Category: Funding and grants

Quick answer: In the United States, Medicare Part B is the main public payer for mobility scooters (which Medicare calls power-operated vehicles) and power wheelchairs, but only when a doctor documents a medical need for the device inside your home and a Medicare-enrolled supplier provides it. You then pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible. Medicaid, the VA, state assistive technology programmes and the federal medical expense deduction can also help. Rules checked on official pages in September 2026; Medicaid details vary by state.

Every US funding route at a glance

Scheme	Who it is for	What it can cover	How to apply
Medicare Part B	People with Medicare who meet the in-home mobility criteria	Scooters and wheelchairs as durable medical equipment; you pay 20% after the deductible	Face-to-face exam and written order from your treating provider, then a Medicare-enrolled DME supplier
Medicare Advantage plans	People enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or other Medicare health plan	Equipment covered by the plan, with plan-specific costs and suppliers	Contact your plan
Medicaid	People eligible for their state’s Medicaid programme	Medical equipment and appliances as part of home health services; state lists and processes differ	Through your state Medicaid agency and your provider
VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service	Veterans enrolled in VA health care with a provider referral	Durable medical equipment and mobility aids	Referral from your VA provider to your local PSAS office
State Assistive Technology Act programmes	Residents of each state or territory	Device loans, reused equipment and, in many states, financial loans	Contact your state programme
IRS medical expense deduction	Taxpayers who itemise deductions	Wheelchair costs, plus operating and maintenance costs, above 7.5% of adjusted gross income	Schedule A (Form 1040)

Medicare Part B: the main route

Medicare.gov says Part B covers wheelchairs and power-operated vehicles (scooters) as durable medical equipment (DME) if you are eligible. Medicare defines DME as equipment that is durable, used for a medical reason, typically only useful to someone who is sick or injured, used in your home, and expected to last at least three years.

The in-home rule

This is the rule that decides most scooter claims. The Medicare fact sheet on wheelchairs and scooters says the doctor treating your condition must submit a written order stating that you have a medical need for a wheelchair or scooter for use in your home. You must also meet all of these conditions:

• You have a health condition that causes significant difficulty moving around in your home.
• You are unable to do activities of daily living (such as bathing, dressing, getting in or out of a bed or chair, or using the bathroom) even with the help of a cane, crutch or walker.
• You are able to safely operate, and get on and off, the wheelchair or scooter, or you have someone with you who is always available to help.
• Both your treating doctor and the DME supplier accept Medicare.
• Your doctor or supplier has visited your home and verified that you can use the equipment there (for example, that it is not too big to fit through your doorways).

In practice this means a scooter wanted only for trips outside, such as shopping or visiting friends, is unlikely to be covered by Medicare. If you mainly need outdoor mobility, the other routes in this guide are more likely to help.

Scooter or power wheelchair?

The same fact sheet explains which device Medicare expects. If you cannot use a cane or walker safely but have enough upper body strength (or help), a manual wheelchair may be the answer. If you cannot use a cane or walker or operate a manual wheelchair, you may qualify for a scooter, but you must be able to get in and out of it safely and be strong enough to sit up and operate the controls. If you cannot use a manual wheelchair in your home, or do not qualify for a scooter, you may qualify for a power wheelchair.

The steps

1. Face-to-face visit. CMS says a practitioner must carry out an in-person or telehealth visit within the six months before ordering the device, evaluating your mobility limits and ability to carry out daily activities.
2. Written order. The practitioner gives the supplier a standard written order, which is the prescription for the power mobility device.
3. Prior authorisation. CMS says power mobility devices require approval before delivery, and a Medicare Administrative Contractor reviews the request. Your supplier normally sends it for you. A request can be denied if Medicare finds you do not medically need the device or does not get enough information.
4. Home assessment. Either the practitioner or the supplier must carry out an on-site home assessment before or during delivery, checking layout, doorways, thresholds and surfaces.

What you pay

After the Part B deductible you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, as long as the supplier accepts assignment. Medicare.gov lists the 2026 Part B deductible as $283 a year and the standard 2026 Part B premium as $202.90 a month (higher for some incomes). If a supplier does not participate or will not accept assignment, you may be charged more, and for rented equipment you should check that the supplier accepts assignment for every rental month. Depending on the item, Medicare may rent it, buy it, or let you choose, and some rented items become yours after a set number of payments.

If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, the fact sheet says to contact your plan about costs and which suppliers you can use.

Medicaid: state-run, but with federal rules

Medicaid is run by each state, so what it pays for and how you apply varies. Federal regulations still set a floor. Under 42 CFR 440.70, home health services include medical supplies, equipment and appliances suitable for use in any setting in which normal life activities take place. The same rule says:

• State coverage of equipment is not restricted to the items Medicare covers as DME.
• States may keep a list of pre-approved equipment but cannot have absolute exclusions, and must have a process for requesting items that are not on the list.
• If a request is denied, the state must tell you about your right to a fair hearing.
• For medical equipment, a face-to-face encounter related to the reason you need it must take place no more than six months before services start.

Because the “normal life activities” wording is broader than Medicare’s in-home test, Medicaid can sometimes help where Medicare will not. Ask your state Medicaid agency or your managed care plan how to request a mobility device, and keep copies of every assessment.

Veterans: the VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service

The VA provides equipment through its Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS). A VA medical centre’s PSAS page says veterans enrolled in VA health care and referred by a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician can receive a full range of services and durable medical equipment, including mobility aids such as walkers and wheelchairs. A current consult is needed to book, so start with your VA primary care provider. The page we checked does not list scooters by name, so ask PSAS directly whether a scooter or a power chair suits your assessed need.

State assistive technology programmes

Every state and territory has a programme funded under the federal Assistive Technology Act, listed by the AT3 Center. The directory lists, state by state, contacts for device loan, device demonstration, device reutilisation (reused equipment) and financial loan programmes. A short-term loan lets you try a scooter before you buy, and reutilisation programmes can supply refurbished equipment at low or no cost. Financial loan programmes, where offered, can spread the cost.

Tax: the medical expense deduction

IRS Publication 502 (for 2025 returns) says you can include in medical expenses the amounts you pay for a wheelchair used for the relief of sickness or disability, and that the cost of operating and maintaining it is also a medical expense. You can only deduct the part of your total medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, and only if you itemise on Schedule A. Publication 502 does not list scooters separately, so ask a tax professional whether your device counts before you claim.

Tips before you apply

• Ask your doctor to describe what you cannot do inside your home, because Medicare’s test is about home use.
• Use a supplier that is enrolled in Medicare and accepts assignment.
• Do not buy before approval: prior authorisation is needed before delivery.
• If Medicare says no, ask Medicaid, the VA or your state AT programme before paying in full.

Sources

• Wheelchairs and scooters coverage (medicare.gov)
• Durable medical equipment (DME) coverage (medicare.gov)
• Medicare Coverage of Wheelchairs and Scooters fact sheet, publication 11046 (medicare.gov)
• Medicare costs 2026 (medicare.gov)
• Power Mobility Devices (cms.gov)
• 42 CFR 440.70 Home health services (law.cornell.edu)
• Mandatory and optional Medicaid benefits (medicaid.gov)
• Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service, VA Tennessee Valley health care (va.gov)
• Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (prosthetics.va.gov)
• State AT Act programs directory (at3center.net)
• Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses (irs.gov)

Quick answer: In the UK the biggest route to a funded mobility scooter or powered wheelchair is the Motability Scheme, which is open only if you get a qualifying mobility allowance (such as the enhanced rate mobility part of PIP) with at least 12 months left on the award. The NHS does not generally provide scooters, but it can provide wheelchairs, including powered ones, after an assessment. If you are disabled you should not be charged VAT on a qualifying product, Access to Work can help if you need support because of your job, and charity grants can fill gaps. Everything below was checked on official pages in September 2026.

Every UK funding route at a glance

Scheme	Who it is for	What it can cover	How to apply
Motability Scheme	People getting a qualifying mobility allowance with at least 12 months left	Lease of a scooter or powered wheelchair, with insurance, servicing and breakdown cover included	Choose a model and order through a Motability Scheme dealer
VAT relief for disabled people	People with a qualifying disability or long-term illness buying for their own personal or domestic use	No VAT on qualifying products, plus installation, repairs, maintenance, spare parts and accessories	Confirm your eligibility in writing to the supplier (they may give you a form)
NHS wheelchair service	People referred and assessed by their local wheelchair service	Wheelchairs, including powered chairs, where clinically eligible; a personal wheelchair budget in England. Scooters are not generally available	Referral from a GP, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or hospital staff; self-referral in some areas
Council needs assessment	Adults in England and Wales who need care and support	Disability equipment and home adaptations (what is offered is decided locally)	Ask your local council for a needs assessment
Access to Work	People aged 16 or over in paid work (or starting within 12 weeks) in England, Scotland or Wales	Grants towards specialist equipment, travel to work if you cannot use public transport, and vehicle adaptations	Check eligibility, then apply through GOV.UK or call 0800 121 7479
Access to Work (NI)	Disabled people in or starting work in Northern Ireland	Special aids and equipment, and help getting to and from work	Contact the Department for Communities or a work coach
Motability Foundation grants	Mainly Motability Scheme customers, plus some Access to Work users	Means-tested help with scheme costs, and reimbursement of the Access to Work Social and Domestic Contribution	Apply to the Motability Foundation
Charity grants (Turn2us Grants Search)	Anyone struggling to afford essentials	Grants from over 1,700 UK organisations, depending on your circumstances	Use the free Turn2us Grants Search

The Motability Scheme: the main route for most people

The Motability Scheme lets you use your qualifying mobility allowance to lease a new car, wheelchair accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair. For many scooter users it is the only route that covers the whole cost of the equipment plus running it.

Which allowances qualify

According to the Motability Scheme’s eligibility page and GOV.UK, you can apply if you receive one of these:

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

You need at least 12 months left on the allowance when you apply. If you have less than that, the scheme says you will need to wait until your allowance provider renews the award. People aged 65 or over can apply as long as they already receive a qualifying allowance with 12 months left.

What does not qualify

The scheme is clear that you cannot join if you get a lower rate or component of a mobility allowance, or if you get Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance. This catches out many older people: Attendance Allowance on its own does not open the door to a Motability scooter.

How much the allowance is worth

GOV.UK shows the higher weekly rate of the PIP mobility part as £80 (the lower rate is £30.30). PIP is not affected by income or savings. With the Motability Scheme, payments are taken straight from your allowance provider, and the scheme warns that you might need to top this up with an Advance Payment on some models.

What the scooter or powerchair package includes

Motability says the scooter and powered wheelchair package includes insurance, servicing and breakdown cover, and that a scooter or powered wheelchair is delivered to your home. Two limits are worth knowing before you choose:

• You can only have one lease at a time, so you cannot lease a car and a scooter together.
• You cannot buy the vehicle at the end of the lease.

Armed forces and war pension routes

AFIP is paid to service personnel and veterans injured on or after 6 April 2005 who have an Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Guaranteed Income Payment in Band A to C. GOV.UK says it is paid at the same rate as the combined enhanced daily living and mobility parts of PIP, and Veterans UK issues the claim form automatically to people who qualify. AFIP cannot be paid at the same time as PIP, DLA or WPMS.

VAT relief: pay no VAT on a qualifying scooter

GOV.UK says that if you are disabled or have a long-term illness, you will not be charged VAT on products designed or adapted for your own personal or domestic use. The relief also covers installation, repairs and maintenance, and spare parts or accessories. Wheelchairs are listed as an example of a qualifying product, and GOV.UK says your supplier can tell you whether a particular product qualifies.

For VAT purposes you count as disabled if you have a physical or mental impairment that affects your ability to carry out everyday activities, a condition treated as a chronic sickness, or a terminal illness. You do not qualify if you are elderly but not disabled, or only temporarily disabled. You confirm this in writing, often on a form from the supplier. Our separate guide to VAT exemption on mobility scooters goes into the detail.

The NHS: wheelchairs yes, scooters usually not

The NHS guide to walking aids, wheelchairs and mobility scooters (last reviewed 8 April 2026) says plainly that mobility scooters are not generally available on the NHS. It puts scooter prices at £500 to more than £5,000 and points people towards charity help and the Motability Scheme instead.

Wheelchairs are different. To get an NHS wheelchair, a GP, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or hospital staff member refers you to your local wheelchair service for an assessment, and in some areas you can refer yourself. The service decides whether you need a wheelchair and what type.

In England you may also be offered a personal wheelchair budget. NHS England says that since 2 December 2019 people who use wheelchair services, and whose posture and mobility needs affect their wider health and social care needs, have a legal right to one when they need a new chair. It can be used towards a different wheelchair from the one the NHS would supply. It is a wheelchair budget, so do not expect it to pay for a scooter.

Your council: equipment and adaptations

In England and Wales you can ask social services for a needs assessment. GOV.UK says services can include disability equipment and adaptations to your home. Councils decide what they provide, so a scooter is not guaranteed, but an assessment can still help with the things a scooter user needs, such as a ramp or safe storage. The site’s guide to Disabled Facilities Grants covers larger home adaptations.

Access to Work: if you need a scooter because of your job

Access to Work is a government grant for people whose disability or health condition means they need support to do their job or get to and from work. To qualify you must be 16 or over, in paid work or about to start within 12 weeks, and live and work in England, Scotland or Wales. Self-employed people need an annual turnover of at least £6,500.

GOV.UK lists specialist equipment, the cost of travelling to work if you cannot use public transport, and vehicle adaptations among the things a grant can help pay for. A grant does not affect other benefits and does not have to be paid back. It will not pay for reasonable adjustments, which your employer must make by law. Whether a scooter is funded is decided on your individual needs, so explain exactly how it helps you work or travel to work. The helpline is 0800 121 7479.

Northern Ireland runs its own version. nidirect says Access to Work (NI) can help with special aids and equipment, and with support if practical help is needed at work or getting to and from work. Apply through the Department for Communities or a work coach.

Motability Foundation grants

The Motability Foundation (the charity behind the scheme) runs a small number of means-tested grants. Most help Motability Scheme customers with costs such as advance payments on cars and wheelchair accessible vehicles. Two others matter to scooter users:

• An Access to Work grant, which reimburses the Social and Domestic Contribution people pay to use Access to Work equipment outside work.
• Transitional Support, for customers who leave the scheme after losing their qualifying benefit following a DLA to PIP reassessment.

Charity grants

If you are buying a scooter yourself, charity grants are worth a search. Turn2us runs a free Grants Search that it says connects people with over 1,700 UK organisations offering grants. Many are tied to an occupation, area or condition, so fill in the details carefully. The NHS page also points to a charity list published by the Better Mobility website.

Things that are changing

• PIP review: the government’s Timms Review of PIP published an interim report on 9 July 2026 and a co-chair update on 9 September 2026. The interim report says the steering group will present recommendations to the Secretary of State in the autumn. Any change to PIP could affect Motability eligibility, so check GOV.UK before relying on the current rules.
• Motability prices: the scheme’s website said it would publish updated prices for the new quarter on 1 October 2026.
• Benefit rates: the PIP figures above are the rates shown on GOV.UK in September 2026 and are reviewed each year.

Which route should you try first?

1. If you get a qualifying mobility allowance with 12 months left, look at the Motability Scheme first.
2. If you need a chair rather than a scooter, ask your GP or therapist to refer you to the NHS wheelchair service.
3. If you are working, ask Access to Work about equipment and travel.
4. If you are buying privately, claim VAT relief and search for charity grants before you pay.

Sources

• Am I eligible to join the Scheme? (motability.co.uk)
• How the Motability Scheme works (motability.co.uk)
• Financial help if you’re disabled: vehicles and transport (gov.uk)
• Financial help if you’re disabled: VAT relief for disabled people (gov.uk)
• Personal Independence Payment: how much you’ll get (gov.uk)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) (gov.uk)
• Walking aids, wheelchairs and mobility scooters (nhs.uk)
• Personal wheelchair budgets (england.nhs.uk)
• Apply for a needs assessment by social services (gov.uk)
• Access to Work: what Access to Work is and eligibility (gov.uk)
• Access to Work (NI): practical help at work (nidirect.gov.uk)
• Individual grants (motabilityfoundation.org.uk)
• Apply for grants: Turn2us Grants Search (turn2us.org.uk)
• Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment: interim report, and co-chair update September 2026 (gov.uk)

Quick answer: In Ireland the main public route to a funded mobility aid is the HSE: if an occupational therapist or physiotherapist prescribes an aid and you hold a medical card, a Health Amendment Act card, or are on the Long Term Illness Scheme, you can get it free. If you buy a scooter yourself, you may be able to reclaim the VAT from Revenue and claim tax relief on medical appliances at 20%. Housing grants help with ramps and home changes, not the scooter itself. Checked on official pages in September 2026.

Every Irish funding route at a glance

Scheme	Who it is for	What it can cover	How to apply
HSE aids and appliances	Medical card holders, Health Amendment Act card holders and people on the Long Term Illness Scheme	Aids and appliances prescribed after assessment, free of charge	Apply to your local primary care centre for an occupational therapist, or be referred by a GP, public health nurse or hospital
VAT refund on aids and appliances	The person who bought a qualifying aid for someone with a disability	Refund of VAT paid on aids specially constructed or adapted for the person, including parts and accessories	Revenue myAccount (eRepayments) or Form VAT 61A, within four years
Health expenses tax relief	Taxpayers who pay for healthcare	Tax relief at 20% on buying, maintaining and repairing medical appliances	myAccount (PAYE) or Form 11 (self-assessed), within four years
Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability	Households meeting the means test (income up to €75,000)	Up to €40,000 towards adapting your home, such as ramps	Apply to your local authority
Mobility Aids Grant Scheme	Households with income under €37,500	Up to €8,000 for works such as ramps, grab rails and an accessible shower	Apply to your local authority
Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme	Primary Medical Certificate holders	Tax reliefs on adapted cars, plus a fuel grant (not scooters)	Revenue myAccount after getting a Primary Medical Certificate

The HSE: free aids with a medical card

For most people in Ireland, the first stop is an occupational therapist (OT). Citizens Information explains that an OT assesses your ability to do daily tasks such as dressing, eating and bathing, and checks your home to decide what aids and appliances you need, for example a wheelchair, chair lift or downstairs bathroom. An OT can provide aids and appliances from the HSE.

Citizens Information says that if you are prescribed aids and appliances, you can get them free if you have a medical card, a Health Amendment Act card or are on the Long Term Illness Scheme. The Irish Wheelchair Association adds that medical mobility aids are usually free to medical card holders once an OT or physiotherapist has assessed you and recommended the equipment, and that the assessment process and what is provided may vary in different parts of the country.

How to get assessed

• Apply to your local primary care centre for an occupational therapist, or ask for a referral from a public health nurse, your GP, a physiotherapist, a speech and language therapist or a hospital.
• Expect a waiting list: Citizens Information says applications are prioritised according to local need.
• If you cannot wait, the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland keeps a directory of OTs in private practice, but a private assessment does not by itself entitle you to HSE equipment.

Will the HSE give you a scooter?

We could not find a current HSE page that says whether mobility scooters are routinely supplied. The HSE’s own aids and appliances pages had moved when we checked. What the official and charity sources do show is that provision follows an OT or physiotherapist assessment of your needs, so ask your therapist directly whether a scooter, a powered wheelchair or another aid is the right prescription for you.

VAT refund on aids and appliances

If you pay for a scooter yourself, check whether you can reclaim the VAT. Revenue says you may reclaim VAT paid on certain aids and appliances for use by people with disabilities. To qualify, goods must be aids and appliances (including parts and accessories) specially constructed or adapted for use by the disabled person, or goods that might be treated that way given the nature of the disability. They must be used to help with essential daily tasks or in the exercise of a vocation.

What to send

• Evidence of the disability from a medical practitioner.
• Invoices or receipts marked paid in full, showing a description of the goods, the cost before VAT, the VAT paid and rate, the total, and the supplier’s VAT number.
• Evidence of any grant or other State aid towards the cost.
• Evidence from a medical practitioner of how the item meets the person’s needs, or from the manufacturer showing how it is specially constructed for people with disabilities.

Claim through eRepayments in myAccount, or on paper using Form VAT 61A, within four years of the end of the VAT period. The claim must be in the name of the person who bought the goods. Services and rental costs do not qualify.

Tax relief on health expenses

Revenue lists the cost of purchasing, maintaining and repairing medical, surgical, dental or nursing appliances among the health expenses you can claim if prescribed, referred or advised by a practitioner. Revenue’s Tax and Duty Manual on health expenses says the cost of a wheelchair or wheelchair lift for a person with a disability, on the advice of a medical practitioner, is allowable. Citizens Information says relief is given at the standard rate of 20%, and you must claim within four years of the year you paid. Scooters are not named in the manual, so keep your practitioner’s advice in writing and check with Revenue before you rely on the relief.

Housing grants: for the home, not the scooter

Two local authority grants help make a home work for a scooter or wheelchair user. Neither pays for the scooter itself.

Mobility Aids Grant Scheme

Since 1 December 2024 the maximum grant is €8,000 and it may cover 100% of the cost of works. It is for households with an income of less than €37,500 a year. Works covered include grab rails, an accessible shower, ramps, a stair-lift and a fixed track hoist, plus other minor work your local authority thinks necessary. The grant does not cover VAT on the work, but Citizens Information says you can apply to Revenue for a VAT refund on the appliances you need.

Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability

This means-tested grant pays up to €40,000 or 100% of the cost, whichever is less, for works such as ramps. If your household income is under €37,500 you may get 100% of the cost; the percentage falls as income rises, and households with a gross income over €75,000 do not qualify. Your OT can give you an assessment report to support the application.

The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme

This Revenue scheme gives tax reliefs on specially constructed or adapted cars, and a fuel grant of up to 2,730 litres a year, to people with a Primary Medical Certificate (applied for through your Local Health Office). It is about cars, not scooters, but it matters if you plan to carry a scooter in an adapted vehicle. Citizens Information notes that the Department of Transport will review this scheme and develop a new vehicle adaptation scheme under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025 to 2030, and that the older Motorised Transport Grant has been closed to new applicants since 2013.

A sensible order to try

1. Check whether you have, or could get, a medical card or the Long Term Illness Scheme.
2. Ask for an OT assessment through your primary care centre.
3. If you buy privately, keep every receipt and claim the VAT refund and health expenses relief.
4. Use the housing grants for ramps and access so the scooter can be stored and charged safely.

Sources

• Occupational therapy services (citizensinformation.ie)
• Am I entitled to mobility aids and appliances free of charge? (iwa.ie)
• How to reclaim VAT on aids and appliances for persons with disabilities (revenue.ie)
• What are qualifying health expenses? (revenue.ie)
• Tax and Duty Manual Part 15-01-12, Health Expenses (revenue.ie)
• Tax relief on medical expenses (citizensinformation.ie)
• Mobility Aids Grant Scheme (citizensinformation.ie)
• Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (citizensinformation.ie)
• Tax relief for drivers and passengers with disabilities (citizensinformation.ie)
• Motorised Transport Grant (citizensinformation.ie)

Quick answer: In Canada, help with a mobility scooter or power wheelchair comes mostly from your province or territory, and the rules differ sharply. Ontario’s Assistive Devices Program pays 75% of the approved price of a power scooter, Quebec lends eligible people a four-wheel scooter at no charge, while Alberta’s AADL programme funds power wheelchairs but lists scooters as not funded. Veterans Affairs Canada, the federal medical expense tax credit and the GST/HST zero rate can add to this. Checked on official pages in September 2026; always confirm with your own province.

Every Canadian funding route at a glance

Scheme	Who it is for	What it can cover	How to apply
Ontario Assistive Devices Program (ADP)	Ontario residents with a valid health card and a disability needing a mobility aid for 6 months or longer	75% of the ADP price of manual and power wheelchairs and power scooters; 100% for some social assistance recipients	Assessment by an ADP-registered occupational therapist or physiotherapist, then an ADP-registered vendor
Quebec mobility scooter programme	Quebec residents with a significant, persistent inability to walk	Loan of a four-wheel scooter (three-wheel in exceptional cases), with no fees or deductibles	Contact your territorial health and social services establishment
RAMQ devices for a physical deficiency	Quebec health insurance card holders with a physical impairment	Wheelchairs and other locomotor assists; three- and four-wheel scooters are excluded	Through an authorised public rehabilitation facility
Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL)	Albertans with a long-term disability, chronic or terminal illness	Manual and power wheelchairs; scooters are listed as not funded	Clinical assessment by an AADL authoriser
BC Employment and Assistance medical equipment	People on income assistance or disability assistance in British Columbia	Scooters if medically essential: up to $3,500 (conventional) or $4,500 (bariatric)	Prescription plus an OT or physiotherapist assessment, through the ministry
Veterans Affairs Canada (POC 13)	Eligible veterans and other qualified people	One power mobility item (electric wheelchair or scooter) for daily living needs	Contact Veterans Affairs Canada
Medical expense tax credit	Canadian taxpayers	Scooters and wheelchairs are eligible medical expenses	Claim on your tax return
GST/HST zero rate	Buyers of qualifying devices	No GST/HST on aids to locomotion specially designed for people with a disability	Applied by the supplier at sale

Ontario: the Assistive Devices Program

Ontario’s ADP is the most generous scooter route in the country. To qualify you must live in Ontario, have a valid Ontario health card, and have a disability that requires a mobility aid for six months or longer. Ontario says it does not consider your income.

The programme covers manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs and power scooters, along with power add-ons, positioning devices, forearm crutches and wheeled walkers. It does not cover all-terrain vehicles, most equipment rental, transport chairs, wheelchair lifts or wheelchair ramps.

How much it pays

The ADP-registered business bills the ADP directly for 75% of the cost and you pay the remaining 25%. The ADP sets the price a registered business can charge, and the business cannot charge you more than that price for the approved device. Extras that are not covered, such as batteries for power wheelchairs, are yours to pay. The ADP covers 100% if you get Ontario Works, the Ontario Disability Support Program or Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities.

How to apply

1. Get assessed by an occupational therapist or physiotherapist registered with the ADP (you can email [email protected] for a list).
2. Fill in the application form with the therapist.
3. Choose an ADP-registered business, which submits the form electronically.
4. Wait for a decision: Ontario aims to review applications within 8 weeks.

Do not buy first. Ontario warns that if you order or buy before these steps are complete, you pay the full cost. You cannot get ADP help for the same aid if you already qualify through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, or as a Group “A” veteran through Veterans Affairs Canada.

Quebec: a loaned scooter, not RAMQ

Quebec splits scooters from wheelchairs. The RAMQ programme for devices that compensate for a physical deficiency pays for wheelchairs and other locomotor assists, obtained through an authorised public rehabilitation facility, but it lists three-wheel and four-wheel scooters as not covered and says they are handled by other government programmes.

That other programme is Quebec’s mobility scooter programme. It gives eligible people access to a loaner four-wheel scooter, or a three-wheel scooter in exceptional cases. To be eligible you must live in Quebec and either have a motor impairment causing a persistent and significant inability to walk less than 30 metres plus significant difficulty using a manual wheelchair over less than 150 metres, or a severe inability to walk about 30 metres because of a severe respiratory or cardiovascular impairment. You must also live at home or in a family-type residence and have a safe, accessible place to store the scooter.

There are no fees or deductibles. You must insure the scooter yourself and return it when you no longer use it. You are not eligible if you already have the same help from another programme or private insurer, or another government-provided mobility aid such as a wheelchair. To enrol, contact your territorial establishment with a certificate completed by a doctor or specialised nurse practitioner.

Alberta: power wheelchairs yes, scooters no

Alberta Aids to Daily Living funds basic medical equipment for Albertans with a long-term disability, chronic illness or terminal illness. Its list of benefits includes manual and power wheelchairs, walkers and wheelchair accessories. However, the AADL programme manual section on power wheelchair benefits includes scooters in its list of items that are not funded. If you need powered mobility in Alberta, talk to your authoriser about whether a power wheelchair fits your needs.

AADL is a cost-share programme: most clients pay 25% of the benefit cost up to a maximum of $500 per family per benefit year (1 July to 30 June). Low-income Albertans may be exempt. Alberta’s current income thresholds for exemption are $20,970 for a single person, $33,240 for a family with no children and $39,250 for a family with children, based on line 26000 of your latest tax return. People on programmes such as AISH should contact AADL about exemption.

British Columbia: help if you are on assistance

BC’s Ministry of Social Development funds medical equipment, including scooters, for people receiving income assistance or disability assistance. The ministry must be satisfied the scooter is medically essential to achieve or maintain basic mobility. The total cost of a conventional scooter and accessories must not exceed $3,500, or $4,500 for a bariatric scooter where a therapist confirms the need. An occupational therapist or physiotherapist must also confirm that you are unlikely to need a wheelchair in the five years after the assessment. Scooters mainly for recreation or sport are excluded, and all other available resources must be considered first. BC residents who are not on assistance should ask their health authority or occupational therapist what else is available locally.

Other provinces and territories

Every province and territory sets its own rules. Ask your family doctor or a community occupational therapist which provincial programme applies, whether scooters are included, and whether you must be assessed before buying. Buying first can cost you the funding.

Veterans Affairs Canada

VAC’s Program of Choice 13 policy covers equipment for eligible veterans. It says power mobility devices, meaning an electric wheelchair or scooter, are authorised mainly for activities of daily living, to compensate for loss of ability to walk, not as a replacement for vehicle transport. Only one power mobility item is approved per person, and you, a caregiver or another responsible person must be able to store and look after it. VAC pays the usual and customary cost of the approved item, and extra features are your responsibility. Equipment VAC buys becomes your property. Contact VAC to find out whether your coverage applies.

March of Dimes Canada

March of Dimes Canada runs Ontario’s Home and Vehicle Modification Program, which funds items such as modular ramps, stairlifts, door widening and repairs to eligible battery-operated equipment approved through the programme. It is useful for making a home work with a scooter, but it is not a scooter purchase fund, and it will not reimburse costs incurred before authorisation. We could not find a current March of Dimes page for its former assistive devices programme, so check with the charity directly.

Tax help

Medical expense tax credit

The Canada Revenue Agency’s list of eligible medical expenses includes scooters and wheelchairs, with no prescription needed for either. A power-operated chair is listed as eligible with a prescription. You claim the amount above the lower of 3% of net income or the fixed dollar threshold on the CRA page ($2,834 when checked).

GST/HST

CRA GST/HST Memorandum 4.2 says a supply of a chair, walker or similar aid to locomotion, including motive power and wheel assemblies, that is specially designed for use by an individual with a disability is zero-rated. Ask your supplier to confirm the tax treatment of your model. Provincial sales tax rules are separate.

Sources

• Mobility aids, Assistive Devices Program (ontario.ca)
• Mobility scooter program (quebec.ca)
• Devices that compensate for a physical deficiency (ramq.gouv.qc.ca)
• AADL benefits covered, and cost sharing of benefits (alberta.ca)
• Alberta Aids to Daily Living Program Manual Section WP, Power Wheelchair Benefits (ab.bluecross.ca)
• BCEA Policy and Procedure Manual: Medical Equipment and Devices (gov.bc.ca)
• Treatment Benefits Program of Choice 13 policy (veterans.gc.ca)
• HVMP: What We Fund (marchofdimes.ca)
• Lines 33099 and 33199: eligible medical expenses (canada.ca)
• GST/HST Memorandum 4.2, Medical and Assistive Devices (canada.ca)

Quick answer: In Australia, who pays for a mobility scooter depends mainly on your age and situation. NDIS participants can have assistive technology funded when it is related to their disability. Older Australians use the Support at Home program, whose Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme offers up to $15,000 at the high tier. People outside both can turn to state schemes such as EnableNSW or Victoria’s programme run by SWEP, and veterans can use DVA’s Rehabilitation Appliances Program. Checked on official pages in September 2026; state rules differ, so confirm locally.

Every Australian funding route at a glance

Scheme	Who it is for	What it can cover	How to apply
NDIS assistive technology	NDIS participants	Assistive technology directly related to your disability, if reasonable and necessary	Through your NDIS plan; advice from an assistive technology advisor for items over $1,500
Support at Home: AT-HM scheme	Older people approved through an aged care assessment	Assistive technology and home modifications: tiers of up to $500, $2,000 or $15,000	Aged care assessment through My Aged Care (1800 200 422)
EnableNSW	NSW residents enrolled with Medicare who are not eligible under NDIS, DVA or aged care for the same need	Loaned mobility equipment including scooters, with an annual co-payment	Prescription by an eligible occupational therapist or physiotherapist
Victorian Aids and Equipment Program (SWEP)	Permanent Victorian residents with a long-term health or ageing need, not funded elsewhere	Subsidised equipment including scooters; there may be a gap to pay	Application by a SWEP-registered practitioner
Queensland MASS	Queensland residents with a permanent or stable condition who hold an eligible concession card	Daily living and mobility aids, subject to clinical criteria	Application by a MASS-approved prescriber
DVA Rehabilitation Appliances Program	Veteran Gold Card holders with a clinically assessed need; White Card holders for accepted conditions	Electric scooters and wheelchairs, plus repairs outside warranty	Your GP or specialist starts the request on DVA forms
GST-free medical aids	Anyone buying a qualifying aid	No GST on listed aids specially designed for people with an illness or disability	Applied by the supplier at sale

NDIS: if you are a participant

The NDIS says it funds assistive technology that is directly related to your disability, helps you work towards your goals, is something its rules allow it to fund, and is supported by evidence. It will not fund items that are not related to your disability or that are more appropriately funded by another government service.

Cost level matters. You may be comfortable buying a low-risk item under $1,500 yourself. For assistive technology over $1,500 you need advice from an assistive technology advisor, and high-cost items also need a quote. The NDIS generally funds the standard level of equipment you need and will fund the most cost-effective option if a cheaper item achieves the same outcome. A recommendation from a health professional does not guarantee funding, so evidence from a trial of the scooter helps.

Support at Home: the aged care route

The Australian Government’s Support at Home program is the home care programme for older people, and My Aged Care explains how it works from 1 November 2025. Within it, the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme pays for equipment to help you move around, such as wheelchairs and walking frames, and for home changes such as ramps and handrails.

Funding tiers

My Aged Care sets out three tiers, each normally available for 12 months:

• Low: up to $500
• Medium: up to $2,000
• High: up to $15,000, with higher amounts for assistive technology possible with evidence

People with specific progressive conditions may be able to access assistive technology funding over 24 months, extendable to a total of 48 months if needed. AT-HM funding is upfront and separate from your other Support at Home services, so you do not have to wait for other funding before using it.

Are scooters on the list?

What you can buy is set by the AT-HM List (last updated 17 July 2026). It does not use the words “mobility scooter”. It lists powered wheelchairs, including electrically powered wheelchairs with manual direct steering, in the “Prescribed (recommended)” category, and it excludes unpowered scooters. Ask your Support at Home provider to confirm whether the model you want fits the list before anything is ordered. My Aged Care says you can buy, rent or loan assistive technology, and your provider can arrange an assessment by an occupational therapist for prescribed items.

How to get it

You need an aged care assessment. If the assessor approves you for AT-HM, it is recorded in your Notice of Decision letter and support plan. Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or apply online.

NSW: EnableNSW

EnableNSW lends assistive technology to NSW residents who are enrolled with Medicare, need the equipment to support a health need, and are not receiving or eligible for it through third party insurance, the NDIS, DVA, Australian Government aged care services or compensation.

Its seated mobility funding criteria list scooters. You must meet all of the criteria, which include needing the scooter to complete community-based daily activities, being able to walk but not the expected distances in a reasonable time, being able to transfer on and off independently, having secure, undercover storage and charging at home, and understanding that a scooter is not a substitute for a car or public transport for trips over 5km return.

Co-payments depend on your income band. People on a full pension, and people with a taxable income up to $42,000 (single) or $70,000 (couple) plus $2,100 per dependant, pay $100 in each financial year they receive services. People above those limits pay 20% of equipment costing $800 and above and cannot get equipment under $800.

Victoria: the Victorian Aids and Equipment Program

Victoria’s programme is run by the State-wide Equipment Program (SWEP), part of Grampians Health. You must be a permanent Victorian resident (or hold certain visas) and need assistive technology long term for a health or ageing need. You are not eligible if you get equipment through the NDIS, WorkCover, the TAC or DVA, can claim it through private health insurance, or live in government-funded residential aged care.

The Victorian health department says people on Home Care level 3 or 4 packages, or Support at Home classifications 4 to 8, can still apply to the programme for power wheelchairs, scooters and home modifications. SWEP is subsidy based, so there may be a gap between the subsidy and the price, and it will not reimburse a purchase made before an order is placed. Call SWEP on 1300 747 937.

Queensland: MASS

Queensland’s Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme covers daily living and mobility aids for permanent Queensland residents with a permanent or stable condition who hold a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card, a Health Care Card, a DVA Pensioner Concession Card (conditions apply) or a Queensland Seniors Card, and who meet the clinical criteria for the aid. A MASS-approved prescriber assesses you and applies. Queensland Health is currently reviewing MASS, so check the latest guidelines.

Other states and territories

South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory run their own equipment schemes with their own eligibility rules. Ask an occupational therapist or your local health service which applies to you.

Veterans: DVA Rehabilitation Appliances Program

DVA supplies electric scooters, which it defines as four-wheeled electrically powered devices for people with impaired outdoor mobility. You are eligible if you hold a Veteran Gold Card and have a clinically assessed need because of a condition affecting your mobility, or hold a Veteran White Card and the need arises from an accepted war-caused or service-related condition. War widows, widowers and dependants are not eligible for a scooter.

Your GP or specialist starts the request on form D9300. If DVA agrees, you are referred to an occupational therapist, who assesses you on form D1325, may arrange a trial and makes a final recommendation on form D9379. DVA does not supply pull-apart or folding scooters, and it pays for repairs and parts not covered by warranty.

GST

The Australian Taxation Office says a medical aid or appliance is GST-free if it is listed in schedule 3 to the GST Act or the GST regulations, is specifically designed for people with an illness or disability, and is not widely used by people without one. Ask your supplier whether your model qualifies.

Time-sensitive points

• Support at Home has applied since 1 November 2025, and the health department has flagged changes to personal care contribution arrangements from 1 October 2026.
• The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) has been extended to 30 June 2029.
• Queensland’s MASS is under review.

Sources

• Guide to assistive technology (ndis.gov.au)
• Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme (myagedcare.gov.au)
• Assistive Technology and Home Modifications list, last updated 17 July 2026 (health.gov.au)
• Support at Home program (health.gov.au)
• Eligibility and financial criteria (enable.health.nsw.gov.au)
• EnableNSW Seated Mobility Funding Criteria (enable.health.nsw.gov.au)
• Victorian Aids and Equipment Program (health.vic.gov.au)
• SWEP Consumers (swep.bhs.org.au)
• Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme, and Can I apply? (health.qld.gov.au)
• Electric scooters and wheelchairs, Rehabilitation Appliances Program (dva.gov.au)
• Medical aids and appliances, GST (ato.gov.au)