There are at the moment 2.9 million folks throughout the UK at the moment claiming assist by Private Independence Funds (PIP) and accessing a complete vary of further help together with Council Tax Reductions, profit top-ups and free or discounted public transport.
Of that whole determine, 305,279 folks residing in Scotland are receiving monetary assist of between £24.45 and £156.90 every week - the profit is paid each 4 weeks so this quantities to between £97.80 and £627.60 each fee interval.
PIP is a profit at the moment delivered by the Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) which is designed to assist folks with the additional prices of each day residing or getting round because of a long-term sickness, psychological well being situation or incapacity.
Nevertheless, many individuals are delay claiming this important profit, wrongly assuming that they don't seem to be eligible or have heard unfavorable tales concerning the software course of.
We now have compiled an inventory of the commonest PIP myths that cease folks making a declare and a fast information to creating one.
Fantasy: PIP won't be paid to people who find themselves working
Truth: PIP will be claimed by people who find themselves in or out of full or part-time work. You additionally don't have to have paid Nationwide Insurance coverage contributions to qualify.
Fantasy: Working will have an effect on the quantity of PIP you obtain or cease funds utterly
Truth: PIP isn't means-tested or taxable and isn't affected by earnings gained from employment.
Fantasy: Individuals with financial savings can not declare PIP
Truth: PIP isn't affected by financial savings, nevertheless massive or small.
Fantasy: The eligibility standards for PIP is similar as Incapacity Residing Allowance
Truth: PIP has completely different eligibility standards and isn't primarily based on the well being situation or incapacity somebody has.
Claims are assessed primarily based on how that situation or incapacity impacts somebody’s capability to soundly perform day-to-day residing duties reminiscent of cooking, washing and speaking or shifting round exterior their residence.
Fantasy: Everybody who receives DLA will mechanically be eligible for PIP
Truth: There is no such thing as a computerized switch from DLA to PIP - folks aged over 16 and below State Pension age will obtain a letter inviting them to use.
Fantasy: PIP is just for folks with bodily disabilities
Truth: That is wrongly assumed by many individuals, however the commonest purpose for a declare is for assist with a ‘hidden’ incapacity.
There are tons of of 1000's of individuals throughout the UK receiving PIP to assist them deal with a psychological well being situation, together with stress, nervousness and melancholy.
The evaluation standards for PIP displays a extra full consideration of the impression of people’ well being situations or impairments whether or not it’s bodily, sensory, psychological or cognitive.
Fantasy: PIP claims won't be thought-about for 3 months
Truth: If you wish to declare PIP for the primary time there's a three month qualifying interval (that is the interval throughout which you might have had a well being situation or incapacity) and the wants arising out of your situation or incapacity have to be anticipated to final for an extra 9 months.
The qualifying interval begins from when your eligible wants come up and never from once you make a declare.
Fantasy: PIP claims take months to course of
Truth: The continued impression of the coronavirus pandemic has meant that a new PIP declare can take as much as 22 weeks from the purpose of initially contacting the DWP to register a brand new declare till an award letter is obtained.
Fantasy: There shall be a break in funds between shifting from DLA to PIP
Truth: There aren't any breaks in fee and the award letter will clarify what funds you'll obtain and when.
Fantasy: You can not ship further info with the ‘How your incapacity impacts you’ software kind
Truth: The ‘ How your incapacity impacts you ’ kind provides you the chance to inform the DWP how your incapacity impacts your each day life, each on good and dangerous days and over a variety of actions.
It's best to return the shape with supporting proof already held on file.
Examples of proof that's essential so that you can present consists of:
- prescription lists
- care plans or diary of each day care wants
- GP or outpatient clinic letters
- medical take a look at outcomes
- hospital discharge letters
- assertion of particular academic wants
certificates of visible impairment
studies or info from professionals reminiscent of a GP, hospital physician, specialist nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, social employee, assist employee or counsellor
The supporting proof you ship must be related to your situation and never be greater than two years outdated - at all times ship photocopies, by no means originals.
Fantasy: Should you disagree with the DWP choice you can't current any additional proof
Truth: You may talk about the explanations for the choice with the DWP Determination Maker and establish whether or not you might have any additional info that hasn’t been thought-about.
Should you disagree with the choice you'll be able to ask the DWP Determination Maker to take a look at it once more, this is named a Necessary Reconsideration.
PIP is at the moment delivered by the DWP, however that's set to vary for Scottish claimants this 12 months as Social Safety Scotland is changing it with the Grownup Incapacity Cost - discover out extra concerning the modifications right here.
Who's eligible for PIP?
You don't want to have labored or paid Nationwide Insurance coverage to qualify for PIP, and it doesn’t matter what your earnings is, if in case you have any financial savings or if you're working.
You will need to have a well being situation or incapacity the place you:
have had difficulties with each day residing or getting round (or each) for 3 months
anticipate these difficulties to proceed for a minimum of 9 months
You normally have to have lived within the UK for a minimum of two of the final three years and be within the nation once you apply.
Should you get or need assistance with any of the next due to your situation, it's best to contemplate making use of for PIP:
- getting ready, cooking or consuming meals
- managing your remedy
- washing, bathing or utilizing the bathroom
- dressing and undressing
- partaking and speaking with different folks
- studying and understanding written info
- making selections about cash
- planning a journey or following a route
- shifting round
There are completely different guidelines if you're terminally unwell, you will discover these on the GOV.UK web site right here.
How is PIP paid?
PIP is normally paid each 4 weeks except you might be terminally unwell, wherein case it's paid each week.
PIP shall be paid instantly into your financial institution, constructing society or credit score union account.
PIP fee charges 2022/23
You will want an evaluation to work out the extent of monetary assist you'll obtain and your charge shall be repeatedly reviewed to ensure you are getting the precise assist.
PIP is made up of two parts:
Each day residing
Mobility
Whether or not you get one or each of those and the way a lot will depend on how severely your situation impacts you.
You'll be paid the next quantities per week relying in your circumstances:
Each day residing
Normal charge: £61.85
Enhanced charge: £92.40
Mobility
Normal charge: £24.45
Enhanced charge: £64.50
How you might be assessed
You'll be assessed by an impartial healthcare skilled to assist the DWP decide the extent of monetary assist, if any, you want.
Face-to-face assessments at the moment are provided alongside phone, video name and paper-based consultations.
You will discover assistance on getting ready for any kind of PIP evaluation right here.
How do you make a declare for PIP?
You may make a brand new declare by contacting the DWP, you’ll discover all the knowledge that you must apply on the GOV.UK web site right here.
Earlier than you name, you will want:
your contact particulars, for instance phone quantity
your date of start
your Nationwide Insurance coverage quantity - that is on letters about tax, pensions and advantages
your financial institution or constructing society account quantity and kind code
your physician or well being employee’s identify, handle and phone quantity
dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent overseas, in a care residence or hospital
Upon getting contacted the DWP, they are going to ship you a doc to finish which consists of 14 questions and a bit for any further info.
The questions concentrate on how your situation impacts you - put as a lot related element in as you'll be able to to assist the assessor perceive your bodily and psychological well being wants.
You probably have issue filling in your kind or understanding the questions, contact your native council and ask for assist or Residents Recommendation Scotland.
We now have a breakdown of all 14 questions right here and you'll take an nameless self-test on-line at Advantages and Work to see what number of factors you'd be awarded for every response.
There's additionally a web-based PIP toolkit with examples of all of the questions that can assist you reply totally with probably the most related info, discover out extra about this right here.
Even should you do not qualify for monetary assist, you possibly can be eligible for a Nationwide Entitlement Journey Card, which provides free or lowered journey throughout Scotland on most public transport hyperlinks.
For extra details about PIP, go to GOV.UK right here.
To maintain updated with the most recent PIP information, be a part of our Cash Saving Scotland Fb group right here, comply with File Cash on Twitter right here, or subscribe to our twice weekly e-newsletter right here.