The latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that in April 2023, there were 5.9million people across Scotland, England and Wales, receiving financial support through Universal Credit (UC), a benefit intended to help those out of work or on a low income with daily living costs.
Many people are trying to find a job, better paid employment or a second income due to increased financial pressure caused by the ongoing cost of living crisis. However, many claiming Universal Credit or JobSeeker's Allowance (JSA) may be unaware that Personal Independence Payment (PIP) could provide extra money to help with daily living or mobility costs as.
PIP is tax-free and does not affect the benefit cap, which means a single claimant over 25 on Universal Credit or JSA making a new claim for the disability benefit, could potentially receive up to £1,059.74 each month. It’s important to be aware that the condition itself will not qualify for PIP, it’s how it affects a person’s daily living and/or mobility needs.
What is PIP?
PIP is a benefit for those over 16 and under State Pension age and the latest DWP figures show that there are now more than 3.25million people across Great Britain claiming the benefit, with 319,000 in Scotland.
The biggest misconception about PIP is that the DWP will only award the benefit to people with outwardly visible physical, long-term health conditions or disabilities. In fact, PIP is a benefit aimed at providing support for people with an ever-evolving list of 'hidden' conditions, including stress, anxiety and depression.
If you have been living with a physical or mental health condition, long-term illness or a disability, you may be able to claim PIP - or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) if you're a new claimant living in Scotland - on top of any other benefit.
Who is eligible for PIP or ADP?
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
There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the GOV.UK website here.
You don’t need to have worked or paid National Insurance to qualify for PIP or ADP. Neither benefit is means-tested either, so it doesn’t matter what your income is, how much you have in savings, or whether you're currently employed.
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.
PIP and ADP payments
PIP and ADP payments are made up of two components - daily living and mobility - paid at either a standard or enhanced rate. The amount someone receives depends on their levels of need and not everyone will be eligible for both components.
The payments are worth between £26.90 and £172.75 each week, and as it is paid every four weeks this amounts to between £107.60 and £691 each pay period.
You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:
Daily living
- Standard rate: £68.10
- Enhanced rate: £101.75
Mobility
- Standard rate: £26.90
- Enhanced rate: £71.00
Universal Credit payments
Universal Credit is paid once a month, while PIP or ADP is paid every four weeks. This results in 13 payments over a 12-month period and could see two payments being made in some months during the year.
For the purposes of the estimated calculations below, this is expressed as monthly payments.
Universal Credit standard allowance payment rates (monthly):
- Single under 25: £292.11
- Single 25 or over: £368.74
Potential combined monthly income from Universal Credit and PIP or ADP
Over 25 claiming Universal Credit and PIP or ADP
Potential monthly income of up to £1,059.74 each month:
- UC = £368.74
- Enhanced rates of PIP or ADP rates for daily living and mobility = £691
- Total = £1,059.74
Under 25 claiming Universal Credit and PIP or ADP
Potential monthly income of up to £1,059.74 each month:
- UC = £292.11
- Enhanced rates of PIP or ADP rates for daily living and mobility = £691
- Total = £983.11
Conditions supported through PIP and ADP
These are the 20 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.
The list is not definitive and should only be considered as a guide for the types of conditions currently receiving support, it's also worth noting there is an 'unknown' category for other health issues.
- Haematological Disease
- Infectious disease
- Malignant disease
- Metabolic disease
- Psychiatric disorders
- Neurological disease
- Visual disease
- Hearing disorders
- Cardiovascular disease
- Gastrointestinal disease
- Diseases of the liver, gallbladder, biliary tract
- Skin disease
- Musculoskeletal disease (general)
- Musculoskeletal disease (regional)
- Autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders)
- Genitourinary disease
- Endocrine disease
- Respiratory disease
- Multisystem and extremes of age
- Diseases of the immune system
We also have a dedicated section on the Daily Record website which offers help in understanding the process from start to finish and includes questions on the form, what happens during an assessment and a comprehensive breakdown of the questions you will need to answer - these and more can be found here.
How you are assessed for PIP or ADP
For PIP claims, 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 assessments for health-related benefits, including PIP, are now offered by the DWP alongside telephone, video call and paper-based consultations. You can find help on preparing for any type of PIP assessment here.
ADP will only conduct a face-to-face assessment if the claimant requests it or it is necessary to get a better understanding of how the condition affects the claimants. They can also be done over the phone or by video chat.
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.
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 ADP
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 PIP or ADP 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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