Recent Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures show that more than 1.5 million people (42.4%) of all 3.6m Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants have an award of five years or longer. Some 1,501,215 people living in Scotland, England, Wales and living abroad, have an ongoing award for a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition.
More than half of people claiming PIP for a visual disease have a monthly award of up to £737.20 for five years or more, while more than half of all claimants with general musculoskeletal conditions (50.8%) such as arthritis, muscle or joint pain, have been given a longer award, along with just less than half (49.5%) of people with a neurological condition such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy.
Anybody thinking of making a new claim for PIP is advised that award lengths can vary – anything between nine months and 10 years. DWP data only records awards given up to “five years or longer”.
The 2024 edition of the PIP Handbook explains that the decision maker will make an award of PIP based on the impact of the claimant’s health condition or disability on their daily life and their ability to live independently. It adds: “The length of award will be based upon each claimant’s individual circumstances.”
DWP guidance also states most claimants will have their award regularly reviewed, “regardless of the length of the award” in order to make sure “everyone continues to receive the most appropriate level of support”. Some claimants will be given a limited term award for a fixed period of up to two years – DWP says these awards will not be reviewed, as the claimant’s health condition may be reasonably expected to improve, the Daily Record reports.
Contrastingly, some claimants whose condition is severe and unlikely to change are subject to a “light touch review”. This means they’ll receive payments for a decade before needing to be reassessed. A light touch review is typically awarded to claimants who have:
- very stable needs which are unlikely to change over time
- high level needs which will either stay the same or get worse
- a planned award review date due on or at State Pension age
- a special rules for end of life claim due when of State Pension age
DWP guidance adds: “These claimants would not usually be expected to have a face-to-face assessment at review.”
A successful claim for PIP is now worth between £28.70 and £184.30 each week in additional financial support and as the benefit is paid every four weeks, this amounts to between £114.80 and £737.20 every pay period.
To be eligible for PIP, you must have a health condition or disability where you:
- have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months
- expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months
You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply.
In addition to what we have outlined above if you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP.
- preparing, cooking or eating food
- managing your medication
- washing, bathing or using the toilet
- dressing and undressing
- engaging and communicating with other people
- reading and understanding written information
- making decisions about money
- planning a journey or following a route
- moving around
You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the GOV.UK website here.
