Minister for Disabled suggests MPs ask for Motability charity’s help if constituents lose car

Minister for the Disabled Sarah Newton has suggested MPs ask the Motability charity to help people keep their vehicles during a benefits appeal.

It came as MPs heard how a woman lost her life savings because the Department for Work and Pensions “screwed up”.

Labour former minister Yvette Cooper raised the case of a constituent who lost her Motability car after being told she was no longer entitled to it, and then spent “thousands of pounds” replacing it.

Speaking during Work and Pensions questions in the Commons, Ms Cooper said: “My constituent in Normanton lost her Motability because the DWP said she wasn’t entitled.

“They reversed that decision five weeks later, but in the meantime because she was isolated she was forced to spend thousands of pounds of her own savings on replacing that car so she wasn’t stuck.

“She’s been denied any help since – will the Minister look again at that case because frankly it is outrageous that she should lose all of her savings because the DWP screwed up?”

Minister Sarah Newton (pictured) said: “For everybody’s benefit, if any member has a constituent that’s facing losing their Motability car I suggest they call Motability.

“Motability are sitting on very, very considerable reserves.

“They are a charity and they are able to make discretionary payments to enable people to keep their cars while they are going through appeal.”

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