Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is being replaced by Personal Independence
Payment (PIP)
What is Personal Independence Payment (PIP)?
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is being replaced by Personal Independence Payment
(PIP). PIP will help disabled people to cover the costs of living to enable them to live full,
active, and independent lives. Getting PIP does not depend on other income or savings.
Will I be affected by the change?
Yes, if you receive DLA and are aged between 16 and 64. You will be invited to apply for
PIP. DWP will write to you and tell you how to apply. You will not be affected if you get
Attendance Allowance.
When will this change happen?
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From June 2013 new claims will be for PIP not DLA.
From October 2013 if you get DLA and report a change in condition you will be
reassessed for PIP.
IF your DLA award is due to end or be reviewed on or after 7 October 2013 you will be
contacted in writing by the Department for Work and Pensions asking if you wish to
apply for PIP.
From October 2015 if your DLA has not been renewed or if you haven’t reported a
change in circumstances you will be invited to apply for PIP.
By October 2017 everyone will have been reassessed for PIP.
Will I get PIP?
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You must have an impairment or long term health condition that has lasted at least 3
months and is expected to continue for another 9 months.
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Be aged between 16-64
• You can be in or out of work
- You may qualify for PIP even if you have not qualified for DLA in the past.
How do I move onto PIP?
The change to PIP will not happen automatically. People already receiving DLA will be
contacted about the change to DLA by the Department for Work and Pensions and invited to
make a claim. If you do not claim PIP your DLA will stop. If you claim, you will then be
assessed against the new entitlement criteria. You will be contacted sooner if your DLA claim
is due to be renewed or if you report a change of circumstances.
Check how Personal Independence Payment (PIP) affects you
Use this online tool www.gov.uk/pip-checker to check:
• if PIP affects you
• when your Disability Living Allowance may be affected
• when you can make a new claim for PIP
What will PIP be like?
PIP will consist of two components:
1.
Daily Living component – how much support you need with day-to-day activities.
2.
Mobility component – how much support you need to get around.
You may be awarded one or both of these components.
Each component has a standard rate and an enhanced rate.
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Standard rate when the individual’s ability to carry out daily living or mobility
activities is considered limited.
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Enhanced rate when the individual’s ability to carry out daily living or mobility
activities is considered severely limited.
Do I have to be assessed?
Yes. When you claim PIP you may be required to have a face-to-face consultation. During
this process you will be assessed on your ability to undertake twelve activities. You will score
points on each activity. The activities include preparing food and drink, dressing, and
undressing, communicating, and moving around. You will have to be assessed for PIP even if
you previously received a lifetime award for DLA. There is no automatic transfer from DLA to
PIP. You must apply.
In Wales a company called Capita will carry out the PIP assessments on behalf of the DWP.
It is very important to attend a medical assessment. If you do not attend and do not have a
good reason for not attending then your claim could be rejected.
What about Other Benefits?
Whether you get PIP could affect other benefits and support you and your family receive.
Carers Allowance: If you get the daily living component of PIP, at either the standard or
enhanced rate, a carer can claim Carers Allowance.
Motability: If you get the mobility component of PIP at the enhanced rate you can access the
Motability scheme. The standard rate of mobility component does not give you access to
Motability.
Benefit Cap: You will be exempt from the benefit cap, regardless of the amount of benefits
you receive, if you, your partner or a dependent child claims PIP.
If my PIP claim is successful, how long will my award be for?
You will generally be awarded PIP for a fixed term. There is no set period - it could be as
short as 1 year or as long as 10 years.
What if I don’t get awarded PIP or my award of PIP is less than my current DLA?
If you do not get awarded PIP or the amount of award is less that your current DLA award,
you should ask for a reconsideration of the decision. If after the Department for Work and
Pensions have reconsidered the decision, you still dispute the decision, you appeal to Her
Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service.
So what do I have to do if I am claiming DLA?
You do not need to contact the Department of Work and Pensions yourself to arrange the
change. After October 2013 they will contact you and tell you what to do next. If you want to
get PIP, you will have to complete the application and undergo a face-to-face assessment. If
you meet the conditions for PIP you will be transferred from DLA. If you are not entitled to PIP
you will not be able to keep your DLA as an alternative. If you do not apply for PIP your DLA
payments will stop.
Where can I find out more?
More information can be found online at:
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Department and Work and Pension’s (DWP) Website: www.gov.uk/pip
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The DWP has an online tool which allows you to check how PIP may affect you:
https://www.gov.uk/pip-checker
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The DWP also has a myth-buster factsheet which gives you more information:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/personal-independence-payment-myth-buster.pdf
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The Citizen’s Advice Bureau also has helpful information on their website:
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm
More information can be found by telephone:
• Turn 2 Us: Freephone: 0808 802 2000 (8am – 8pm Monday-Friday). Provides advice
on welfare benefits.
• Disability Benefits Helpline Telephone: 08457 123 456 Textphone: 08457 224 433
(8am-6pm, Monday-Friday)
• Benefit Enquiry Line Freephone: 0800 882 200 Textphone: 0800 243 355 (8am-6pm,
Monday - Friday) – Provides general advice on welfare benefits.
• From June if you want to make a New claim for PIP telephone 0800 917 2222
(textphone 0800 917 7777)
Top Tips from other disabled people:
- Make sure you keep regular contact with your GP/Health Professional, to keep your
records up to date and accurate.
- Photocopy all forms, certificates, and letters sent. Keep a note of all dates letters were
sent and received
- Make sure you keep all relevant paperwork together in one place, e.g. a box, plastic
wallet etc.
- Obtain welfare rights advice about your entitlements and help with completing forms as
early in the application process as possible (e.g. from Citizens Advice Bureau, Local
Authority Income Maximisation Service).
- If you wish to appeal make sure you start the process quickly, as there is a time limit of
1 month after the decision.
- Before a face-to-face assessment, let Capita know you want an audio recording of the
assessment. You have a right to request this however you will have to use your own
recording equipment and give a copy to capita at the end of the assessment. (DWP
policy at the time of writing this April 2013)
- Ask a friend or family member to travel to the assessment with you, this will help you
calm your nerves and provide moral support. They will often ask how you travelled to
the assessment venue.
- Familiarise yourself with the assessment process, the questions that will be asked and
the assumptions that the assessor is likely to make based on your actions and
responses, and the criteria that you will be assessed against. See Where can I find
out more? Sources of contacts.
- Don’t understate the impact of your impairment or health condition, particularly if you
have a fluctuating condition.