Personal Independence Payments can be a much-needed lifeline for disabled people, but thousands may be unnecessarily turning down this help
A number of misconceptions are wrongly preventing people from claiming their disability benefit entitlement, Personal Independence Payments (PIP). PIP provides support for disabled individuals to help cover the additional costs they face. It offers four different rates ranging from £29.20 per week to £749.80 per month, depending on the severity of a person’s disability.
Despite around 3.7 million currently receiving PIP, common myths and misunderstandings about the disability benefit could be stopping many more from claiming their entitlement. This is particularly relevant as proposed changes to PIP eligibility have been put on hold following controversy around Labour’s welfare reform.
‘I can’t work and claim PIP’
Many believe that all DWP benefits are only available to those who are unemployed. However, PIP is a non-means tested benefit so your income, National Insurance contributions or working hours won’t affect your eligibility or entitlement.
Claiming PIP does not prevent individuals from working, and claimants can alter their hours, earnings, or employment status without jeopardising this benefit. However, they may still need to report these changes to the DWP.
‘I need a specific diagnosis’
The disability benefit is determined by how your condition or disability impacts your ability to carry out everyday tasks and move around. Although the DWP does release figures on what conditions are being claimed for, there isn’t a definitive list of diagnoses that ensure you will or won’t be eligible for the benefit.
According to Scope, you can even apply for PIP without having a diagnosis. The primary eligibility criteria is that your mental or physical condition has caused difficulty in everyday tasks or moving around for the past three months and you anticipate these difficulties to persist for at least another nine months.
‘I can’t have savings on PIP’
PIP is not affected by the amount of savings you have. It’s not means-tested like Universal Credit, so the amount of money or assets you have saved won’t impact your eligibility or the amount you may be entitled to.
However, if you successfully claim PIP, these earnings and any savings you accumulate from the benefit might affect your eligibility for means-tested benefits like Universal Credit.
‘PIP is only for physical disabilities’
PIP can be granted for mental or even ‘invisible’ conditions as well as physical disabilities. This includes conditions that may not be apparent to the naked eye, such as Crohn’s disease, autism or learning disabilities.
According to Benefits and Work, learning disabilities have one of the highest success rates for PIP claims at 90%, with 79% of claimants receiving the highest rates.
‘I can manage without a support worker’
PIP, much like Attendance Allowance, is often misunderstood, with many believing that recipients must spend their benefit money on specific support such as a carer. However, there are no rules stipulating how claimants should spend their money, as the right support varies from person to person.
Some individuals may use their PIP funds to supplement their income if their disability has resulted in job loss. Others might utilise the money to make their homes or lifestyles more accessible, such as affording specialised food. The funds can even be used for hobbies, outings or savings.
More details about claiming PIP can be found in the Government’s PIP handbook.