It could all work very differently in future after the Government announced wholesale planned changes to the UK’s welfare system.
But for now, Personal Independence Payments from the Department of Work and Pensions still offer cash to people struggling with daily life.
The DWP has a list of 13 requirements it uses in assessments to work out whether someone with a chronic health condition, either mental or physical, is in need of cash payments to help them meet the needs of daily life.
Rather than paying out by default for any one health condition – be it epilepsy, Parkinson’s or Motor Neurone Disease – the DWP uses a list of ‘13 daily tasks’ against which it measures a claimant’s need for Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
The benefit sees those successfully claiming given up to £184 a week from two payment parts, comprising a daily living rate and a mobility rate, either of which can be standard level or enhanced.
The criteria the DWP uses are as follows:
Daily living part
You might get daily living payments from PIP if you need help with:
-
preparing food
-
eating and drinking
The criteria the DWP uses are as follows:
Daily living part
You might get daily living payments from PIP if you need help with:
- preparing food
- eating and drinking
- managing your medicines or treatments
- washing and bathing
- using the toilet
- dressing and undressing
- reading
- managing your money
- socialising and being around other people
- talking, listening and understanding
Mobility part
You might get the mobility part of PIP if you need help with:
- working out a route and following it
- physically moving around
- leaving your home
Currently, the Standard rate for daily living is £68.10 per week, while the enhanced rate is £101.75 per week.
The Standard rate for mobility is £26.90 per week.
And the Enhanced rate for mobility is £71.00 per week.
All together, someone successfully claiming PIP can receive up to £9,580 a year.
Those with less than 12 months to live will automatically be eligible for the daily living part of the benefit.
Those in Scotland will need to apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) rather than PIP.
Proposed changes to PIP from the government could see the cash payments swapped for spending vouchers instead, as well as changes to assessments on mental health and increased sanctions. A consultation on benefits is open and will close on July 23.
