PIP claimants can claim 10 freebies including help with energy bills

Personal Independence Payment: Advice on how to claim

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Almost three million people claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) due to a health condition or disability that affects their everyday lives. Monthly bills can be around £600 higher for people with disabilities, disability charities are warning, but there are support schemes available to people on PIP which could save Britons a lot of money this winter.

As Britons struggle to meet the rising cost of living, there has never been a more important time to check benefits entitlement.

Millions of people are missing out on benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) including PIP which could be a lifeline to people with health conditions this winter.

PIP is paid to people who haven’t yet reached state pension age who need help carrying out everyday tasks.

How much someone receives depends on how much their condition affects them, but 35 percent of claimants are granted £627 a month – the highest level of award.

All kinds of health conditions qualify for PIP but the most common reason people give for claiming are:

  • Psychiatric disorders (which includes mixed anxiety and depressive disorders)
  • Musculoskeletal disease (general)
  • Musculoskeletal disease (regional)
  • Neurological disease
  • Respiratory disease.

Poverty charity Turn2Us recommends checking its PIP Test Guide before making a claim.

PIP is not means tested so it can be claimed even if someone is still working or has savings.

A face to face assessment is part of the application process although many people want this scrapped.

A petition published on the Parliament website for a full review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application process – now has more than 15,000 signatures.

The petition states: “We believe that the Personal Independence Payment application and assessment process is inhumane and degrading.

“We believe Capita and Atos are not fit for purpose to be contracted as independent assessors, and that this leads to many people being unfairly denied benefits.

In response, the DWP said: “While Government has no plans to review PIP, following the Shaping Future Support Green Paper we will publish a White Paper on better meeting needs of disabled people and those with health conditions.”

At 100,000 signatures, this petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.

PIP claimants are also eligible for:

  • Free prescriptions (depending on illness)
  • Free or reduced council tax bills
  • Capped water bills
  • Reduced price bus or rail fares
  • Motability scheme
  • £140 Warm Home Discount Scheme
  • Cold Weather Payments
  • Blue badge in England and Wales
  • Vehicle tax discount of up to 100 percent
  • Disabled Facilities Grant (up to £30,000).

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