Almost three million people claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in England, a benefit paid to those whose lives are impacted by their disabilities or long-term health conditions.
The benefit - which is paid by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) - is worth between £24.25 and £156.90 per week currently and is not means tested. PIP is made up of 2 parts - called 'components', which look at an applicant's condition and how it affects their daily living and their mobility. Claimants are not charged tax on PIP and families where at least one member claims the benefit are not affected by the benefits cap.
The benefit is usually awarded for a fixed length of time and then is reviewed to determine whether the claim is still valid. If you're awarded PIP for a fixed time of more than 2 years, the DWP will usually review your award before it ends. If a claimant is awarded 'an indefinite award' this is usually reviewed every 10 years.
Read more: DWP PIP warning with thousands of benefit claimants having payments stopped
Campaigning website Benefits and Work has compiled a list of over 500 conditions arranged in order of how hard it is to get an award of PIP, using the DWP’s own Stat-Xplore database. However, the DWP has reiterated that PIP eligibility is based not on their condition, but on how that condition affects their daily life.
The list shows that the overall average success rate for PIP claims across all of the conditions is 52%, but this can vary greatly depending on the condition. The five conditions most likely to be awarded PIP are Creutzfeldt - Jacob disease (CJD) (100%), Down’s syndrome (99.6%), motor neurone disease (97.5%) and dementia (94.1%).
At the other end of the spectrum, only 11.6% of people with oral allergy syndrome were successful, with acne, some incontinence conditions, eczema, dyslexia and food intolerance all having a success rate of less than 25%
While awards for arthritis are above the average, claims relating to mental health vary widely, with 38.8% of anxiety disorder sufferers being awarded PIP, generalised anxiety disorder 42.7%, anxiety and depressive disorders 49.6%, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 58.2%, bipolar affective disorder 61.3% and schizophrenia 69.7%.
Other common conditions include:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 26.1%
- Coeliac disease: 27.2%
- Anaemia: 33.5%
- Gallstones: 34.3%
- Hearing loss 41.3%
- Whiplash: 42.9%
- Diabetes: 45.6%
- Asperger's syndrome: 51%
- Autism: 72.3%
- Cancer: At least 72.3%
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS): 78.9%
A spokesperson from Benefits and Work said: "On its own this doesn’t tell the whole tale. For example, it doesn’t tell us what percentage of claimants got the enhanced rate of one or both components."
People who applied for PIP and were not awarded it can challenge the decision by requesting a mandatory reconsideration in the first instance. The best way to apply is to use the CRMR1 mandatory reconsideration request form on GOV.UK, or write a letter to the DWP explaining why you disagree with the decision. Check the date on your decision letter as you need to ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month of that date.
If you've missed the 1 month deadline, it's still worth asking for a mandatory reconsideration, as long as it's within 13 months of the decision. You'll need to explain your reasons for being late - for example if being ill or dealing with difficult personal circumstances meant you couldn't apply in time. Use your form or letter to explain why your application is late, as well as why you disagree with their decision. The DWP can refuse your application if it's late, but as long as you applied within 13 months of the date on your decision letter you can still appeal their decision at a tribunal.
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