Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Once you have received your ‘How my disability affects me’’ (PIP2) form the DEBRA EB Community Support Team is able to help with all steps of the application process, including challenging decisions and advocating on your behalf at a tribunal.

DOWNLOAD THE PIP FLOWCHART

Entitlement to PIP can be affected by your nationality, immigration status and where you have lived for the last three years. Disability is not assessed at this stage; this is assessed at the face-to-face consultation after completing the PIP2 form. In order to quality for PIP, you must meet the criteria:

• Age – you must be between 16 and 64 (or below your state pension age)
• Daily living and/or mobility test – you will be assessed on how your life is impacted by your condition (these are assessed on a minimum of three months, with a view of the condition not improving over the full twelve-month period)
• Immigration – you must not be subject to immigration control (e.g. you must not be on a temporary VISA that states you have no recourse to public funds)
• Residency – you should normally be living in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) for 104 of the last 156 weeks (i.e. two of the last three years)

If you are over the age of 64 and over (or at your state pension age), you are not eligible for PIP but may be eligible for other benefits (e.g. Attendance Allowance).

You still may be eligible for PIP even if you do not meet all of the criteria above and can prove you have exceptional circumstances (e.g. Refugee status).

Please visit the government’s website for more information on PIP eligibility.

So the terminally ill can receive support more quickly, there are more lenient and simplified rules for people who have been diagnosed as terminally ill. If terminally ill, you do not have to meet the qualifying period for the daily living and/or mobility test, nor be normally resident in the UK (but you should be resident at the time of claiming).

Terminally ill applicants should include a DS1500 form (available from your GP or consultant). You will not be required to complete part of the application and will not have to attend a face-to-face consultation. However, you will be asked additional questions about your condition and how it affects your ability to get around.

Terminally ill PIP recipients will automatically qualify for the enhanced rate of the daily living component but it does not impact the mobility component rate, which is still determined by your ability to get around.

Claiming PIP for terminally ill people should be done over the phone:

• England, Scotland and Wales – 0800 917 2222
• Northern Ireland – 0800 012 1573

The person who is terminally ill can either make the call themselves or be present when someone supporting them makes a call on their behalf; this is so that the recipient can be contacted to verify payment details and other notifications.

PIP is not means-tested and is tax free; PIP can be paid to you regardless of your income, savings or National Insurance (NI) contribution record. You are able to receive PIP allowance whether you are a student or working, receive other government-backed benefits (e.g. Carers Allowance) or not. There are no restrictions on how you can spend your PIP allowance.