PIP eligibility can be hard to understand but Benefits and Work shared a few simple statements that can reveal if you might be eligible. It said: “If the answer to the next three questions is ‘Yes’, then you should very seriously consider making a PIP claim”:
- Do you have a disability or long-term health condition?
- Does it make it more difficult to do everyday things like cooking or getting around?
- Are you aged between 16 and state pension age?
While these questions don’t guarantee a successful claim or determine the amount you might receive, there are online calculators and tests that can provide further guidance.
Benefits and Work also noted: “There are a few more issues that may affect your eligibility, such as whether you have recently lived abroad and whether you are currently in a care home or hospital. But they don’t affect most people and you can read more about them in our PIP guides.”
PIP offers two components based on the effects of your condition: the daily living component, which is subject to contentious changes in eligibility criteria, and the mobility component.
For the standard living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), your ability to perform 10 different activities safely, effectively and promptly is assessed and the extent of your difficulty determines how many points you score.
You need a total of eight points across all activities for the standard rate and 12 for the enhanced rate.
However, the controversial welfare reforms set for next year will see claimants needing to meet these point thresholds while also scoring at least four points in a single activity.
According to Benefits and Work, it’s not necessary to meet these criteria constantly: “You are eligible for points if you satisfy one or more descriptors under an activity on more than 50% of the days in the twelve-month qualifying period.
“So if, because of depression, you are unable to motivate yourself to wash and bathe on four days a week, then you should score points for that. This will be the case even though on the other three days a week you can do this without anyone to prompt you.”
PIP payments vary greatly, from more than £800 monthly down to only £114 for the lowest mobility rate. Besides monetary benefits, successful PIP applicants gain access to additional premiums, benefit top-ups and support with applications for other assistance like disabled railcard or blue badge.