Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people aged over 16 and under State Pension age with a disability, long-term illness or mental or physical health condition, who need help completing daily tasks inside their home or moving around.
The latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that by the end of January 2023, there were 3.25 million people across Great Britain claiming PIP. This includes over 319,000 claimants living in Scotland, however, it does not include the number of people now receiving support through the devolved Adult Disability Payment.
PIP awards are not indefinite, they can last between a few months to the maximum of 10 years - known as a ‘light touch’ review - and are in palace to ensure individuals receive the right award reflecting any changes in their condition, something the DWP recently clarified.
It's slightly different for people in Scotland applying for Adult Disability Payment as successful applications are given an ongoing rolling award.
Last year, Liberal Democrat MP, Wendy Chamberlain, asked DWP what guidance was in place to help ensure that PIP claimants with “degenerative conditions are identified and recorded for the purposes of scheduling future reassessments”.
In a written response, DWP Minister Tom Pursglove explained a PIP assessment is conducted to determine the “needs arising from a health condition or disability” - not the condition itself.
He added that regular award reviews are a “key feature of PIP” which are in place to ensure “payments accurately match the current needs of claimants”.
However, he said when recommending an appropriate review period, assessors are asked to consider when a “significant change in functional needs is likely, giving due regard to the expected progression of a condition and whether it is likely to improve, stay the same, or worsen”.
Me Pursglove told the North East Fife MP: “It may be appropriate to set a specific review period for a claimant with a degenerative condition as, if the condition is likely to deteriorate over time, the claimant may become entitled to a higher rate of PIP.
“However, claimants with very high levels of functional impairment who are on the highest PIP awards, and whose needs are only likely to increase, should receive an ongoing award of PIP, with a light touch review at the 10-year point.”
PIP and Adult Disability Payment rates 2023/24
Daily Living Component
- Enhanced: £101.75
- Standard: £68.10
Mobility Component
- Enhanced: £71.00
- Standard: £26.90
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 Scotland.
There is also an online PIP toolkit with examples of all the questions to help you answer fully with the most relevant information, find out more about this here.
Even if you don't qualify for financial support, you could be eligible for a National Entitlement Travel Card, which offers free or reduced travel across Scotland on most public transport links.
For more information about PIP, visit GOV.UK here.
How to apply for Adult Disability Payment
People can apply ADP, over the phone, by post or in-person. To find out more or apply, visit the dedicated pages on mygov.scot here or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
To keep up to date with the latest benefits news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, follow us on Twitter @Record_Money, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out Monday to Friday - sign up here.
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