Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

In order to claim PIP you must:

• Be aged between 16 and your State Pension age. You can check your State Pension age on the government’s website
• Have needed help for at least three months and expect to need it for another nine months at least, or are terminally illYou live in England, Scotland or Wales
• You have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least two years, unless you’re a refugee, in the armed forces or have a terminal illness

You don’t need to be in work or be paying National Insurance to get PIP. It doesn’t matter how much you earn or if you have any savings either.

Please note that only children under 16 can make new claims for Disability Living Allowance (DLA). If you’re already claiming DLA, you don’t need to claim for PIP until the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) invites you to make a claim. It’s really important you act on the invite as soon as you get it othrwise you might lose your benefit altogether.

PIP will be:

• Paid every four weeks
• Tax-free
• Not means tested (in other words, it doesn’t matter how much money you earn or have saved)
• For people both in and out of work
• Exempt from the benefit cap

PIP is split into two parts. You might be eligible for one or both parts:

• Daily living - money for people who need help with doing everyday tasks
• Mobility - money for people who need help with getting around

Each part has two rates: standard and enhanced. You can’t claim both the standard and enhanced rate under one part.

Eligibility and criteria for making a claim are different from DLA so we strongly suggest that you get help with making your claim.

PIP isn’t a long term benefit and often claims will last for up to three years (although some claims might be ongoing). We suggest that you reapply for PIP before the end of your claim so the benefit doesn’t stop before your reapplication decision.

Claiming for PIP can be a pretty lengthy process, so it’s really important you get started straight away. You can apply for PIP by calling the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). You’ll then need to fill out a written form and complete an assessment with an independent health professional, which usually includes a face-to-face consultation.

If you have a support worker, they can phone the DWP on your behalf (as long as you’re with them when they do) and help you with your application. There are also other ways you can claim if you find it difficult to use a phone, which you can learn more about on the government’s website.

If you’re unhappy with a decision about your claim, you’ll need to apply to the DWP to have it reconsidered. If you’re still not happy with the outcome, you can apply to the courts and tribunal service to appeal the decision.

Remember, PIP is different from DLA and just because you were entitled to DLA, this doesn’t mean you’ll be entitled to PIP.