1. An introduction to Personal Independence Payment

2. PIP Toolkit - Quick Guide
Introduction to PIP
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a new disability benefit
Personal Independence Payment has replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for new claims from adults aged 16-64
DLA remains for children up to age 16; and DLA recipients aged 65 or over on 8 April 2013 (day that PIP was introduced)
PIP helps towards some of extra costs arising from health condition or disability
PIP based on how person’s condition affects them, not condition itself
Same way as DLA, claimants can get PIP whether in or out of work
Not means tested or taxed
PIP Toolkit - Quick Guide

3. PIP Toolkit – Differences and Similarities
Similarities and differences between DLA and PIP
Similarities
Differences
Extra-costs cash benefit
Not means-tested or taxable
Two components
Payable both in and out of work
Maintains links to passported benefits where possible
Special rules for terminally ill people
three month qualifying period and nine month prospective test
New assessment criteria
Individual assessment and face-to-face consultation
Planned interventions
Reconsiderations process
PIP Toolkit – Differences and Similarities

4. PIP Toolkit – Conditions of Entitlement
Components and Eligibility
PIP will be made up of two components – daily living and mobility
Each can be paid at standard rate, or enhanced rate for those with the greatest needs
The PIP assessment criteria will consider the individuals’ ability to carry out a range of everyday activities
Individuals will receive a point score for each activity, depending on how well they can carry them out and the help they need to do them
The total scores for each component determine whether a component is payable, and if so, whether at the standard or enhanced rate
Enhanced
Standard
Daily Living
Mobility
8 points
12 points
Not Entitled
PIP Toolkit – Conditions of Entitlement

5. Assessment Criteria PIP Toolkit – Assessment Criteria
Daily living component (activities 1-10)
Mobility component (activities 11-12)
Standard rate = 8 points
Enhanced rate = 12 points
Activity
Possible points
1. Preparing food
0-8
11. Planning and following journeys
0-12
2. Taking nutrition
0-10
12. Moving around
3. Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
4. Washing and bathing
5. Managing toilet needs or incontinence
6. Dressing and undressing
7. Communicating verbally
8. Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
9. Engaging with other people face-to-face
10. Making budgeting decisions
0-6
PIP Toolkit – Assessment Criteria

6. PIP Toolkit – Assessment Process and Providers
The new assessment
The PIP assessment will involve health professionals who consider the evidence provided by the claimant, along with any further evidence they think is needed
The health professionals will be employed by independent providers
People will be assessed as individuals, and the focus is on the impact their condition has on their daily lives and over a range of different activities
PIP Toolkit – Assessment Process and Providers

7. PIP Toolkit – Assessment Process and Providers
The new assessment
Most people will be asked to a face-to-face consultation with a health professional as part of the assessment process - claimants will be encouraged to take somebody with them to the consultation
Home visits will be available when necessary
Face-to-face consultations may not be necessary for everyone – for example, those who are terminally ill may not have to have them
The assessment provider will send a report back to the DWP Decision Maker to make a decision
PIP Toolkit – Assessment Process and Providers

8. Timetable for PIP replacing DLA
From 28 October, natural reassessment started in Wales, West Midlands, East Midlands and East Anglia for
those with fixed period DLA awards coming up for renewal
children who turn 16 years old on or after 7 October 2013 (unless they have been awarded DLA under the Special Rules for terminal illness)
those where there is a report of a change in the DLA claimant’s health condition or disability
existing DLA claimants aged who wish to make a PIP claim.
From 13 January 2014, reassessment areas extend to postcodes beginning: DG, EH, TD and ML in southern Scotland and parts of the borders.
From 3 February, areas further extend to include postcodes beginning: CA, DL, HG, LA and YO in the north of England. 
October
2013
January
2014
PIP Toolkit – Reassessing existing DLA claimants
PIP Toolkit – Postcode Map

9. Timetable for PIP replacing DLA
Further decisions on extending natural reassessment will be taken and communicated to the rest of the country in due course and will be informed by the experience of introducing reassessment in a gradual way first.
October
2015
From October 2015
DWP begin to invite remaining DLA claimants to claim PIP who were aged between 16 and 64 on the day that PIP was introduced (8 April 2013
Once selected for reassessment, claimants will be asked to claim PIP
If they do, then their DLA award will normally continue until a decision on the PIP claim is made
If they don’t claim PIP then their DLA claim will end
PIP Toolkit – Reassessing existing DLA claimants
PIP Toolkit – PIP checker

10. PIP Toolkit – Claimant Journey
The claimant journey There are five key stages to claiming
Thinking about claiming
Information about PIP will be available from a range of sources, including online, via leaflets and through support organisations.
Existing DLA claimants will be contacted individually to ask if they want to claim PIP. 1
Making a claim
Claimants (or those supporting them) phone DWP to make a claim to PIP. Paper claims won’t normally be used, and online claims will not be available before 2014.
DWP will send claimants a form where they can explain how their disability affects them. 2
How your disability affects you
Claimant completes the ‘How your disability affects you’ form to explain how their condition affects their daily life, both on good and bad days and over a range of activities.
Supporting evidence can be sent with this form, which they return to DWP by post. 3
Assessment
Claim details, form and supporting evidence are passed to the health professional.
Most people will be asked to attend a face to face consultation The health professional reviews the claim against a set of clear descriptors to assess the challenges faced by the individual. 4 5
Decision
A DWP Decision Maker will use all the information in the claim form, from the health professional and anything else that has been provided. They will make a reasoned decision on entitlement, including the level and length of award.
PIP Toolkit – Claimant Journey

11. PIP Toolkit – How to claim
PIP new claim process
New claims line: (textphone: )
PIP enquiries: (textphone: ).
Claimants sent ‘How your disability affects you’ form – return with supporting evidence already held
PIP Toolkit – How to claim

12. PIP Toolkit – Decisions and Payment
Award reviews
The length of award for PIP will be based upon each claimant’s individual circumstances
DWP regularly reviews awards
When awards ends, claimant can make new claim
DWP contact claimants with longer awards occasionally to see if needs have changed
PIP Toolkit – Decisions and Payment

13. Special rules for terminal illness
Claims for those who are found to meet the special rules for terminal illness criteria
will be dealt with more quickly than normal claims
are guaranteed an award of the enhanced rate of the daily living component of PIP without having to wait until they satisfy the qualifying period or prospective test
both the daily living component and, providing the conditions are met, the mobility component will be paid straight away
The claimant will not be sent the form ‘How your disability affects you’
they will be asked some extra questions whilst they are on the phone about their condition and how it affects their ability to get around
PIP Toolkit – Special rules

14. Special rules for terminal illness
Special rules claims line: (text phone )
DS1500 report needed to support claim
Both the Daily Living and, providing conditions met, the Mobility component paid straight away
Don’t have to complete the ‘How your disability affects you’ form
Don’t need a face-to-face consultation
PIP Toolkit – Special rules

15. Passporting to other benefits and services
Many DLA claimants are receiving other benefits, such as ESA
Most DLA claimants receiving Incapacity Benefit will have already been reassessed for Employment and Support Allowance by the time they need to make a claim to PIP
Households where someone is in receipt of DLA/PIP are exempt from the new Benefit Cap
PIP Toolkit – Access to other benefits and services

16. Passporting to other benefits and services
Most existing passporting arrangements have been maintained for PIP
receipt of the Daily Living component (either rate) means that their carer may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance
Motability scheme will work with PIP in the same way as it does with DLA
Changes in entitlement may affect other benefits or support that the claimant or carer receives
PIP Toolkit – Access to other benefits and services

17. Motability, Blue Badge, Concessionary travel and Vehicle Excise Duty
If a claimant gets the enhanced rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment, they may be able to use all or part of their allowance to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair from the Motability scheme
If a claimant gets the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment they might be able to claim for a Blue Badge
They may also be able to claim a pass to travel for free on public transport
If the claimant gets the enhanced rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment they won’t have to pay car tax
If the claimant gets the standard rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment they will only have to pay half the price of a car tax disc
PIP Toolkit – Access to other benefits and services

18. Awards
If someone is awarded PIP we will tell them how long the award is for
We will write to them to tell them how and when they need to tell us about any change in circumstances
Claimants will have their award regularly reviewed
When someone’s award comes to an end, they can decide to make a further claim to PIP, if they still have needs arising from their health condition or disability
If someone is given a longer award we will contact them occasionally to see if their needs have changed over time
PIP Toolkit – Disputes

19. Disputes
The change to the appeals process for DWP consists of the following key elements
mandatory reconsideration of decisions prior to appeal
direct lodgement of appeals with HMCTS
time limits for DWP to return appeal responses to HMCTS.
DWP will introduce mandatory reconsideration and direct lodgement for PIP from April 2013
PIP Toolkit – Disputes

20. Where to find more information
Information for support organisations and advisers is online at The site includes a quick guide to PIP for advisers, an overview of the claimant journey and frequently asked questions
We’ll also include the latest news in the monthly Touchbase bulletin – sign up at the DWP website
Information aimed at claimants is available on Please signpost to these pages from your own sites or materials
Updated leaflets are also available – generic information in existing leaflets, and PIP specific leaflet
Talk to your local DWP Partner Manager

21. Disability Living Allowance for Children(DLA)
Non-contributory, not income related,
Award based on condition and limitations
Broken into two parts – mobility and care
For customers from age up to 16 with disabilities or restrictions for over 3 months
Unless special rules apply
Paid for as long as the conditions are satisfied or reaching age 16, review dates are also set if need be
Gateway to other benefits/services
Notes: Dee
CARE – HIGH – 70.35, MIDDLE – 47.10, LOW – 18.65
MOBILITY – HIGH – 49.10, LOW – 18.65 21

22. THE ARMED FORCES
INDEPENDENCE PAYMENT
(AFIP)

23. AFIP – A brief introduction
The Ministry of Defence (MOD), in conjunction with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), is introducing a new benefit called the Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)
AFIP is a simplification of the financial support available for members of the Armed Forces who have been seriously injured as a result of military service since 6 April 2005
The current Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will be replaced for working age claimants (16 to 64) by the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). AFIP is an alternative to PIP for seriously injured service personnel and veterans 23

24. AFIP – Key Points 24 AFIP was introduced from 8 April 2013
Payments will amount the same payment as the enhanced rate of both components of PIP and will be paid in arrears, every 4 weeks
Payments are tax free and will not be used in means tested calculations for other benefits
Payments do not impact on access to other benefits. Claims for other benefits can be made as now, and where entitled, personnel will receive those other benefits, except for DLA, AA and PIP.
AFIP claimants will not be required to undergo an assessment or any reassessments in the future 24

25. AFIP – Eligibility
Service personnel and veterans awarded a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) of 50% or higher under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme will be eligible to claim for AFIP
Personnel who were injured prior to 6 April 2005 and who are covered by the War Pensions Scheme will, if not in receipt of scheme equivalents e.g. Constant Attendance Allowance, be able to apply for PIP or DLA in the usual way 25

26. AFIP or PIP There is a choice..
Personnel eligible for AFIP will need to consider which allowance best suits their circumstances i.e. AFIP or PIP
AFIP claimants will receive the same payment as the enhanced rate of both components of PIP
However, claimants will need to consider the “passporting” arrangements (access to other benefits) to ensure they receive the right / appropriate support 26

27. Where to get more information
Further Information
Where to get more information
You can find out more information about AFIP at the PIP intranet site
There is more information for claimants and customer representative groups online at
Alternatively, they can call the Veterans Helpline on
Or send an to