A Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for those with long-term health conditions or impairments.
These conditions can be physical, sensory, mental, cognitive, intellectual, or a combination of any. As reported by the Daily Record, it is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to make a contribution to the extra costs that disabled people may face, to help them lead full, active and independent lives.
PIP is not a means-tested benefit, and is non-contributory and non-taxable. This means that entitlement to the money is not dependent on someone's financial status, or if they are in full-time work or not. PIP can be paid to those who are in part or full-time work, as well as the unemployed.
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When claiming PIP, many go through an assessment process, which looks at the person's ability to carry out a series of everyday activities. The assessment considers the overall impact of a claimant’s health condition or impairment on their functional ability, rather than focusing on a particular diagnosis.
Guidance that has been updated on GOV.UK states that PIP is “not a compensation payment for ill health / disability; it is to help people with the increased costs of daily living in cases of long-term ill health or disability”.
The Government added: "PIP sits alongside support provided by the NHS and local authorities and is not meant to duplicate that support.”
The activities explored through the PIP assessment include daily living and mobility activities. More information is included below.
Daily Living - Ten activities
- preparing and cooking a simple meal
- taking nutrition
- managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
- washing and bathing
- managing toilet needs or incontinence
- dressing and undressing
- communicating verbally
- reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
- engaging with other people face-to-face
- making budgeting decisions
Mobility - Two activities
- planning and following journeys
- moving around
Each of the activities contains a series of descriptors that depict increasing levels of difficulty with carrying out each stage of the activity. The total scores for all of the activities related to each component determine entitlement for that component.
The entitlement threshold for each component is eight points for the standard rate and 12 points for the enhanced rate.
PIP payment rates for 2022/23
Daily Living Component
- Enhanced: £92.40
- Standard: £61.85
Mobility Component
- Enhanced: £64.50
- Standard: £24.45
Cases that should not require consultation
There are certain circumstances that may mean a new claim should not require a consultation with a health professional. DWP explains: “Although each case should be determined individually, the following types of cases should not normally require a consultation.”
These circumstances can include:
- The claimant questionnaire indicates a low level of disability, the information is consistent, medically reasonable and there is nothing to suggest under-reporting.
- The health condition(s) is associated with a low level of functional impairment, the claimant is under GP care only and there is no record of hospital admission.
- There is strong evidence on which to advise on the case and a consultation is likely to be stressful for the claimant - for example, claimants with autism, cognitive impairment or learning disability.
- The claimant questionnaire indicates a high level of disability, the information is consistent, medically reasonable and there is nothing to suggest over-reporting - examples may include claimants with severe neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, severely disabling stroke.
- There is sufficient detailed, consistent and medically reasonable information on function.
Cases that are likely to require consultation
DWP guidance also states: “For cases where there is marked inconsistency, the claimed level of disability is unexpected based on the available evidence, or it has not been possible to gain sufficient further evidence, a consultation will be required.”
Health professionals are also encouraged to carry out the assessments using a paper-based review in cases where they believe there is "sufficient evidence in the claim file, including supporting evidence, to provide robust advice to the DWP on how the assessment criteria relate to the claimant”.
They added that it is "vital all advice is sufficiently evidenced”.
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