1. An introduction to Personal Independence Payment for support organisations
10 Aug 2012

2. A new benefit for disabled people is being introduced
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for eligible working age claimants from 8 April 2013
Disability Living Allowance has been in place for almost 20 years largely unchanged
DLA does not have some of the checks that are a key part of other state benefits and it needs to be brought up to date.
DLA can sometimes focus more on an individual’s condition rather than the needs that actually arise
The overall cost of DLA has risen by a third over the last nine years and the number of people claiming DLA has also continued to increase
More than 5000 individuals (including DWP staff) and 500 organisations gave their views about DLA reform back in 2011

3. What’s new?
PIP will help towards some of the extra costs arising from ill health or disability. It is based on how a claimant’s condition affects them not on what condition they have
It will include an assessment of individual needs carried out by trained health professionals. Most people will be asked to attend a face-to-face consultation.
To make a new claim, individuals must have needed help for at least 3 months and be likely to need it for at least another 9 months
Most awards will be for a fixed period and will be reviewed to ensure that claimants continue to receive the right support
Claims will be started over the phone, and eventually be available online too

4. What’s not changing?
Decisions on eligibility will still be made by DWP decision makers
Children will continue to claim DLA until they are 16 - they’ll need to decide whether to claim PIP when they reach 16
DLA will remain for people aged 65 and over
People receiving Attendance Allowance will not be affected by the introduction of PIP
PIP is non means tested, non taxable, and is payable both in and out of work
Special rules will remain to support claimants who are terminally ill
PIP will still act as a passport to other benefits or services

5. New Claims start in April 2013
New claims to PIP will be taken including from people living in Cheshire, Cumbria, Merseyside, North East England and North West England
June
2013
New claims national rollout

6. Reassessment starts in October 2013
Reassessment of existing DLA claimants between 16 and 64 years old will start in October 2013
If an existing DLA claimant reports a change in their condition after October 2013 then they will be asked to claim PIP instead
If an existing DLA claimant reaches the review date of their DLA award then they will be asked to claim PIP (unless they’ve already received an invitation to renew their DLA claim)
All other claimants, including those receiving lifetime or indefinite awards will be contacted before March We’ll randomly select claimants for reassessment during this time
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
October
2013 to
Spring
2016

7. The new assessment
The PIP assessment will involve health professionals who consider the evidence provided by the claimant, along with any further medical evidence they think is needed
It assesses disabled people as individuals, and focuses on the impact their condition has on their daily lives and over a range of different activities
Most people will be asked to a face-to-face consultation with a health professional as part of the claim process. Claimants can 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 may not have to have them
The assessment provider will send a report back to the DWP decision maker

8. 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
Each activity carries a possible eight to fifteen points for those with the most restricted abilities
The total scores for each component suggest 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

9. Assessment Criteria
Daily Living Components (activities 1-9)
Mobility Components (activities 10-11)
Standard rate = 8 points
Enhanced rate = 12 points
Standard rate = 8 points
Enhanced rate = 12 points
Activity
Preparing food and drink
Taking nutrition
Managing therapy and monitoring a health condition
Bathing and grooming
Managing toilet needs or incontinence
Dressing or undressing
Communicating
Engaging socially
Making financial decisions
Standard
0 - 8
0 -10
0 – 8
0 – 12
0 - 6
Activity
Planning and following a journey
Moving around
Standard
0 – 15
0 - 15
Please note that these draft criteria are subject to change following consultation – the final draft will be published this Autumn

10. There are five key stages to claiming PIP1
Thinking about claiming
Information about PIP available through different sources – leaflets, online, our Helpline and from support organisations
These will explain eligibility criteria and help the claimant decide if they want to claim
We’re writing to all existing DLA claimants in their March uprating letter to provide some general information about PIP
Existing DLA claimants will be contacted individually at the appropriate time to ask if they want to claim PIP

11. There are five key stages to claiming PIP2
Making a claim
Claimants (or those supporting them) call DWP on a new claim number
We’ll check their identity and ask some basic questions
A personalised ‘Telling your story’ form will then be posted to the claimant
Paper claims won’t normally be used, and online claims will be available from Spring 2014
Additional support like alternative formats or home visits will be available if needed

12. There are five key stages to claiming PIP3
Telling your story
Claimant (or someone supporting them) completes the form
They explain, in their own words, how their condition affects them and their daily life
It asks about a range of activities and on both ‘good and bad’ days
Supporting evidence can be sent back with this form
The bar-coded personalised form is returned in a freepost envelope

13. There are five key stages to claiming PIP4
Assessment
The claim details, the ‘telling your story’ form and any supporting evidence is passed to the health professional for review
Most people will be asked to have a face-to-face consultation with the health professional, providing the opportunity to explore their circumstances in detail
The health professional reviews the claim against the clear descriptors to assess the challenges faced by the individual
A report from the health professional is returned to DWP

14. There are five key stages to claiming PIP5
Decision
DWP decision maker uses all the evidence to make a decision – the report from the health professional, information from the form and anything else which has been provided
They make a decision on entitlement to PIP, including the level and length of award
If PIP hasn’t been awarded or there has been a reduction, then the decision maker will usually try to phone the claimant to explain their decision
If an existing DLA claimant being reassessed isn’t found to be entitled to PIP then their DLA would stop

15. Other benefits
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 for PIP
Claimants receiving DLA or PIP won’t be migrated to Universal Credit until later in the UC rollout
Households where someone is in receipt of DLA/PIP are exempt from the new Benefit Cap
Intend to maintain existing passporting arrangements where possible, but still being agreed
receipt of the Daily Living component (at standard or enhanced rate) will passport the carer to receive Carers Allowance. Under DLA, this requires receipt of the middle or higher rates for personal care
Blue Badge scheme – Department of Transport are currently consulting as to future arrangements
Changes in entitlement may affect other benefits or support that the claimant or carer receives

16. More information
Information for support organisations and advisers is online at The site includes a quick guide to PIP for advisers 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 at direct.gov.uk/pip. Please signpost to these pages from your own sites or materials.
Updated leaflets will be available too – generic information in existing leaflets from the Autumn, and PIP specific leaflet from early next year.
Talk to your local DWP Partner Manager