DWP has also confirmed that any changes to PIP will not be made until after a ‘comprehensive review’
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has recently confirmed that any alterations to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will not be implemented until after a “comprehensive review” of the disability benefit is completed next year, likely by Autumn.
The DWP has also verified that eligibility for the mobility component of PIP will be reassessed alongside the daily living element, as part of the UK Government’s welfare reforms. The Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, will collaborate with disabled groups and charities to conduct the review.
PIP claimants who receive the higher rate of the PIP mobility component have the option to allocate some or all of their payment towards leasing a new car, wheelchair-accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair through the Motability Scheme.
Recent statistics from Motability Operations – the company behind the transformative Motability Scheme – reveal that there are currently 815,000 customers across the UK.
Latest data from the DWP indicates that around 37 per cent of all 3.8 million claimants were receiving the enhanced rate of both the daily living component and mobility component at the end of July, reports the Daily Record.
Five most-claimed PIP conditions
The five most common conditions claimed for under PIP, along with the percentage of claimants receiving the enhanced rates of the daily living and mobility components, are as follows:
Psychiatric disorder
- Daily living and mobility component – 42%
- Daily living component only – 69%
- Mobility component only – 46%
Musculoskeletal disease (general)
- Daily living and mobility component – 26%
- Daily living component only – 34%
- Mobility component only – 45%
Neurological disease
- Daily living and mobility component – 51%
- Daily living component only – 58%
- Mobility component only – 72%
Musculoskeletal disease (regional)
- Daily living and mobility component – 20%
- Daily living component only – 27%
- Mobility component only – 45%
Respiratory disease
- Daily living and mobility component – 31%
- Daily living component only – 37%
- Mobility component only – 57%
During the most recent oral questions session in Parliament, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was asked to “consider the benefits to which Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a gateway, such as Motability, disability premiums, Council Tax discounts and Blue Badges”.
Sir Stephen was also pressed to “promise at least that those entitlements could come down”.
He responded: “We have made it clear that we will co-produce our review of the PIP assessment with disabled people and representatives of disability organisations. The review will cover the assessment for the mobility component, which leads on to the Motability scheme, and other entitlements to which PIP is a gateway.”
Currently, there are over 3.2 million Blue Badge permit holders across the UK.
Other benefits accessible with a PIP award
Even if you may not qualify for any or all of these benefits, it’s worth checking to ensure you’re not missing out on additional support.
- Access to Work
- Carer’s Allowance / Carer Support Payment
- Carer’s Credit
- Christmas Bonus
- Council Tax Reduction
- Employment and Support Allowance – only if you get the PIP daily living component
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit – only if you get the PIP daily living component
- Universal Credit
You can read the full PIP Handbook on GOV.UK here.
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