Exact amount PIP will rise this year – will you be better off?
MILLIONS of households receiving PIP will see their payments rise in April.
This is because benefits and Universal Credit payments will rise in line with September’s inflation rate of 10.1%.
The uplift was announced by Jeremy Hunt in his Autumn Statement last year.
Costing £11billion, the uplift will help 10million households in total and all three million of those receiving PIP.
PIP is available for those aged 16 or over who have not reached the state pension age.
Right now the benefit is worth up to £156.90 a week, so it’s worth checking if you can make a claim.
PIP is made up of two parts and whether you get one or both of these depends on how severely your condition affects you.
How much you get also depends on how your condition affects you.
Those on the daily living part of PIP get either £61.85 or £92.40 a week – but this will rise to £68.10 or £101.75 a week from April.
Some may get the mobility part of PIP if they need help going out or moving around.
The weekly rate for the disability part is either £24.45 or £64.50 – but this will rise to £26.90 or £71 a week from April.
So those receiving the higher weekly rate for both the daily living part and mobility part will see their PIP payments rise by £15.85 a week or £826.46 a year from April.
And those receiving the lower weekly rate for both the daily living part and mobility part will see their PIP payments rise by £8.70 a week or £453.64 a year from April.
To qualify for PIP you have to have a health condition or disability where you either have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for three months.
There should also be an expectation that these difficulties will continue for at least nine months – unless you’re terminally ill with less than six months to live.
You’ll be assessed by a health professional to work out the level of help you can get and your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you’re getting the right support.
How do I apply for PIP?
You can make a new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim by calling the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 0800 917 2222.
This is the government department tasked with paying out benefits to millions every year.
There are also other ways to claim if you find it difficult to use a telephone. Visit Gov.UK for more information.
When you claim, you’ll need:
- Your contact details
- Date of birth
- National insurance number
- Bank or building society account number and sort code
- Your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
- Dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital
Someone else can call on your behalf, but you’ll need to be with them when they call.
You’ll then be sent a form to fill in, after which you’ll be invited for an assessment or your health or social care worker will be asked for information.
After this, you’ll be sent a letter telling you if your claim has been successful.
You can read Citizens Advice’s help on preparing for an assessment on their website.
What other benefits will rise in April?
Both legacy benefits and Universal Credit payments will rise in line with September’s inflation rate of 10.1% in April.
The increase in line with inflation is designed to help people keep up with rising prices.
Last April, benefits rose by 3.1% but prices have soared even more since then.
The following benefits will increase in April:
- Universal Credit
- Housing benefit
- Pension credit
- Attendance allowance
- Carer’s allowance
- Disability living allowance
- Employment and support allowance
- Job seekers allowance
- Maternity, paternity, adoption and shared paternal pay
- Income support
- State pension
We’ve previously explained how much these benefit payments will rise by in April.