Hundreds of thousands of Britons receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will see a rise in their rates this month, in line with September’s 10.1 percent inflation rate. The benefit, distributed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), is targeted to help people who need extra help with daily tasks or getting around due to long-term illness, disabilities, or physical or mental health conditions.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the benefit payment rate uplift during his Autumn Statement last November, describing the move as part of the Government’s “commitment to protect the vulnerable” amid high-cost pressures.
There are two components to PIP; a daily living part for those who need help with everyday tasks, and a mobility part for those who need help moving around. Each comes with two rates; a standard rate and an enhanced rate.
Whether people get one or both parts and how much they get depends on how difficult they find individual tasks, and people can apply even if they’re working, have savings, or are already receiving other benefits.
The new standard and enhanced payment rates that have now come into effect are as follows:
Daily living tasks
- Standard rate – £68.10 a week (up from £61.85)
- Enhanced rate – £101.75 a week (up from £92.40).
Mobility tasks
- Standard rate – £26.90 a week (up from £24.45)
- Enhanced rate – £71 a week (up from £64.50).
The enhanced rate of the mobility component also gives people the option of getting a Motability vehicle instead of cash.
The changes mean those entitled to the full rate can now receive up to £172.75 a week, which translates to around £748.58 a month, up from £156.90.
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Common conditions that people claim PIP for include psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety, depressive and mood disorders, as well as musculoskeletal, neurological, or respiratory diseases, such as asthma and cystic fibrosis.
As per the Benefits and Work’s website, the decision about whether a person is entitled to the daily living component, and if so at what rate, is based on the number of points scored in total for the following activities:
- Preparing food
- Taking nutrition
- Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
- Washing and bathing
- Managing toilet needs or incontinence
- Dressing and undressing
- Communicating verbally
- Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
- Engaging with other people face-to-face
- Making budgeting decisions.
Each of these activities is divided into a number of point-scoring descriptors. To get an award for the daily living component, people need to score:
- Eight points for the standard rate
- 12 points for the enhanced rate.
The decision about whether a person is entitled to the mobility component, and if so at what rate, is based on the number of points they score in total for the following activities:
- Planning and following journeys
- Moving around outside the home.
Both of these activities are divided into a number of point-scoring descriptors and like the daily living component, people can get an award for the mobility component if they score:
- Eight points for the standard rate
- 12 points for the enhanced rate.
How to claim PIP
To be eligible for PIP, people must be aged 16 or over and the following must apply:
- They have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- They have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around
- They expect the difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started.
The easiest way to claim is to phone the PIP helpline. Claimants must then fill in a form, after which they’ll then undergo an assessment.
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