Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

If you live in the UK and are disabled or have a long term physical/mental health condition, then you can apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).  A PIP allowance is a form of government support that gives you extra money to help with the costs of everyday life. It was brought in as a replacement for the Disability Living Allowance for all UK adults.

How much Personal Independence Payment will I get and for how long?

The amount of Personal Independence Payment you’ll receive doesn’t depend on the condition itself, but on how your disability or condition affects you in your day-to-day life.

Ultimately, it’s down to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), who bases the amount you’ll get on your application. They’ll also determine how long you’ll receive PIP by working out the likelihood of your condition changing. Your decision letter will tell you how you’ll be awarded and for how long.

You’ll usually receive PIP for a fixed amount of time, however, sometimes the DWP award it with no end date. If this happens to you, then you should be aware that they’re likely to review it every ten years. If you’re terminally ill, you’ll be awarded PIP for three years.

PIP rates

PIP has two components, which are:

• Daily living: This extra money is for the additional help you might need for day-to-day tasks, such as cooking food, washing, dressing or communicating with others
• Mobility: This extra money is for the additional help you need to get around. This includes moving, following a route or planning a journey somewhere

Each of these can be paid at either a standard or enhanced rate:

Who is eligible?

To qualify for a PIP allowance, you must be aged 16 or over and have not reached State Pension age, as well as having lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years. You also must have a physical/mental health condition or disability where you:

• Have had difficulties with daily living and/or getting around for 3 months
• Expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months