A SCHEME allowing benefit claimants to swap payments for new cars has been used by hundreds with drink issues.
Figures show 770 people with alcohol-related problems lease cars from the Motability charity.
Another 220 have drug misuse issues.
Claimants must receive an enhanced rate for significant mobility difficulties in their disability benefit to qualify for the state-funded scheme.
Motability came under fire recently as it emerged people online boasted of gaming the system to get new cars “basically free”.
John O’Connell, at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will rightly question how alcohol misuse qualifies someone for a brand new car on the Motability scheme.
“With nearly 6,000 people receiving enhanced PIP for alcohol dependency, it’s clear the system is in urgent need of reform.
“The government must take a hard look at the criteria and amend it before this situation gets worse.”
Motability said: “Anyone with an unspent drink-driving conviction cannot drive our vehicles.”
Motability has grown rapidly since Covid and now buys every one in five new cars sold in the UK.
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