MILLIONS of people can get free driving lessons if they’re on benefits.
Financial help for learning to drive is available to those with disabilities, long-term illnesses, and who struggle to move around.
For learners to qualify for the help they must be already receiving one of a number of benefits.
One benefit that people receive which could see learner drivers also get a grant is the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
PIP is for those over 16 and under the state pension age, currently 66, who have a a long-term illness, disability or mental health condition.
PIP beneficiaries learning to drive may be able to apply for 40 hours of driving lessons through a charity named Motability.
The Motability charity offers grants to disabled people through the Driving Lessons Grant Programme.
Learners must have a current lease agreement on the Motability Scheme or a pending application for a vehicle with the scheme featuring a confirmed delivery date for the vehicle within the next four months.
The Motability website says: “All grant applications are means-tested to ensure Motability supports those most in need of a charitable grant and help as many beneficiaries as possible with the charitable funds available.
“This means we will look at your financial situation to determine if we are able to provide a grant towards your lessons.”
The average learner needs between 45 and 47 hours of lessons to get to be test ready, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
An average driving lesson is £26, meaning a grant could save you more than £1,000.
But any beneficiary will have to pay for the theory and practical tests.
As well, if you already have a driving licence but need to change to an adapted vehicle, the scheme can help provide familiarisation lessons.
The lessons focus on people learning how to operate an adapted vehicle under the supervision of a trained instructor.
Family Fund, another charity, also doles out a grant to help learner drivers with mobility issues called the Driving Ambitions grant.
There are also funding options for driving lessons if you work as a carer from organisations like Carers Trust.
This comes as an astonishing 80 per cent of drivers confessed they would fail their test if they retook it today.
Recently, a learner driver failed their driving test for stopping at a red light due to little known road law that could catch anyone out.
In contrast, another failed for not stopping at a green light.
HOUSEHOLDS suffering from a long-term illness, disability or mental health condition can get extra help through personal independence payments (PIP).
PIP is for those over 16 and under the state pension age, currently 66.
Bear in mind, the state pension age is currently set to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046.
You also must have lived in England or Wales for at least two out of the last three years, and be in one of these countries when you apply.
Residents in Northern Ireland have to go through a different process, and there are additional rules if you live abroad or you’re not a British citizen.
In Scotland you will need to apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) instead.
Crucially, you must also have a health condition or disability where you either have had difficulties with daily living or getting around – or both- for three months, and you expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months (unless you’re terminally ill with less than 12 months to live).
Difficulties with daily living can include:
You can claim PIP at the same time as other benefits, except the armed forces independence payment.
If you receive constant attendance allowance you will receive less of the daily living part of PIP.
If you get war pensioners‘ mobility supplement you will not get the mobility part of PIP.
You can make a new PIP claim by calling the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 0800 917 2222.
There are also other ways to claim if you find it difficult to use a telephone. See Gov.UK for more information.
When you claim, you’ll need:
Someone else can call on your behalf, but you’ll need to be with them when they call.
You’ll then be sent a form to fill in, after which you’ll be invited for an assessment or your health or social care worker will be asked for information.
