Thousands could be eligible for free driving lessons due to little-known benefits rule – check if you’re eligible
THOUSANDS of drivers could be eligible for free lessons due to a little-known benefits rule.
The Motability Foundation offers the help to disabled people through Driving Lessons Grants.
Drivers with a provisional licence on certain benefits can claim up to 40 hours of free driving lessons through the scheme.
The average cost of a one-hour driving lesson in the UK is between £25 and £30, according to the RAC.
That means the 40 free hours could save you up to a whopping £1,200.
Those with a full licence can get help towards the cost of familiarisation lessons through the Motability Foundation.
You might need familiarisation lessons if you have had a new feature installed in your car to help you drive.
You can only apply for a Driving Lesson Grant if you are signed up to the Motability Scheme – this lets you exchange a qualifying benefit allowance to lease a new car, wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV), scooter or powered wheelchair.
The qualifying benefits include the higher rate mobility part of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), higher rate mobility part of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and the Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP).
Bear in mind, a Driving Lessons Grant doesn’t cover the cost of your theory or practical tests.
These two tests typically cost £23 and £62 respectively, the RAC says, a combined £85.
Who’s eligible?
You have to be receiving certain benefits to qualify for a Driving Lessons Grant, including one of the following:
- Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP
- Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance
- Higher Rate Mobility Component of Child Disability Payment
- Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of the Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
- War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
PIP is for those under state pension age who need help with daily activities or getting around due to a long-term illness or disability.
DLA is a monthly benefit paid to disabled people at different rates depending on the level of support they need.
DLA is being replaced by PIP, so you can’t currently make a new claim for the benefit.
Child Disability Payment is a benefit paid to Scottish parents with disabled children. It is paid at two different rates.
The Adult Disability Payment is another Scottish benefit paid to those between 16 and state pension age and suffering from a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition, or terminal illness.
War Pensioners Mobility Supplement is a benefit paid to those who might have a disability caused by military service.
The Armed Forces Independence Payment offers payments to service personnel and veterans injured in active service since April 6, 2005.
You could also get a Driving Lessons Grant if you receive one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
- Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
And you also have to meet one of these three criteria:
- Have a current vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair lease agreement on the Motability Scheme or
- Have a pending application for a vehicle on the Motability Scheme, with a confirmed date to take delivery of the vehicle within the next four months or
- Need familiarisation lessons to drive a grant funded vehicle
An essential qualifying criteria, after receiving these benefits, is that you are signed up to the Motability Scheme.
You can sign up to this scheme on the Motability Foundation’s website.
If you are a Motability Scheme customer who is under 25, in full-time education and your parent(s) receive a means-tested benefit, you will be eligible for a Driving Lessons Grant.
But you’ll need a provisional drivers’ licence.
How to apply
You can apply for a Driving Lessons Grant by calling 0800 500 3186 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday and requesting an online form.
You will receive online login details to fill in the form which are valid for 30 days.
Three freebies and discounts for those on Universal Credit in May
THERE's a number of freebies and discounts you can get if you're on Universal Credit this May. Here are just a few:
Pregnancy grant – The Sure Start Maternity grant is a one-off payment worth £500 to help with the cost of having a child.
You’ll qualify if you’re already claiming benefits and expecting your first child, or if you have children already and are expecting twins or triplets.
New parents must claim the grant within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within six months after the baby is born.
To claim, you’ll need to print out and fill in the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form.
A health professional such as a doctor or midwife must also sign it before you post it – you can send it for free to: Freepost DWP SSMG.
Money for health costs – People on certain benefits and meeting specific criteria can get free NHS prescriptions.
You can use the Government’s eligibility checker tool on its website to find out what you might be in line for.
NHS prescriptions currently cost £9.90 in the UK, so, based on one prescription per month, that’s a £118.80 saving over the year.
You might also get help covering prescriptions, dental and eye care costs through the NHS Low Income scheme.
You can even get free wigs and help covering the cost of travel, if it’s to health appointments.
How much you’ll be entitled to depends on financial factors including your outgoings and the amount of savings you have in the bank.
The NHS has outlined more information on how to go about claiming on its website.
Help to Save – Help to Save is a scheme available to those on Universal Credit and offers a 50% bonus on any savings you make.
You can add up to £50 into a Help to Save account every month for up to four years.
So, if you added the maximum amount each month for 48 months, you would end up with a £1,200 bonus.
But you can still get some of the bonus even by saving a small amount – check out how it works here.
Make sure you’ve got your National Insurance number to hand before calling.
Once you have submitted your application it will be allocated to a case manager and it can then take up to 10 weeks for a decision on the grant.
Grants are awarded on a case-by-case basis so you aren’t guaranteed to receive one.
There’s a whole host of other freebies you can get if you claim benefits, including cost of living payments and energy grants.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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