The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is facing an increasing number of applications for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) as 3.5 million people are unable to work due to ill health or disability. With applications increasing over the past year, many new claimants are facing waits of around three months before they can start receiving PIP.
The number of working-age adults who are too ill to work or have become too disabled to work has risen dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic and amid record waits for primary and planned NHS care. This means more people need financial help to meet the extra costs related to their illness.
However, with waits of up to 12 weeks to be assessed and a success rate of just 40 per cent, it can be very costly to get to the end of the process and have your application rejected. So it’s important to know the five common obstacles that trip people up in the application process.
READ MORE: DWP could make a ‘£1.6bn’ tax windfall if a group returns to work
However, if the delay in receiving your first PIP payment is causing you stress, it is important to remember that the DWP will backdate your first payment to the date you originally applied. This system could also change, as Labour’s manifesto states: “work capability assessment is not working and needs to be reformed or replaced.”
Top 5 Things to Know About PIP Before Filing a Claim
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Entitlement to PIP is not based solely on an individual’s health status or disability, but on the long-term impact that a health status or disability has on an individual’s daily life or mobility.
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To qualify for PIP, the impacts of a health condition or disability must have been present for 3 months and are expected to last for at least 9 more months.
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PIP applicants will undergo a functional assessment which will take into account how their health condition or disability affects 12 key daily activities that are essential to living an independent life.
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If a person can perform the mobility and daily living activities of the PIP safely, at an acceptable level, repeatedly and within a reasonable period of time, without the support of someone or without using equipment, it is unlikely They will receive PIP.
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When applying for PIP, people should provide all relevant information they already have about how their health condition affects them. This can mean that a health professional can assess the application using this information and does not need a face-to-face or virtual consultation, and a decision can be made more quickly. The DWP says that people should not request new documents for their application as these may attract a fee, for example from GPs.
12 PIP activities considered in the evaluation
The DWP or Social Security Scotland will assess how difficult everyday tasks and mobility are for you.
For each task the following will be taken into account:
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if you can do it safely
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How long does it take you?
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How often does your condition affect this activity?
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Whether you need help to do it, from a person or by using additional equipment
PIP payment rates
A successful PIP claim is worth between £28.70 and £184.30 each week in additional financial support and as the benefit is paid every four weeks, this equates to between £114.80 and £737.20 in each payment period.
You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:
Daily life
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Standard rate: £72.65
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Improved rate: £108.55
Mobility
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Standard rate: £28.70
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Improved rate: £75.75
How is it evaluated?
For PIP, an independent healthcare professional will assess you to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need.
Face-to-face consultations are available for health-related benefits along with video calls, telephone and paper assessments. It is important to note that there is no choice, it is up to the health professional and the DWP. You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here.
How to make a PIP claim?
You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to make a claim on the GOV.UK website here.
Before you call, you will need:
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your contact details
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your date of birth
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Your National Insurance number: This appears on tax, pension and benefit letters.
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Your bank or credit union account number and sort code
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The name, address and telephone number of your doctor or health care professional.
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Dates and addresses of any period spent abroad, in a nursing home or in hospital.
