In the UK, a whole raft of benefits is available for people suffering from illness and disability. One of them is the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This benefit is available to people who have difficulties with everyday tasks and moving about. This article discusses PIP in detail to ensure you are fully informed and can make a claim if your circumstances allow it.
What Is Personal Independence Payment (PIP)?
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit that people with a disability can claim to help them with the additional living costs they face. To make a claim, you must meet the following conditions:
- Have a long-term mental health or physical condition
- Find it challenging to do everyday things or move around due to your condition
A person is eligible for PIP regardless of whether they are in work, have savings, or receive other benefits.
How Personal Independence Payment Works
There are 2 different parts to Personal Independence Payment:
- The Daily Living Part. It is for people who need assistance with usual everyday tasks.
- The Mobility Part. For those who need help with moving around.
Whether you get one or both parts, as well as the amount you receive, depends on the extent of the difficulty in carrying out everyday tasks and how hard it is for them to move around.
People with less than one year to live will automatically receive the daily living section of the benefit.
The Daily Living Section
People may receive the daily living section of Personal Independence Payment if they require assistance with any of the following:
- Drinking, preparing, or eating food
- Bathing, washing, and going to the toilet
- Dressing up and undressing
- Reading and talking
- Taking medications and any other treatment
- Managing money and paying bills
- Associating with other people and socialising
Mobility Part
People may receive the mobility part of the Personal Independence Payment if they require assistance with the following:
- Figuring out a route and sticking to it (for example, how to safely walk from one part of the house to another)
- Moving around
- Leaving the home
Someone does not need to be physically disabled to receive the PIP’s mobility section. A mental health issue such as anxiety could be sufficient to receive it.
How the Assessment Is Made
An assessment is made to see how difficult it is for the person to carry out mobility and daily living tasks. An evaluation is conducted to check:
- If they can do the task safely within a given timeframe
- How often the difficulty occurs
- Whether help is required from another person or a certain equipment
Did you know that if the person has a carer, they could be eligible for Carer’s allowance? Check out our article to find out more.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Personal Independence Payment is replacing disability living allowance for most people. People will continue to receive the disability living allowance if they are less than 16 years of age, or they were born before 7th April 1948. For those who do not fall into this category, the DWP will invite them to apply for PIP.
Eligibility
A person can receive PIP if the following conditions apply to them:
- They are aged at least 16
- They have a long-term mental health or physical condition or disability
- They have difficulties carrying out regular everyday tasks or moving around
- The difficulties are expected to last for a minimum of 12 months from the starting date of the problem(s)
A person must be below the state pension age if they have not been awarded PIP before. Those who have reached state pension age can claim Attendance Allowance in place of PIP.
What If You Receive an Income or Other Benefits?
A person could be working and/or have savings and still receive Personal Independence Payment. It is possible to receive PIP while receiving other benefits, except for Armed Forces Independence Payment.
Those receiving Constant Attendance Allowance will get a lower daily living allowance. People who receive War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement will not obtain the mobility section of the Personal Independence Payment.
People Living Overseas
If you are a British citizen and live in the EU or EFTA (comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), you might be able to receive the daily living aspect of PIP. Additionally, if someone or their family member works in the armed forces, they may be eligible for PIP.
People Who Are Not British Citizens
To be eligible, you must not be under immigration controls, though those with humanitarian protection or refugee status may still be eligible. Others must show they usually live or intend to reside in the United Kingdom, Ireland, The Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man.
How Much Can You Receive?
The amount a person receives will depend on their difficulties with everyday activities and moving around. The chart below outlines what they could potentially receive:
| Lower rate per week | Higher rate per week | |
| Everyday Activities | £68.10 | £101.75 |
| Moving Around | £26.90 | £71.00 |
How much is PIP per week? Based on the assessment carried out, the payment rate is an amount between the higher and lower bands. The payment is made every 4 weeks, and it is tax-free.
PIP and Other Top-Up Benefits
A person may receive another benefit called the Disability Premium on top of PIP if they get any of the following benefits:
How To Apply?
If a person thinks they are eligible, they can apply by telephone or post. Using a telephone is quicker to process than by post.
Applying by Telephone
Here are the steps if you wish to apply by telephone:
- Telephone “PIP new claims” on 08009172222 to begin the claim
- You’ll be sent a form to complete
- Complete and send the form back
- An assessment may be carried out if deemed necessary
Applying by Post
Send a letter to the address below, and the claims authority will send a form asking for the individual’s personal information:
Personal Independence Payment New Claims
Post Handling Site B,
Wolverhampton,
West Midlands,
WV99 1AH.
Once this initial form is complete, another form is sent to the person asking about their condition.
What Information Is Required?
When calling, the person needs to have the following details at hand (they’ll also need these details if applying by post):
- Contact details, such as a phone number
- Date of birth
- NI number
- Bank details, including account number and sort code
- Details of your health worker or doctor, such as name, telephone number, and address
- Dates the person spent in a care home or hospital
- Dates they may have spent abroad for more than 4 weeks at a time
Following on from the Application
Following the application, the person is given the outcome. If the claim is approved, they’ll be told when the claim will come to an end and when it may be reviewed. If a person disagrees with any aspect of the decision, they could appeal by requesting a mandatory reconsideration.
Personal Independence Payment Is Here To Assist
For those people who have mobility issues or face difficulties carrying out tasks within the home, PIP payments are a welcome help. PIP can be received even if the person is receiving other benefits. Thus it ensures people in need receive as much help as possible.
