At the end of October, 753,206 Brits aged between 65 and 79 saw their monthly income boosted by up to £1,670,80 thanks to PIP. Meanwhile, there are 529,216 people aged between 60 and 64 receiving support of between £116.80 and £749.80 every four weeks.
However, as reported by the Daily Record, people over 56 may not be aware of a award they can receive. A change to PIP guidance said: “Claimants whose review would have taken place when they were of State Pension age means they are now generally awarded ongoing awards.”
Although awards are set on an individual basis and based on the claimant’s needs, they typically last for 10 years. They take into account planned therapy or learning to manage a condition.
PIP is made up of the daily living and mobility components. The former has a standard rate of £73.90 and enhanced rate of £110.40, while the latter has a standard rate of £29.20 and an enhanced rate of £77.05.
When someone reaches State Pension age, which is currently 66 but soon rising to 67 for those born on or after April 6, 1960, they can no longer make a new claim for PIP. However, if someone is already claiming the benefit when they hit State Pension age, they will continue to receive the money until the award period ends.
To be eligible for PIP, you must have a health condition or disability that has hindered your daily living or getting around for three months. The difficulties must be expected to last at least nine months.
- For fixed length awards, the review period usually ranges from a minimum of nine months to a maximum 10 years
- Review periods of less than nine months are set only in exceptional circumstances
- An award of two years or less is considered short-term
You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the GOV.UK website here.