The UK government has clarified eligibility rules for the Motability scheme, following public concern over disability vehicle support granted for conditions such as food intolerance, alcohol misuse and OCD. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says entitlement is based on mobility impairment, not the condition itself.
A rise of over 139% in enhanced mobility recipients under Personal Independence Payment (PIP) since 2019 has prompted questions in Parliament and public debate about fairness, functionality, and fiscal oversight.
PIP Eligibility Based on Function, Not Diagnosis
The DWP has reiterated that qualification for the Motability scheme is determined by the impact a health condition has on a person’s mobility, rather than by the nature of the condition. Responding in the House of Lords, Minister of State Baroness Sherlock stated that PIP mobility support is assessed through a scoring system that considers how a claimant’s condition restricts their ability to get around.
To be eligible for a Motability vehicle, individuals must receive the enhanced mobility component of PIP, the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or specific armed forces-related benefits. The DWP does not apply automatic exclusions based on medical diagnoses, even if the conditions in question — such as acne, constipation, or alcohol misuse — might not traditionally be associated with physical disability.
Baroness Sherlock clarified that, “Disability benefits are awarded based on how conditions affect a claimant, a determination of their functional needs and not the condition itself,” according to BirminghamLive.
Sharp Increases in Claim Numbers Draw Criticism
According to the TaxPayers’ Alliance, the number of individuals receiving the enhanced mobility element of PIP in England has risen from 734,136 in January 2019 to 1,754,739 in April 2025. Specific conditions have seen particularly steep increases. For example, claims related to autism rose from 26,256 to 110,075; anxiety and depression matched that same increase; and fibromyalgia nearly tripled.
Some of the more unexpected figures include 5,817 people receiving enhanced mobility support for alcohol misuse, and 31 for food intolerance, compared to none recorded for those conditions in 2019.
The TaxPayers’ Alliance criticised these trends, with Chief Executive John O’Connell stating: “The benefits system is being significantly abused… Britain is in desperate need of a politician who has the courage to tackle this system head-on.”
Labour’s proposal to limit PIP eligibility based on stricter scoring was recently shelved amid backlash. Instead, a full review of PIP is now scheduled, with Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms confirming findings will be published in autumn 2026.
