Guide to Personal independence payment
What is PIP? Who can claim PIP? How to claim PIP? What happens when you are given PIP? How to appeal a PIP decision? Other Useful Links What is PIP?
From Turn2Us:
“Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is money for people who have extra care needs or mobility needs (difficulty getting around) as a result of a disability.
There are two parts called components, the daily living component and the mobility component. You may qualify for one or both of them.
PIP is replacing Disability Living Allowance for people aged 16-64.”
From Gov.uk:
“If you’re aged 16 to 64 you could get between £22.65 and £145.35 a week by claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The amount you get depends on how your condition affects you, not the condition itself.”
https://www.gov.uk/pip Who can claim PIP?
From Gov.uk:
“You must be aged 16 to 64 and have a health condition or disability where you:
- have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months
- expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months (unless you’re terminally ill with less than 6 months to live)
You must have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years, and be in one of these countries when you apply. If you’ve recently returned from living in another EEA country, you might be able to get PIP sooner.
The process is different in Northern Ireland.
You can get PIP whether you’re working or not.
There are additional rules if you live abroad or if you’re not a British citizen.” How to claim PIP?
Details on how to claim PIP can be found here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/how-to-claim/
The claims process
There are 3 stages to your claim:
- Start your claim by calling the DWP
- Fill in the claim form they send you
- Go to a face-to-face assessment – most people have to do this (but you won’t if you’re terminally ill)
It can take up to 2 weeks for the DWP to send you a PIP claim form. While you wait, it’s a good idea to think about how you’ll fill in the claim form and if you need any supporting evidence.”
Citizens Advice resources for help with a PIP claim can be found here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/
Turn2Us also provide a useful step-by-step guide to submit a PIP claim:
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Your-Situation/Ill-Injured-or-Disabled/Claiming-Personal-Independence-Payment-(PIP)/Start-your-PIP-claim What happens when you are given PIP?
Information on PIP payments (either paid to you or paid to someone else) can be found here:
From Turn2Us:
“The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will make a decision on your PIP claim after the medical assessment has been completed.
The DWP’s decision about your PIP entitlement is based on the information in:
- Your claim form
- The documents you sent with your claim form
- The Health Professional’s notes from the medical assessment
On average, it takes the DWP 12 weeks from the date you started your claim to make a decision. Some claims take less time, some take more.
The DWP will send you a letter to tell you their decision. The letter confirms whether you will get PIP, which PIP components you get and which rate, and the amount of points you score in the PIP test.
If you disagree with the decision, you have one month from the date you received the letter to challenge it. You can only challenge the decision after one month if you have a good reason for challenging it late.
Your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will start being paid after you receive your decision letter. Your decision letter tells you whether you qualify for PIP and how much you will get.
PIP is usually paid every four weeks.
PIP is paid directly into your Bank, Building Society or Post Office account. If you don’t have an account, you can get your PIP by Simple Payment.
It is important that you tell the DWP if and when anything changes which might affect your entitlement to PIP. If your health is getting worse or better, the DWP may want to reassess you to check you are getting the right amount.
Your award of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) may be reviewed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) at any time, even if you have an award for a fixed amount of time. The DWP will usually start to review your claim one year before your award ends.”
Information on getting a decision can be found here: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Your-Situation/Ill-Injured-or-Disabled/Claiming-Personal-Independence-Payment-(PIP)/Getting-a-PIP-decision#guide-content How to appeal a PIP decision?
Citizens advice provides resources for PIP appeals:
Challenging a PIP decision – mandatory reconsideration
Challenging a PIP decision – appealing against the decision
Challenging a PIP decision – the tribunal hearing
How the DWP makes a decision on PIP claims
Useful guidance from Turn2Us on options for appealing a PIP decision:
Mandatory Reconsideration Request Letter Tool by Advice Now: https://www.advicenow.org.uk/pip-tool Other Useful Links
Citizens Advice website has an online chat service to speak with an adviser
Find an adviser tool: http://advicefinder.turn2us.org.uk
If not eligible for PIP, Citizens Advice online tool can be used to find out what benefits and extra help may be available: