The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that most benefit payments are set to rise by 1.7% next April – and this includes Personal Independence Payment
PIP claimants could be eligible for up to £749.80 every month from next April.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that most benefit payments are set to rise by 1.7% next April – and this includes Personal Independence Payment. PIP is a benefit who have an illness, disability or mental health condition that affects their daily living.
There are two parts to PIP – the daily living rate and the mobility rate – and you can be entitled to both or just one of these. Your award is based on how your condition affects your life, rather than there being a set list of medical conditions that make you eligible for PIP.
How much is PIP rising by?
If you’re currently in receipt of PIP, your payments will rise from April. PIP is paid every four weeks and under the current rates, the maximum you can receive is £737.20. This is for someone claiming the higher rate of both the daily living and mobility components. But from next April, the maximum you could get will be £749.80.
Daily living
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Lower rate: £72.65 a week, rising to £73.90 a week
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Higher rate: £108.55 a week, rising to £110.40 a week
Mobility
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Lower rate: £28.70 a week, rising to £29.20 a week
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Higher rate: £75.75 a week, rising to £77.05 a week
Who is eligible for PIP?
You have to be aged 16 and above and under state pension age to put in a new claim for PIP. If you’re already getting PIP and you reach state pension age, your claim will normally continue. You may be able to make a new claim at state pension age if you were eligible for PIP in the last 12 months.
Most people normally need an assessment to determine if they’re eligible for PIP, during which you’ll be asked to explain how your condition affects your life. If you DWP decides you’re eligible for PIP, you’ll usually be awarded it for a set period of time – normally this is between one year to ten years – before your claim needs to be reviewed.
Your award of PIP might change if your health gets better, or if your condition gets worse. It is down to claimants to let the DWP know if their health has changed. Those who have a terminal illness likely won’t need a PIP assessment and can be paid PIP weekly, instead of every four weeks.