Personal Independence Payments (PIP), the benefit designed for those with a long-term physical or mental disability, can take up to six months to be awarded. The long wait can cause extra psychological distress for some people who are already struggling, The Mirror reports.
Potential claimants are advised to apply early, in order to minimise the waiting times. According to the latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the application process can take up to 24 weeks from the start of the claim, to the first payment being awarded.
The PIP scheme is gradually being phased in to replace the Disability Living Allowance, but even transferring from one payment to another can be a lengthy process, the Daily Record reports. The benefit is available for those with a long-term health problem aged between 16 and state pension age, whether working or not, and is not means tested or taxed.
To apply, claimants need to submit an evidence form to the DWP detailing how their condition affects them on a day-to-day basis, and this may lead to an assessment with a health professional. Based on the report they receive, the DWP will make a decision as to what level, if any, of benefit to award.
Depending on the severity of the health issue, claimants will either receive a standard rate or an enhanced rate of payment, which are made straight into a bank account every four weeks. The standard rate is currently £60 per week for daily living, and £23.70 for mobility. The enhanced rate is £89 per week for daily living, and 62.55 for mobility.
Some of the most common conditions which PIP claimants live with are musculoskeletal diseases, such as arthritis, which cause joint pain, and affect the ability to move around the home with ease, and carry out the tasks of daily living. Other common conditions include psychiatric disorders, neurological disease, and respiratory disease.
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26 January,2022
