There are now 3 million people in the UK people claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The official figures issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show 35% of those claiming receive the highest award of £627 a month.
PIP is designed to provide help with extra living costs if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and therefore have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition. Various conditions mean you qualify to apply for the award and beneath the main disability categories, there are 547 conditions that apply.
The new quarterly figures, which take us up to April 2022, indicates a significant increase in the number of people claiming for psychiatric disorders, which includes autism spectrum disorders, mood disorders and learning disorders - April saw the UK-wide number of claimants for these types of conditions rise by 36,980 to 1,082,483.
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Claimants with musculoskeletal conditions, such as arthritis, joint pain and hip disorders, have also increased - in this instance by 24,122 to 956,701 between January and April. As reported in The Daily Record, this is in line with an overall increase in the number of PIP claimants, which has risen by 87,891 since the January figures were published.
According to the figures, three million people are now receiving financial support of between £24.45 and £156.90 each week and as the benefit is paid every four weeks, this amounts to between £97.80 and £627.60 every payment period.
Of course, being eligible to apply for the award doesn't mean that you are guaranteed to receive it, the application has to be assessed against specific criteria. However, here's a simplified version of what we know about PIP and how to apply.
First of all, what is PIP?
Giving it its full title - Personal Independence Payment - PIP is a benefit that is gradually replacing Disability Living Allowance or DLA. If you need extra help because of an illness, disability or mental health condition you could be eligible for PIP. You will be assessed by a health professional to work out the level of help you can get and your rate will be reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support.
What makes you eligible for PIP?
To be eligible for PIP, 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.
- 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 outside the home
There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the GOV.UK website.
The DWP 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
How is PIP paid?
PIP is usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. PIP will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account.
If I'm eligible, how much will I get?
You will need an assessment to work out the level of financial help you will receive and your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support.
PIP is made up of two components:
Daily living
Mobility
Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you.
You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:
Daily living
Standard rate: £61.85
Enhanced rate: £92.40
Mobility
Standard rate: £24.45
Enhanced rate: £64.50
How you are assessed
You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need. Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments - it's important to be aware that there is no choice here, it's up to the health professional and DWP.
Disabling conditions and number of claimants across the UK - April 2022
These are the main disability categories, the umbrella term by which a total of 547 other conditions fall under.
This list is only an overview of conditions, disorders and diseases and how the DWP lists the main disabilities being claimed for.
- Haematological Disease - 6,784
- Infectious disease - 7,710
- Malignant disease - 90,308
- Metabolic disease - 4,400
- Psychiatric disorders - 1,082,483
- Neurological disease - 384,832
- Visual disease - 54,431
- Hearing disorders - 31,557
- Cardiovascular disease - 75,313
- Gastrointestinal disease - 25,363
- Diseases of the liver, gallbladder, biliary tract - 10,442
- Skin disease - 19,595
- Musculoskeletal disease (general) - 601,750
- Musculoskeletal disease (regional) - 354,951
- Autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders) - 16,639
- Genitourinary disease - 21,991
- Endocrine disease - 40,519
- Respiratory disease - 130,591
- Multisystem and extremes of age - 1,056
- Diseases of the immune system - 949
UK PIP breakdown
- England: 2,443,254 (up 74,694 since January)
Wales: 212,518 (up 4,961 since January)
- Scotland: 313,620 (up 8,341 since January)
- UK Total: 2,969,392 (up 87,991 since January)
In the quarter ending April 2022 there were:
- 200,000 registrations and 210,000 clearances for new claims - the highest levels since PIP started in 2013
- 28,000 changes of circumstance reported and 27,000 cleared
- 20,000 registrations and 21,000 clearances for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) reassessments
- 110,000 planned award reviews registered and 71,000 cleared
- 73,000 Mandatory Reconsiderations registered and 85,000 cleared
PIP is designed to help people living with a long-term illness, mental health condition or physical or learning disability, however, many people are put off claiming this essential benefit, wrongly assuming that they are not eligible.
Assessment award rates vary by disabling condition and a PIP claimant’s main disabling condition is recorded during their assessment in over 99% of cases, reports the DWP.
Total number of categories:
- Disability category - 21 (including unknown or missing)
- Disability Sub Group - 178
- Disability - 547
Of those claims that have had an assessment under normal rules, 81% of new claims and 88% of DLA reassessment claims are recorded as having one of the five most common disabling conditions.
These are:
- Psychiatric disorders - 1,082,483 claimants
- Musculoskeletal disease (general) - 601,750 claimants
- Musculoskeletal disease (regional) - 354,951 claimants
- Neurological disease - 384,832 claimants
- Respiratory disease - 130,591 claimants
How do you make a claim for PIP?
You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the GOV.UK website here.
Before you call, you will need:
your contact details
your date of birth
your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits
your bank or building society account number and sort code
your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital
Once you have contacted the DWP, they will send you a document to complete which consists of 14 questions. This includes space for any additional information you feel is relevant to your claim. The questions focus on how your condition affects you, so put as much detail in as you can to help the assessor understand your physical or mental health needs.
If you have difficulty filling in your form or understanding the questions, contact your local council and ask for help or Citizens Advice. For more information about PIP, visit GOV.UK here.
