A successful Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application could see claimants receive between £26.90 and £172.75 each week in additional financial support - paid weekly, this could amount to between £107.60 and £691.00 every payment period. As inflation soars and more people struggle with the cost of living, this could offer a much-needed boost for disabled people.
PIP is paid to people aged over 16 and under the state pension who need additional help with daily living tasks or getting around as a result of a long-term illness, disability or mental or physical health condition. Eligibility is determined by a functional assessment.
The claimant is assessed on how the condition or disability impacts the individual’s ability to undertake a range of key daily living and mobility activities. It takes into account any help they need, which may include the use of aids and appliances, the Daily Record reports.
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However, just because someone uses an aid or appliance, doesn't mean they will automatically apply for PIP. Similarly, an everyday object used by a non-disabled person, may be essential for someone claiming PIP or ADP.
Claimants are asked, in the PIP 2 evidence form, to describe how their condition affects their ability to complete various tasks. Their ability to carry out each activity is measured against a list of standard statements describing what they can or can't do - these are known as the descriptors.
The health professional conducting the assessment will advise the DWP which descriptions apply for each activity. For example, there are six descriptors for ‘Dressing and undressing’, ranging from ‘Can dress and undress unaided’ to ‘Cannot dress or undress at all’ - each descriptor carries a points score ranging from 0 to 12. This may seem complicated, but Citizens Advice have a full breakdown of the questions, descriptors and points on its website here.
Points can be awarded if an aid or appliance is needed to carry out a daily living or mobility activity. The aid or appliance might improve, provide or replace an impaired physical or mental function.
Examples include:
- White cane for visually impaired people
- Walking stick
- Wheelchair
- Modified cutlery
- Grab rails
If an aid or appliance is not normally used to help with an activity, it is only taken into account if it is reasonable to expect its use. This means there is no definitive list of aids or accessories which would automatically award someone the highest points.
DWP MInister for Disabled People Tom Pursglove MP explained: “The DWP does not hold a list of aids and appliances that are recognised for claimants of the Personal Independence Payment.
“Aids and appliances are devices which improve, provide, or replace, the claimant’s impaired physical or mental function.
“For the purpose of the PIP assessment, aids and appliances may be everyday objects, but whether they are considered as aids in any particular case, depends on how the claimant uses the object compared to how (if at all) it might typically be used by someone with no relevant impairment.
“Where the object would usually or normally be used in the same way by someone without any limitation in carrying out the relevant activity, it is unlikely to be considered an aid or appliance.”
PIP Points and Payments
Anyone who scores between 8 and 11 will be awarded the standard PIP rate; anyone who scored 12 or more will get the enhanced rate. You automatically qualify for the enhanced rate of the daily living component if you are terminally ill.
Daily living component
These are the weekly rates:
- Standard: £68.10
- Enhanced: £101.75
Mobility component
You will be awarded the standard rate if you score between eight and 11 points for your mobility needs. You will get the enhanced rate if you score 12 points or more.
There are the weekly rates:
- Standard: £26.90
- Enhanced: £71.00
Below is our quick overview of PIP and ADP, to help you understand more about the benefits and whether you, or someone you know, should make a claim.
Who is eligible for PIP or ADP?
To be eligible for PIP or ADP, you must 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
You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply.
In addition to what we have outlined above, if you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP or ADP.
- preparing, cooking or eating food
- managing your medication
- washing, bathing or using the toilet
- dressing and undressing
- engaging and communicating with other people
- reading and understanding written information
- making decisions about money
- planning a journey or following a route
- moving around
There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the GOV.UK website here.
DWP or Social Security Scotland will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they will look at:
- whether you can do it safely
- how long it takes you
- how often your condition affects this activity
- whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment
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