The Government says the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments will be changing next year, in a move that will see many people lose out on the benefit
The eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) is set to change next year, limiting the number of people who qualify for the disability benefit. However, this will only impact 10 out of the 12 questions on the PIP assessment.
The final two activities on the assessment, which are about the mobility element of PIP, are set to remain unaffected by the welfare reforms. At the lower end, the mobility element of PIP offers £29.20 per week, but can provide up to £77.05 on the enhanced rate.
Turn2Us, a charity helping people in poverty, says the first of the PIP checks that won’t be affected is around planning and following journeys. This question assesses how safely, quickly and efficiently you can plan and execute a journey.
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You’ll score no points if you can plan how to get somewhere, and find your way there, without any assistance. Four points are available if you need someone with you to leave the house and eight points if you can’t plan how to get somewhere.
Ten points are awarded if you can’t leave the house or travel to a new place without the help of someone else or an aid like a guide dog, cane or braille map. The maximum number of points available is 12, for those that can’t travel to a place they already know without the help of someone else or a special aid, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The second check being left untouched by the reform is moving around. This largely focuses on the distance you can cover comfortably and safely.
If you’re able to stand and move more than 200 metres, with or without an aid, you’ll score no points. You can earn four points if you can move between 50 and 200 metres with or without an aid, or eight points if you can move up to 50 metres without an aid.
Should you require an aid to move up to 50 metres, you could be awarded 10 points. If you can only move 20 metres, can’t stand or can’t even move one metre without a special aid, you may be eligible for 12 points.
To qualify for the mobility component of PIP, you need to accumulate a total of eight points across both of these activities for the standard rate. To receive the enhanced rate, you need to tally 12 points in total.
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The other 10 activities in the PIP assessment that are being affected relate to the daily living component of PIP. This offers up to £110.40 per week on the enhanced rate.
At present, you need a minimum of eight points across all 10 questions to get the standard rate and 12 points in total to get the enhanced rate. However, by next November, applicants will also need to secure four points in any single activity.
The other 10 checks are about:
- Taking nutrition
- Preparing food
- Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
- Engaging with other people face to face
- Dressing and undressing
- Managing toilet needs or incontinence
- Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
- Communicating verbally
- Making budgeting decisions
- Washing and bathing