personal finance

The freeze on Personal Independence Payments ends in April – what are the new rates?


PIP’s are exclusively aimed for those who suffer from a severe health condition or disability. As such, the eligibility for the payments is focused around how those disabilities affect day to day life. The government details that claimants must be between 16 and the state pension age to claim. On top of this, there must be a health condition which results in the person having difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for three months and these difficulties are expected to continue for at least nine months (baring being terminally ill with less than six months to live).

Additionally, the claimant must have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least two of the last three years, and be in one of these countries when they apply.

The process is different for anyone applying in Northern Ireland or living abroad.The government assess the claims for PIP by utilising an independent health professional who will evaluate if the payment is warranted.

PIP is currently made up of two parts, a “daily living part” and a “mobility part”. The weekly rate for the daily living part of PIP is either £58.70 or £87.65, with the weekly rate for mobility being £23.20 or £61.20.

Claimants who receive the highest payments possible could receive nearly £600 a month total.

READ MORE: Universal Credit: How does Universal Credit work?

This later may also detail when the payments are expected to end and if the claim will be reviewed in the future.

The government must be informed if there are any changes in circumstances which could affect payments or the claimants conditions.

These changes can include personal detail changes like new addresses, if the help needed changes, if the claimant is going into hospital or a care home, if they’re going abroad or if they’re imprisoned.

From April 2020, benefits across the board will rise by 1.7 percent.

Citizens Advice, the charity networking organisation, detail that even people who qualify for PIP may not receive it.

To give claimants the best chance of receiving the benefit they should have as many details as possible for how their condition affects them.

Citizens Advice advise that medical evidence should be gathered which can be requested from doctors and other medical specialists. A diary should also be kept which details any appliances or aids that are used.

They also warn that timing is important, claimants only have four weeks to fill in the form they receive from the DWP. In the event of the application being declined, it is possible to challenge the decision under a “mandatory reconsideration” protocol.



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