An introduction to Personal Independence Payment

1. An introduction to Personal Independence Payment

2. 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 Introduction to PIP PIP Toolkit - Quick Guide

3. Similarities and differences between DLA and PIP PIP Toolkit – Differences and Similarities

4. Daily Living Mobility Enhanced Enhanced 12points Standard Standard 8 points Not Entitled Not Entitled 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 PIP Toolkit – Conditions of Entitlement

5. Assessment Criteria PIP Toolkit – Assessment Criteria

6. 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. 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 16-64 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 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 October 2015 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. • 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. 1 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. Making a claim 2 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. How your disability affects you 3 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. 4 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. The claimant journey There are five key stages to claiming 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 new claim process New claims line: 0800 917 2222 (textphone: 0800 917 7777) PIP enquiries: 0845 850 3322 (textphone: 0845 601 6677). Claimants sent ‘How your disability affects you’ form – return with supporting evidence already held PIP Toolkit – How to claim

12. 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: 0800 917 2222 (text phone 0800 917 7777) 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 www.gov.uk/pip/toolkit. 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 www.gov.uk. 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

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

24. AFIP – Key Points 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 beused in means tested calculations forother 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

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

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

27. 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 www.veterans-uk.info Alternatively, they can call the Veterans Helpline on 0800 169 2277 Or send an email to SPVA-DVS-PLG@mod.uk