Teacher Warns Motability Mileage Changes Will Cost Her £3,000 Annually
A teacher who relies on a wheelchair has issued a stark warning that she faces being confined to her home due to upcoming changes to the Motability scheme. Kay Millar, 29, from Frome in Somerset, says she will be unable to continue working once mileage allowances are reduced and charges for excess miles skyrocket later this year.
Profound Impact on Independence and Employment
Kay Millar, who is also a keen athlete, says her ambitions to retrain as a play therapist are set to be derailed. She spoke out amid a mounting backlash against the changes, with the scheme's average user expected to pay an extra £400 from July. "The scary thing is we've fought for many years to get disabled people functioning in society and this decision is forcing people back into their homes," she told Talk to the Press.
"I will not be able to have a job or see my friends. Without a large car, I won't be able to get out of the house. If I do leave the house, it'll cause such significant pain, fatigue and discomfort that it's not going to be worth it," Kay added. "This change is not only going to force people out of driving but out of work and I believe people will lose their lives due to mental health."
Stricter Usage Rules and Financial Burden
Approximately 860,000 people across the UK lease new vehicles through Motability. Those receiving disability benefits can exchange portions of their payments for vehicles under the scheme. However, usage rules are set to become considerably stricter, with a 10,000-mile-per-year cap coming into effect on July 1.
Drivers who exceed 30,000 miles over a three-year lease period will be required to pay 25p for every additional mile. This follows the government's decision to impose fresh taxes on Motability leases, a move that scheme bosses claim has left them with no choice but to introduce the changes.
Kay currently drives a Vauxhall Grandland, spacious enough to accommodate her assistance dog, two wheelchairs, and a power attachment. She relies on the vehicle due to limb paralysis and a movement disorder that severely restrict her mobility. Two and a half years into her current lease, she has clocked up 42,000 miles, which would land her with an extra £3,000 bill under the new rules. Under the existing system, drivers can travel up to 60,000 miles before a 5p-per-mile charge applies.
Active Lifestyle and Career Ambitions at Risk
Kay explained that her lifestyle demands journeys of over two hours several times each week. "I lead a very active life," she continued. "I'm on the pathway to become a para-surfer and I'm a wheelchair basketball player. I go to Cardiff, Cornwall and Swansea to participate in sport. I teach across multiple counties with children who are out of mainstream education. I'm constantly driving between houses for work and I also have vulnerable family who can't get to me."
Her situation is further complicated by serious health problems, which have prevented her from teaching full-time. Kay said: "I had two heart attacks two and a half years ago, so I was forced to give up teaching full time and I'm now on a low income. There's no way that with the £380 enhanced rate I get from the DWP I could afford a non-Motability leased car, which would cost an estimated £506 a month and £205 a month for enhancements."
She also fears her ambitions for a career switch will be derailed by losing her vehicle. "I've got a place on a masters course that will take me to Newport but I'm considering that I might not be able to go," she said. "I am looking to retrain to become a play therapist because doctors have said I can't be a teacher anymore under any circumstances because of the physical workload."
Public Transport Not a Viable Alternative
Kay said public transport wasn't a realistic option for her. "I have been a disability campaigner for years and I've worked on the public transport system and I still don't have faith in it," she said. "It's just not safe for people." And she cautioned: "Anyone could become disabled at any time. This will impact the workforce, the amount of tax and national insurance that's paid."
Scheme Response and Exceptions Process
Scheme users will also face increased advance payments from July 1. Responding to Kay's remarks, a Motability spokesperson said: "In November, the UK Government announced new taxes for the Motability Scheme which would mean an average £1,100 increase to lease prices from July. We know how important a vehicle is for our customers to live independently, which is why we've made changes to new leases from July to reduce the increase to £400 on average."
"Existing leases are not affected. Changing the mileage allowance of future leases lowers insurance and maintenance costs and increases the vehicle's resale cost, which reduces the cost of a lease. Around three in four people who use the scheme travel within the mileage allowance from July. We understand that, in some circumstances, you may need to drive more than the mileage allowance included in your lease. We will be introducing an exceptions process for very limited situations and will share an update before July 1."
