The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is in the throes of transferring more than two million individuals from legacy benefits onto Universal Credit, but there’s uncertainty regarding Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Nearly 3.4 million people currently receive PIP in the UK, which provides up to £737.20 every four weeks for those needing additional help due to health issues—it varies based on how conditions affect daily activities.
The DWP has outlined the benefits earmarked for Universal Credit assimilation and has clarified that PIP isn’t among them. Benefits being subsumed by Universal Credit include Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Housing Benefit.
As per the official GOV. UK site: “Other benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), will stay the same.”
Thus, existing PIP beneficiaries can breathe a sigh of relief; their payments are secure and not part of the ongoing “managed migration” to Universal Credit, which should conclude by December 2025.
PIP is typically paid on a four-weekly basis, however, for those who are terminally ill, it can be paid weekly. PIP is divided into two components and depending on how your condition impacts your life, you may be eligible for one or both of these, reports the Mirror.
The daily living rate and the mobility rate are as follows: Daily living – Lower rate: £72.65, Higher rate: £108.55; Mobility – Lower rate: £28.70, Higher rate: £75.75.
Who qualifies for PIP?
When applying for PIP, an assessment by a health professional is usually required to determine how your condition affects your daily life. You may be entitled to the daily living component of PIP if you require assistance with activities such as eating, drinking, preparing food, washing, bathing, using the toilet, dressing, undressing, reading, communicating, managing your medicines or treatments, making decisions about money, and socialising.
The mobility component of PIP may be granted if you need help with tasks like working out a route and following it, physically moving around, or leaving your home. To claim PIP, you must be at least 16 years old.
If you’re already receiving PIP when you reach state pension age, your claim will usually continue. However, most individuals cannot make a new PIP claim once they reach state pension age.
A new claim may be possible at state pension age if you were eligible for PIP in the last 12 months.
PIP claims typically have a duration before they are reassessed, usually ranging from one to ten years. For those who are terminally ill, there are special rules in place that allow for the fast-tracking of PIP applications by the DWP, enabling recipients to receive their first payment within a fortnight.
