Lee's mini guide to Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has been in the news so I thought I’d put together a short guide.
PIP is such an important benefit - a real financial lifeline - for adults aged 16 or over with disabilities and health issues, which affects daily living and / or mobility needs.
PIP is actually non-means tested - so you can claim PIP if you work, have savings or if you receive means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit.
If you live in Scotland, instead of claiming PIP, new claimants would apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) instead.?
I think one of the big things to understand about PIP is that it’s about having a long-term condition, with difficulties expected to last for at least 12 months.
PIP can be claimed because of any type of disability or health condition including physical, psychological, neurological or sensory disabilities.?
For most claimants it is ALL ABOUT how your disability or health issue affects you.
You can get PIP more quickly if you have 12 months or less to live.
For claims that aren’t covered by the rules on terminal illness you need to go through quite a rigorous claiming and assessment process.
Most PIP recipients kick start their claim on the telephone, but there’s also a slower postal option.
Depending where you live you might also be able to claim and do everything online.
If you apply by phone or post you’ll get a form called ‘how your disability affects you’ within two weeks.
However you claim, it’s vitally important to explain to DWP how your disabilities or health issues affect your daily living and getting around needs.?
I always recommend that PIP claimants learn about the eligibility rules BEFORE they claim and explain to DWP how their disability or health condition affects them.?
Citizens Advice have a guidance page on filling out the form
DWP use specific eligibility criteria to decide if you’re entitled and the department will invite you to an assessment if more information is needed.
The assessment can be in person, over the phone or by video call.
Citizens advice also have a great guide about preparing for an assessment
There’s also a PIP assessment help sheet
PIP components, rates and points scoring system
Now for the technical information.?
This is where a lot of people get confused or caught up with the complicated nature of PIP.?
PIP is made up of 2 parts, the daily living component and the mobility component.?
Each component can be paid at one of 2 rates, either the standard rate or the enhanced rate.
To get the daily living component of PIP, you must have a physical or mental condition that limits your ability to carry out some or all of these activities:
- preparing food?
- eating and drinking?
- managing your treatment
- washing and bathing?
- managing toilet needs or incontinence?
- dressing and undressing?
- communicating verbally
- reading and understanding written information?
- mixing with other
- making decisions about money ?
To get the mobility component of PIP, you must have a physical or mental condition that limits your ability to carry out some or all of these activities:
- planning and following journeys
- moving around
The next thing I’m going to explain is like gold dust for people claiming PIP. It can be the difference between a successful claim or DWP turning you down.?
A lot of people don’t realise the DWP use a points scoring system as part of the assessment process.
The activities used in the PIP assessment have ‘descriptors’ which all carry their own scores.
Here’s a table of all the scores.?
There’s also a guide to the language / terms used by DWP.
If you get between 8 and 11 points in total, you’ll get the daily living component of PIP at the standard rate.
If you get at least 12 points in total, you’ll get the daily living component at the enhanced rate.
If you get between 8 and 11 points in total, you’ll get the mobility component of PIP at the standard rate.
If you get at least 12 points in total, you’ll get the mobility component at the enhanced rate.
The DWP will add together your points from all the daily living and mobility activities.
If you’re successful, these are the current rates;?
Daily living?
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Standard Rate ￡72.65 per week
Enhanced rate ￡108.55 per week?
Mobility?
Standard rate ￡28.70 per week?
Enhanced rate ￡75.75 per week?
Get a benefit check if PIP is awarded
If you’re awarded PIP (or ADP in Scotland) it’s always worth getting a benefit entitlement check done with a welfare benefit expert to check what other benefits or additional support you or your family might be entitled to.?
This is best practice for any disability or carers benefit, including Child Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Carers Allowance.?
If you’ve got disabilities or health issues, benefits like PIP, ADP, Attendance Allowance, Child DLA and Carers Allowance can make a real difference.?
If you’re not sure about what to claim, or you need some support, reach out to a specialist welfare benefits advice service that can help you.
Where to seek advice
Good advice options include Citizens Advice, you can ask for a referral to IncomeMax from one of our partners, check with your council or housing association to see if they have a welfare benefits advice service in your area, and there are also some great charities like Scope, Gingerbread, the British Gas Energy Trust, MacMillan Cancer, Support, Carers UK, Royal British Legion, Age UK and Carers UK that might be able to help.
PIP changes Government consultation
I know the Government are thinking about overhauling PIP, but that’s only at the ideas stage.
Nothing has changed YET.?
So don’t worry if you’re already getting PIP.
If you think you might be eligible, seek advice and make a claim as soon as possible.?
Extra help
Getting PIP can make a world of difference to disabled individuals. I’ve seen first hand the impact that extra money can make.?
PIP is there to help you live independently and provide you with the financial support you need to cover the extra costs of disability and health issues.
Once you get PIP you should check out what other help you could get.
If you receive one of the legacy benefits such as:
- Housing Benefit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance?
Then check to see if any extra premiums need to be added.
It’s the same if you get Pension Credit. Extra premiums may be payable.?
If you get Universal Credit, you should look into the Limited Capability for Work and Limited Capability for Work Related Activity additions.?
Getting benefits like PIP, ADP, Child DLA or Attendance Allowance might mean that someone can claim Carer’s Allowance for caring for you but ALWAYS SEEK ADVICE as the claiming of Carer’s Allowance can affect the severe disability premium on some means-tested benefits.
You should also check out:
- Council tax discounts?
- Disabled Person’s Railcard - up to a third off most rail fare
- Blue Badge in England and Wales
- vehicle tax discount of 50% if you get the standard PIP mobility rate
- vehicle tax discount of 100% if you get the enhanced PIP mobility rate
You may also qualify for free local bus travel in England and Wales, so contact your local council to find out more
You may also be able to use the motability scheme if you get the enhanced PIP mobility rate.
Other things to think about and look into include;?
- exemption from the benefit cap
- help from your energy supplier?
- extra support from your water company
- amending housing benefit and universal credit non-dependent deductions?
- Universal Credit carer’s element?
- Charitable Grants?
- extra support available from your local council?
- Broadband social tariffs?
This isn’t an exhaustive list of extra help.?
For example if you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, look into regional support that might be available.?
Challenging decisions
Last but not least, there are processes for challenging PIP decisions.?
Citizens Advice have a great guide to challenging decisions using mandatory reconsiderations
… and the appeal tribunal process
Deadlines exist for challenging decisions.?
Do not delay if DWP turn you down and you think that decision is incorrect.
There’s also a process if you think your situation has changed. ALWAYS SEEK ADVICE if you are thinking about applying to change your rates of PIP.?