People across Scotland and the UK are now able to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to help with the costs of living associated with long Covid symptoms.
PIP is a benefit administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) intended to provide financial assistance to those with a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition.
New statistics released by the DWP reveal that on January 31 2022, there were nearly 2.9 million PIP claimants across the UK — including over 305,000 Scots.
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As reported by the Daily Record, included in this total is 850 people in Scotland, England and Wales who claim PIP primarily for long Covid.
Although this number may seem small, it is a major rise from October last year — in which 137 people were claiming PIP for long Covid.
People who have long Covid may be unaware that they could be eligible for as much as £152.15 a week in financial support.
The benefit is paid every four weeks, meaning that claimants could be entitled to as much as £608.60 a month.
Starting April 11, PIP rates will rise alongside other benefits.
As of January 2022, the DWP figures show there have been:
- 726 claimants awarded PIP in England for Coronavirus COVID-19
- 96 claimants awarded PIP in Wales for Coronavirus COVID-19
- 28 claimants awarded PIP In Scotland for Coronavirus COVID-19
Those who have long Covid, or whose existing condition was made worse by it, may be eligible to receive PIP.
Find out if you can claim PIP by looking at the criteria set out by the DWP below.
What are the long-term effects of coronavirus?
As stated by the NHS: “For some people, coronavirus (Covid-19) can cause symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection has gone. This is sometimes called post-Covid-19 syndrome or ‘long-Covid’.”
About long-COVID
The recovery time for Covid-19 varies from person-to-person.
While most will feel better within a few days or weeks — making a full recovery within 12 weeks — others can have symptoms that last far longer.
The chances of having long-term symptoms does not seem to be linked to how ill you are when you first get Covid-19. People who had mild symptoms at first can still have long-term problems.
Symptoms of long-Covid
There are lots of symptoms you can have after a Covid-19 infection.
Common long COVID symptoms include:
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- shortness of breath
- chest pain or tightness
- problems with memory and concentration ('brain fog')
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- pins and needles
- joint pain
- depression and anxiety
- tinnitus, earaches
- feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite
- a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste
- Rashes
Who is eligible for PIP?
Whether you are in work or pay National Insurance contributions does not matter when applying for PIP, neither does your income or savings.
To be eligible for PIP you must have a disability or physical or mental health condition with which you:
have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for three months
expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months
The DWP will determine your eligibility by looking over a period of 12 months — three months prior to the claim and nine months ahead — to consider how the condition may change over time.
You usually need to have lived in Scotland for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply.
PIP daily living and mobility test
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
What is classified as ‘help’ for a PIP claim
You are classified as needing help to do an activity if you need a person or a device to:
Do it for you
Do it with you
Remind you to do it
Watch you do it to keep you safe
You may also be classified as needing help if you do an activity yourself but:
You are not safe
You cannot complete the task well enough
You cannot complete the task often
It takes you a long time
PIP test scoring criteria
When determining eligibility, the DWP awards PIP claimants points relating to a series of statements to do with everyday activities.
The DWP will decide which statement best fits your situation most of the time. You will get a set amount of points ranging from 0 -12 for each activity.
The total number of points you get for each group of activities will decide whether you are entitled to PIP, and how much money you will receive.
To get the standard rate daily living component, you need to score between 8 to 11 points in total for the daily living activities. You need 12 points to get the enhanced rate.
To get the standard rate mobility component, you need to score between 8 to 11 points in total for the mobility activities. You need 12 points to get the enhanced rate.
How is PIP paid?
PIP is usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid every week.
PIP will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account.
What are the PIP payment rates?
PIP is made up of two components - daily living and mobility.
Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you.
You could receive the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:
Daily living
Standard rate - £60.00 (£61.85 from April 11)
Enhanced rate - £89.60 (£92.40 from April 11)
Mobility
Standard rate - £23.70 (£24.45 from April 11)
Enhanced rate - £62.55 (£64.50 from April 11)
How you are assessed
You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP work out the level of help you need.
Face-to-face consultations are offered alongside telephone and video based assessments. All assessments will follow strict public health guidelines and put the safety of the claimant first
How do you make a claim for PIP?
You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you’ll find all the information you need to apply on the gov.uk website here.
Before you call, you will need:
your contact details, for example telephone number
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 and a section for any additional information.
The questions focus on how your condition affects you - put as much relevant detail in as you can to help the assessor understand your physical and 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 Scotland.
For more information about PIP, visit GOV.UK here.