People on DWP benefits will see their payments rise by more than 10% in the next financial year. The move is aimed at helping the households with the lowest incomes deal with the rising costs of everyday items.
Over recent months everything from gas and electricity to fuel and food has spiralled in price. The rising cost of living has sparked warnings that the poorest families will be facing a major real-terms cut in their benefit payments.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in his Autumn Statement that Department of Work and Pensions benefits would incease by 10.1% from April 2023. According to Birmingham Live this means it will see those on the highest rate of both elements of PIP receive a monthly payment of almost £700.
One of the benefits which is set to increase is PIP - or Personal Independence Payment. There are about three million people with disabilities and mental health conditions who claim PIP.
For those who receive PIP this what you will get from next April.
What is PIP?
PIP is a disability benefit which replaced Disability Living Allowance for most adults. It helps people living with long-term physical or mental health conditions and disabilities with the increased costs they face as a result of their conditions.There are two aspects of PIP: the daily living part and the mobility part. The daily living part helps claimants with the costs of everyday living tasks, and the mobility part helps people who have difficulty getting around because of their condition.
Who’s eligible for PIP?
People aged 16 can qualify if they have a long-term physical or mental condition or a disability, have difficulty performing everyday tasks or with mobility and expect these difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started.
Anyone claiming PIP for the first time will undergo a DWP test to assess the effects their condition has on their ability to move around and perform ordinary tasks. Applicants will be scored according to their ability to perform tasks and this will be used to determine how much PIP they get.
PIP rates for 2023-24
PIP is one of the DWP benefits that will rise by 10.1% from April 2023. This increased rate will apply throughout the 2023-24 financial year, with the following weekly rates coming into effect:
Daily living part
Lower weekly rate - £68.10 (up from £61.85 per week currently)
Higher weekly rate - £101.75 (up from £92.40 per week currently)
Mobility part
Lower weekly rate - £26.90 (up from £24.45 per week currently)
Higher weekly rate - £71 (up from £64.50 per week currently)
This means anyone awarded both of the higher payments would get £172.75 a week, equivalent to £691 a month or £8,983 a year.
PIP claimants are also expected to be among those entitled to next year's £150 disability cost of living payment. This is part of a new series of cost of living payments due in 2023, which will also include £900 for people on means-tested benefits and another £300 for pensioners.
