PIP (Personal Independence Payment) claimants have been warned their payments could be reduced depending on their situation.
The DWP benefit, which supports those affected by a long-term health condition or illness, is paid at a rate of up to £184.30 a week if you are on the higher rate for both the daily living and mobility elements.
But you could get less than this if you are on other benefits that ‘overlap’ with other benefits. The PIP handbook points to two scenarios where this would be the case.
The guidance explains: “The PIP mobility component overlaps with War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement. The PIP daily living component overlaps with Constant Attendance Allowance.
“The overlapping benefit is always paid in full and PIP is reduced by the amount of the overlapping benefit.”
The War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS) is paid along with the War Disablement Pension, providing extra funds to help with mobility needs due to a disability that a person has as a result of their service in the armed forces.
Receiving this would reduce your entitlement to the mobility component of PIP, which is paid at £28.70 a week at the lower rate and at £75.75 weekly at the higher rate.
To claim Constant Attendance Allowance, you have to be on either Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit or on War Disablement Pension.
The support is available for people who need daily help, such as home nursing or with making their food, and you have to be 100 percent disabled.
The full day rate is £88.70 while the part day rate is £44.35. There is also an exceptional rate of £117.40 and an intermediate rate of £133.05.
Those on the exceptional and intermediate rates may also be eligible for the Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance, with an extra £88.70 on top of your Constant Attendance Allowance rate.
Being on this support would reduce your entitlement to the daily living part of PIP, which pays £72.65 a week at the lower rate and £108.55 at the higher rate.
The PIP handbook also states that those receiving Armed Forces Independence Payment “will not be entitled to PIP”. This payment is £172.75 a week and is paid every four weeks, similar to PIP.
This payment is part of the compensation on offer to those who were injured while in service. To get the payment, you have to have been seriously injured while in service on or after April 6, 2005.
Guidance on the Government website advises that people can apply for PIP payments while their compensation claim is being dealt with.
