a number of Government-funded higher rate mobility benefits which are defined in legislation.
“The Motability scheme gives 815,000 disabled people the freedom to get to work, school, and medical appointments – helping them live independently and play an active role in society. The scheme isn’t just life-changing for individuals – it also boosts the UK economy.”
The Sun has reached out to Motability Operations and DWP for a comment.
Cars that retail for up to £54,000 can be snapped up by the scheme[/caption]
