PIP: Certain health conditions may mean you are entitled to thousands in back pay

Personal Independence Payment: Advice on how to claim

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PIP is designed to help individuals who need extra support due to living with a long-term health need or disability. The sum is overseen by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and can help Britons in covering their day to day costs. But following a law change, some individuals in receipt of PIP could be entitled to further support in the form of backdated payments.

The Government has already started processing these payments, with approximately £18million already paid out to those impacted.

Legal cases found the DWP had not awarded the right amount of points to individuals with mental health conditions.

Particularly impacted were those who needed support in engaging face to face with other people.

While most PIP claims were correct, there will be some instances where an award was miscalculated.

And the DWP is taking action to rectify the situation for those affected.

The website Benefits and Work cited an instance where one claimant was able to claim £12,000 worth of back payments. 

After asking the Department to look at his case, as well as undertaking a tribunal, he was able to receive the sum.

But what type of conditions could be impacted, and who could receive support?

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Benefits and Work also identified conditions where it is likely individuals may receive a back payment.

These are:

  • Agoraphobia
  • Alcohol misuse
  • Anxiety and depressive disorders (mixed)
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Autism
  • Bipolar affective disorder (Hypomania / Mania)
  • Cognitive disorders
  • Dementia
  • Depressive disorder
  • Drug misuse
  • Learning disability
  • Mood disorders
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD
  • Panic disorder
  • Personality disorder
  • Phobias
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Psychotic disorders
  • Schizoaffective disorder
  • Schizophrenia
  • Stress reaction disorders

The DWP has written to individuals who are affected, however, it may be the case that some individuals have not been identified, Citizens Advice explained.

As a result, the service has recommended individuals contact the Department themselves if they feel they have been impacted.

People will be eligible for PIP if they are 16 or over, and usually have not reached state pension age.

They must also have a physical or mental health condition or disability where they:

  • Have had difficulties with daily living or getting around, or both, for three months
  • Expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months

PIP is comprised of two parts, and whether someone gets one or both is dependent on the severity of their condition.

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The payment, though, is tax-free and is not impacted by the income or savings a person has. 

The first part is the daily living component, set at either £60.00 or £89.60 per week.

The weekly sum for the mobility part is either £23.70 or £62.55. 

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