Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants may be able to backdate other payments to the start of their award.
PIP is awarded to people to help cover the costs of daily living tasks or getting around outside the home as a result of a physical or learning disability, long term Illness or mental health condition. The amount of PIP awarded to claimants is dependent on how the condition affects them - which means there are no guaranteed conditions that automatically qualify you for the benefit.
Latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), show more than three million people across the UK currently receive between £24.45 and £156.90 per week to help with the additional costs of daily living and mobility needs. However, an award for PIP may enable claimants to access means-tested benefits even if they have previously been told they are not eligible - as the Daily Record reports.
READ MORE: DWP will give people with these 70 conditions up to £156 a week
According to the guidance on the GOV.UK website, it may also be possible to backdate certain benefits to the start of the PIP award. This is because entitlement to PIP provides a gateway or passport to other benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance, and schemes sponsored by other departments, such as the Blue Badge.
The DWP said that for many benefits and schemes, there are additional qualifying conditions, but for some, including the Blue Badge, there are alternative ways of accessing the benefit which do not rely on a particular rate or component of PIP.
DWP explains: “For DWP benefits, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction, we share information to enable claimants to automatically access other disability benefits and services. However, claimants should inform other benefit offices about their entitlement to make sure they’re paid the correct amounts, particularly if there are any changes in their circumstances and awards.”
DWP added that, in most cases, claimants will need to use their PIP award letter as proof of entitlement. The guidance also states that carers may be able to claim Income Support (including for up to 26 weeks while the PIP claim is being assessed) and many carers may continue claiming Income Support after PIP is awarded.
DWP advises claimants to seek advice about other benefits they may also be entitled to.
Benefits which could be accessed with a PIP award
While you may not qualify for any of these benefits, it’s worthwhile checking to make sure you are not missing out on additional support.
- Access to Work
- Carer’s Allowance
- Carer’s Credit
- Child Tax Credit - new claims replaced by Universal Credit
- Council Tax Reduction
- Employment and Support Allowance - only if you get the PIP daily living component
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit - only if you get the PIP daily living component
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit - new claims replaced by Universal Credit
- Council Tax discount
Where to find help
Anyone who has already claimed PIP or has a general query about their award and what else they may be entitled to claim, should call the Disability Service Centre. You can contact them for advice or information about a claim you’ve already made for PIP, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance.
Full contact details including phone numbers can be found on the GOV.UK website here.
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