How to Get a Mobility Grant

What mobility grants actually means

If you are searching for a single pot of money called a mobility grant, you may be disappointed. Help with mobility equipment, wheelchairs and vehicles comes from several different sources: benefit-linked schemes, charitable grants, NHS services and council funding. Each has its own rules, and most require you to be receiving a qualifying disability benefit.

Knowing which route applies to your situation helps determine eligibility. Below is a practical breakdown of the main options available in 2026.

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The Motability Scheme and Motability Foundation grants

The Motability Scheme is a common route to a vehicle for disabled people, but it is a lease rather than a grant. You exchange a qualifying mobility allowance to lease a car, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle, powered wheelchair or scooter. The lease covers insurance, servicing, breakdown assistance and tyres. At the end of the agreement, the vehicle goes back.

The scheme is run by Motability Operations. To qualify, you need to receive one of the following with at least 12 months left on your award:

• Enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment
• Higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
• Enhanced rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment (Scotland)
• Higher rate mobility component of Child Disability Payment (Scotland)
• War Pensioners Mobility Supplement
• Armed Forces Independence Payment

Standard or lower rate mobility does not qualify. Neither do care or daily living components, Attendance Allowance or Carers Allowance. For current allowance information and scheme details, visit motability.co.uk.

The Motability Foundation is the charity that provides means-tested grants to help with costs the scheme does not cover: advance payments on certain vehicles, adaptations, driving lessons and transitional support. If you are on a low income and need extra help, you can apply through motabilityfoundation.org.uk.

In Scotland, people receiving Adult Disability Payment or Child Disability Payment access vehicle leasing through the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme, delivered by Motability Operations for Social Security Scotland customers. Details are at mygov.scot.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Wheelchairs, home adaptations and work support

NHS Wheelchair Services assess and provide manual and powered wheelchairs for people with a long-term mobility need. Since December 2019, eligible users have a right to a Personal Wheelchair Budget. This can be used within NHS services or put toward a chair from an outside supplier, sometimes with a personal top-up. Referral is usually through a GP, physiotherapist or occupational therapist.

For home adaptations such as ramps, stairlifts, grab rails and level-access showers, the Disabled Facilities Grant may help. This is a council grant available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is means-tested for adults but not for a disabled child under 18. Scotland has a separate council adaptations system. The DFG does not cover vehicles. Applications often take several months, so apply early. Full details are at gov.uk.

Access to Work is a Department for Work and Pensions grant for people in employment or about to start a job. It can fund equipment, workplace adaptations, support workers and help with travel to and from work when public transport is not an option. It does not fund a car for everyday personal use. The grant does not affect other benefits and does not need to be repaid. Apply through gov.uk.

Charitable and local help

Family Fund provides grants for families on a low income raising a disabled or seriously ill child. Grants can cover sensory equipment, technology, appliances, clothing and family breaks. For vehicle or adaptation needs, the charity typically signposts families to other sources. Check eligibility and apply at familyfund.org.uk.

Many local and condition-specific charities offer small equipment or mobility grants. These vary widely by area and health condition. Rather than relying on a single scheme, use a grants search tool such as Turn2us or the Disability Grants directory to find what may be available to you.

Before applying anywhere, check which disability benefits you receive and whether they include a mobility component at the required rate. That single detail often determines which doors are open to you.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Grant Eligibility Finder lets you tell us what you need funding for and we will match you with the types of UK grant most likely to accept your application. Try it now →