Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Not means-tested
- Claim when under state retirement age (but can continue after this for existing awards); min age for claim is 16
- Claimant needs help to take part in everyday activities and/or need help with mobility – 2 components, 2 rates in each
- Can be mental and/or physical health conditions
- PIP is for the effect of the conditions on daily living/mobility, not the fact you have the condition
- PIP is replacing Disability Living Allowance awards– but claim only when told to by DWP; you cannot receive both.
- If a new condition is diagnosed, or health gets worse, seek advice from benefits advisor before notifying the PIP helpline – existing awards will be reexamined, and may go down as well as up!
- A PIP award will have other benefits – eg no benefit cap will apply, eligiblity for Blue Badge with some mobility awards, Disabled Bus Pass, premiums added to some other benefits.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Not means-tested
- Originally for adults under state retirement age. Can continue into retirement for existing claimants
- There are now no new claims possbile for adults – now it is only for children under 16
- PIP has replaced adult DLA
- Existing adult claimants will be notified by DWP when their DLA is ending & a new claim for PIP is needed
- Was usually easier to get than PIP. Advice is to wait until told by DWP to apply for PIP before doing so.
Attendance Allowance
- Not means-tested
- For those of state retirement age and over
- For those who require supervision and/or have care needs for everyday bodily functions
- 2 rates – higher and lower – depending on whether just night or day needs or both
- No mobility component – so usually best to stay on PIP or DLA if already receiving the mobility component of them
- Cannot be received at the same time as PIP or DLA
All the above non means-tested benefits have a “special rules” fast track claim process for those diagnosed with a terminal illness (requires form SR1 to be completed). In Universal Credit, claimants will be awarded the extra LCWRA element (see below)
Universal Credit – sickness process (& also new-style Employment Support Allowance)
- UC is means-tested. New-style ESA is contribution-based & can sit alongside UC
- For working-age claimants only
- Fit note needed until decision made on whether fit for work at DWP medical assessment –can take up to 13 weeks
- Capability for work form (UC50) sent out for completion before medical assessment
- Medical assessment decides whether claimant is:
- Fit for work
- Has limited capability for work (LCW)
- Has limited capability for work & work-related activity (LCWRA).
- Only c) now commands an extra payment (since Apr 2017).
- LCW & LCWRA mean no more fit notes needed.
- “Fit for work” means claimant will have to actively look for work
Pension Credit
- Guarantee Pension Credit is means-tested and tops up pensioners’ income to £218.15 pw for single person, £332.95 pw for a couple). These figures will be higher if the claimant is a carer or on Attendance Allowance, PIP, DLA
- Some pensioners can get Savings Pension Credit to reward them for savings, but this is not fully means-tested and only applies to people reaching state pension age before April 2016
- Pension Credit guarantee will “passport” to other benefits like maximum Council Tax reduction & Housing Benefit (if you rent) – up to the “local housing allowance” ceiling
- Free NHS dental treatment, help with glasses & hospital transport if on Guarantee PC
- Automatic receipt of the Warm Home Discount (£150) if on the guarantee part of PC. It’s applied to the bill if your energy supplier is part of the scheme
- Claim online on gov.uk or call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234. 3 mths backdate can be requested
- Winter fuel payment given if on Guarantee PC (£200 or £300 for over 80s) – qualifying week is Sept 16-22 2024 for this year (so claim by 21st December)
- Pension Credit calculator: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator - very easy to use
