Sarah Hayle Community Law Service

v Community Law Service is a charity which helps people with their benefits. You do not have to pay. Our advisors can Help you with any questions about your benefits Help to fill in benefit claim forms.

Personal Independence Payment

What is Personal Independence Payment? Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a new benefit which is replacing Disability Living Allowance. Everyone under 65 who gets Disability Living Allowance will need to apply for Personal Independence Payment

About PIP PIP is similar to Disability Living Allowance It is paid to people who have difficulties looking after themselves. It is also paid to people who need someone to go outdoors with them.

1 benefit with 2 parts Part 1: Daily Living Part 2: Mobility (Movement) PIP has 2 parts to it:

Daily Living This includes if you need help Cooking and eating To take tablets To keep clean and getting dressed Communicating With money and paying your bills

Part 2: Mobility (Movement) finding your way around outside going to new places walking very far This includes if you need help

What is Personal Independence Payment for? Pip can be used if You need someone to tell you how to do things You need someone to physically help you You need someone to tell you what to do

How much is Personal Independence Payment? The amount of money you get from PIP might be different to Disability Living Allowance. There are different levels of payment for Personal Independence Payment. The amount you get depends on how much help you need at home or when you are outside.

How is PIP Paid? If you get PIP it will be paid into a bank account like Disability Living Allowance is. It is usually paid into the bank every 4 weeks If you get PIP you must tell any other benefit departments when it starts.

When you should apply? You will be sent a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions The letter will tell you that you need to call the PIP team to start your claim. There will be a phone number on your letter You must call PIP team before the date it says on your letter

Calling the PIP Team If you do not call the PIP team before the date on your letter your Disability Living Allowance will stop Someone can help you to make the call but you must be with them.

What happens when you call the PIP team? You will speak to someone from the PIP team for about 15 minutes When you call you will be asked for information including Your name Date of birth Address. National Insurance Number. Who your doctor is. You can tell the person you speak to if there is someone helping you with the claim.

What will happen next After you have called the PIP phone number they will send you a form to fill in You only have 1 month to send the form back. Someone can help you to fill in the form.

What happens then? After you have sent the form back you might have another letter asking you to meet with an assessor. The assessor will talk to you about anything you find difficult or need help with. They will want to know about any problems you have, like if you have problems with Cooking, Getting dressed Managing your money Getting around outside on your own

You will be sent a letter telling you if you can get PIP Speak to a friend or a family member if you are not sure the decision is right. Your Disability Living Allowance will stop 28 days after you get this decision letter.

The Decision You can ask the PIP team to look again at the decision Someone can help you to do this. This can be a friend Family member An advisor from Community Law Service You must ask for the decision to be looked at within 1 month of the date on your decision letter

What next? If you ask the PIP team to look at your claim again, they will write to you when they have made a second decision. If you still think the decision is wrong can ask for an appeal.

An appeal At an appeal you meet with 3 people to talk to them about the things which you find difficult or need help to do. The 3 people will make a decision about whether you can have PIP. If you appeal, you should have professional help from an advisor like those who work for Community Law Service

What if you need advice? You can have advice about whether your PIP decision is correct. The Community Law Service can give you this advice

Contact Community Law Service Telephone us on Come to our office in Northampton Guildhall. We can see you during our advice sessions.

Community Law Service Advice Sessions You can see our advisors at Northampton Guildhall They are open: Monday and Thursday from 9.30 And Tuesday from 12.30

Community Law Service Advice Sessions You can also see our advisors at the Office in Rusden 32 High Street Rushden, NN10 0WP They are open: Tuesday 12-2pm And Thursday 10am to 11am

Things to remember if you come and see us You may have to wait to be seen if other people arrive before you. bring any letters or information with you that you want us to look at. ?

Do you have any questions ?