HEALTHCARE AND BENEFITS SUPPORT
PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE PAYMENT (PIP)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is intended to offer financial assistance to adults of working age who encounter additional expenses as a result of their health condition or disability.
If you are above 16 years old and under the State Pension age and need help with daily living tasks, mobility, or both, you may be eligible for PIP.
Your eligibility for PIP is not based on your National Insurance contributions or means-testing. This means that your income or savings will not impact your eligibility for PIP.
It is distinct from other benefits and is not influenced by one's income, savings, or employment situation. PIP aims to aid individuals in covering the additional costs associated with their daily lives, such as transportation or specialised equipment.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:
- A health condition or disability that impacts one's capacity to perform everyday tasks.
- A health condition or disability that hinders one's mobility outside of their residence
The amount of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) that you receive is determined by the level of difficulty you experience with certain aspects of daily life.
- Everyday activities (‘daily living’ tasks)
- Getting around (‘mobility’ tasks)
The PIP amount you can get:
- Daily Living part: Low Rate - £68.10 High Rate - £101.75
- Mobility part: Low Rate - £26.90 High rate - £71.00
The payment for PIP is typically made every four weeks, as this will be stated in your decision letter.
The decision letter also provides you with important information such as:
- The specific date of your first payment
- The regular day of the week when you can expect to receive your payments
- The duration for which you will receive PIP
- Details about any future reviews of your claim
If your payment date falls on a bank holiday, you will receive your payment before the holiday, and thereafter, your payments will resume as usual.
It is worth noting that all benefits, pensions, and allowances are directly deposited.
Personal Independence
To be eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), certain criteria must be met. These include fulfilling all of the following conditions:
- You’re aged 16 to 65
- You have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- You have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around
You expect the difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started
To qualify for PIP, you must be below the State Pension age. If you've received PIP before or reached the State Pension age, there are other options. If you're over the State Pension age, you can apply for Attendance Allowance. If you were eligible for PIP before reaching the State Pension age, you can still make a new claim.
After you have completed and submitted your PIP form, a healthcare professional will assess your claim. As part of this process, there may be a face-to-face assessment to further assess your needs. The assessment will determine the level of assistance you require, which in turn will determine the amount of PIP you may be eligible to receive. Once the assessment is complete, you will be notified of the outcome of your claim. If your claim is denied, you have the option to challenge the decision.
If you require guidance or assistance in completing a PIP claims form or a Mandatory Reconsideration (appeal) form, you can contact our Your Advice Hub specialist advisors today.
ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE SUPPORT
Attendance Allowance, a non-contributory Social Security benefit, is provided to elderly disabled individuals. Enacted under the National Insurance Act of 1970, this benefit aims to offer assistance to those who are capable of living independently but may require residential care if not for this support.
Attendance Allowance provides additional financial support for individuals who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. The specific nature of the condition is not important; rather, what matters is the impact it has on the individual. If you have reached the State Pension age and require assistance with personal care or ensuring your well-being, you may be eligible for this allowance.
Attendance Allowance can provide assistance to individuals over the age of 65 who require regular support with personal care or supervision.
To be eligible, it is important to provide comprehensive information about the specific areas where assistance is needed, such as:
- Toileting
- Dressing and undressing
- Washing and bathing
- Eating and drinking
Supervision to ensure the safety of oneself and others.
This allowance is designed to address a range of physical and mental challenges, including sensory impairments like blindness and learning difficulties, or a combination of both.
The amount you receive in financial assistance for personal support varies based on the level of care required due to your disability, and it is paid at two different rates (lower rate or higher rate).
Depending on your specific needs, you may be eligible to receive either £68.10 or £101.75 per week to assist with personal support if you are both:
- Physically or mentally disabled
- State Pension age or older
Mobility requirements are not included in the coverage provided.
If you are eligible for Attendance Allowance, you may also be entitled to additional benefits such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Reduction.
It is important to note that you do not need to have a caregiver to claim this benefit.
DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE SUPPORT
Disabled individuals who require assistance with mobility or care expenses can receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for Children, which is a tax-free benefit.
The Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children offers financial support to families who have a child with a disability, helping them manage the additional costs that come with providing care and support.
- Is under the age of 16
- Has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability
The eligibility requirements must be met to qualify for the DLA payment, which can vary between £26.90 and £172.50 per week, depending on the level of support needed by the child.
If you are between the ages of 16 and 64 and are not currently receiving DLA, you may be eligible to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead.
The current system of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is changing, as it is being replaced by alternative benefits. If you are currently receiving DLA, it is important to note that your claim may come to an end.
However, you will receive a letter informing you of the specific date when this change will occur and providing guidance on how to apply for either Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment.
PIP payments start right after DLA payments end, ensuring a smooth transition in financial support. you
After your PIP application is assessed and a decision is made, you will receive payments for at least 28 days, ensuring consistent financial assistance.
DLA payments will continue until a decision is made on your PIP application, guaranteeing continuous financial support during this period.
If your circumstances change, contact the Disability Service Centre immediately. This is important because it could affect your DLA amount.
Changes may require a reassessment of your eligibility and entitlement and examples of these changes are:
- The level of help you need or your condition changes
- You go into a hospital or a care home for more than 4 weeks
- A medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live
- You plan to go abroad for more than 4 weeks
- You’re imprisoned or held in detention
You must also contact the centre if:
- If you change your name, address or bank details you want to stop receiving your benefit
- Your doctor’s details change
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CARER’S ALLOWANCE SUPPORT
Carer's Allowance is a financial benefit that individuals may qualify for if they dedicate a minimum of 35 hours per week to caring for someone who has an illness or disability and you may be eligible for a weekly payment of £76.75. This additional monetary support aims to assist those who provide extensive care for their loved ones.
If another person is also providing care for the same individual, only one of you can claim the Carer's Allowance. It is important to consider that receiving the Carer's Allowance may affect the benefits received by both you and the person you are caring for.
If your income exceeds the Personal Allowance, you will have to pay taxes on the Carer's Allowance. The person you provide care for does not have to be a relative or someone you reside with. Caring for multiple individuals does not result in additional payments.
The standard Personal Allowance stands at £12,570, representing the income that is exempt from taxation.
In certain cases, your Personal Allowance can be increased if you are eligible for a Marriage Allowance or a Blind Person's Allowance.
If your income exceeds £100,000, your Personal Allowance will be reduced.
Carer’s Allowance eligibility is determined by specific criteria that must be met by both the caregiver and the individual receiving care, as well as the nature of the care being provided. If these criteria are satisfied, you may qualify for Carer’s Allowance.
The person you care for must already get one of these benefits:
- Personal Independence Payment - daily living component
- Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Child Disability Payment - the middle or highest care rate
- Adult Disability Payment - daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate
Payments that do not count as earnings include:
- Money received from an occupational or private pension
- Contributions towards your living or accommodation costs from someone you live with (they cannot be a tenant or boarder)
- The first £20 a week and 50% of the rest of any income you make from someone boarding in your home
- A loan or advance payment from your employer
THE CONTRIBUTORY EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE
The Contributory Employment and Support Allowance is a form of financial assistance provided to individuals who are unable to work due to illness or disability. In the case of Universal Credit claimants, this benefit is referred to as the 'New-style Employment and Support Allowance'.
Within the legacy benefits system, there are two types of Employment and Support Allowance available: contribution-based and income-related. The contribution-based allowance is granted to individuals who have made sufficient National Insurance contributions during their employment period.
The New Style ESA is a biweekly allowance that can be applied for independently or alongside Universal Credit (UC). In the case of receiving both benefits, the amount received for New Style ESA will be deducted from your Universal Credit payment.
New Style ESA is a form of contributory benefit that requires meeting certain criteria. Typically, this entails having made sufficient National Insurance contributions or being credited with them during the two complete tax years before the year in which you are making the claim.
To be eligible for the New Style ESA, it is typically required that you have been employed or self-employed within the past 2 to 3 years and have made Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions, either through employment or self-employment.
f you are uncertain about the amount of National Insurance contributions you have made, you can easily access your National Insurance record online to verify the details.
While your claim is being assessed you will get the following payment:
- Up to £67.20 a week if you’re aged under 25
- Up to £84.80 a week if you’re aged 25 or over
If the assessment of your claim extends beyond 13 weeks, you will continue to receive the 'assessment rate' until a decision is made or until the conclusion of your ESA entitlement.
After your claim has been assessed you will receive the following payment:
If you qualify for ESA, you will be assigned to one of two groups. If you are capable of returning to work at a later time, you will be placed in the work-related activity group. However, if you are unable to do so, you will be placed in the support group.
You’ll get:
Up to £84.80 a week if you’re in the work-related activity group
Up to £129.50 a week if you’re in the support group
If you are in a support group
Individuals who are part of the support group and receive income-related ESA are eligible to receive the enhanced disability premium, which provides additional financial support.
Upon initially applying for Employment and Support Allowance, it is sufficient to provide a medical certificate as evidence. However, once the 'assessment phase' of approximately 13 weeks has passed, eligibility for Employment and Support Allowance is contingent upon meeting the criteria outlined in the 'Work Capability Assessment'. To determine if an individual meets these criteria, they are typically required to attend an in-person assessment, which may take place at a nearby health centre or, in cases where specific health requirements exist, an assessor may visit the individual's home.
Capability to Work Assessment
During the evaluation of your claim for new style ESA, you must undergo a Work Capability Assessment. This assessment aims to determine how your illness or disability impacts your ability to work. If you are claiming both UC and new style ESA, you will only need to attend one Work Capability Assessment.
The Department for Work and Pensions will make the necessary arrangements for this assessment. Initially, you can receive new style ESA for a maximum of 365 days.
After this period, your entitlement will cease, and your work coach will provide guidance on the available options. However, if you are assessed to have limited capability for work and work-related activity, the time limit does not apply to you.
BEREAVEMENT ALLOWANCE SUPPORT
The Bereavement Support Payment is given to the spouse or partner of someone who died in the past 21 months. It was introduced in April 2017 to replace the Bereavement Payment and Bereavement Allowance, which had replaced the Widow's benefit in April 2001.
Unlike other types of financial aid, the Bereavement Support Payment does not require a means test. This means that your income or savings will not affect the amount you receive, ensuring that eligible individuals can receive the necessary support during this challenging period.
What you will get:
If you are married or in a registered civil partnership, certain criteria will determine the rate of financial support you may receive after the passing of your partner.
If any of the following circumstances applied when your partner died, you would be eligible for the higher rate:
- If you were receiving Child Benefit for a child that resided with you
- If you were informed by the Child Benefit Office that you were entitled to Child Benefit for a child that lived with you
- If you were pregnant
The maximum amount you can receive under the higher rate is either:
- A one-time payment of £3,500
- 18 monthly payments of £350
If you do not meet the requirements for the higher rate, you will receive the lower rate instead.
The maximum amount for the lower rate is either:
- A one-time payment of £2,500
- 18 monthly payments of £100
If you and your partner were living together as if you were married, there is a different set of criteria to determine the financial support you may receive after your partner's passing.
In this case, the maximum amount you can receive is either:
- A one-time payment of £3,500
- 18 monthly payments of £350
This applies if you were living together as if you were married but were not legally married or in a registered civil partnership.
The Bereavement Allowance is available to individuals who meet the following criteria:
- Your husband, wife, or civil partner passed away before the 6th of April 2017
- You were 45 years old or older at the time of your partner's death
- You are below the State Pension age
- Your late partner made National Insurance contributions
- Your partner died due to an industrial accident or disease
There are certain circumstances in which one would not be eligible for the Bereavement Allowance. These include:
- If they are raising children, they can instead apply for the Widowed Parent's Allowance
- If they remarry or enter into a new civil partnership
- If they live with someone as if they are married or in a civil partnership
- If they were divorced from their partner before their death
- If they were above the State Pension age when they became widowed or a surviving civil partner (in which case they may be eligible for additional State Pension)
- If they are currently in prison
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