PIP

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or a disability if you’re aged 16 to 64. You can get PIP whether you’re in work or not.

How to make a new claim:

You can make a new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim by calling the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Someone else can call on your behalf, but you’ll need to be with them when they call. There are also other ways to claim if you find it difficult to use a telephone.

If you are eligible then the DWP will send an form. If you can get help with completing the form. Local organisations including citizens advice and Our barn can help or there are many helplines for specific conditions that can help.

Moving from DLA to PIP

You can start the claim for your child if they are getting Disability Living Allowance (DLA), they have just turned 16 years old and they do not have the mental capacity to manage their own money.

When you call the DWP, tell them that you would like to be your child’s appointee. The DWP will arrange a meeting to:

• Check that your child needs an appointee
• Check that you are a suitable appointee
  
• Complete the BF56 application to become an appointee
  

You will only become your child’s appointee if and when you receive the BF57 confirmation letter.

As long as you apply for PIP on time, your child’s DLA will continue until their PIP claim has been decided. You can find out more about what happens when you claim PIP instead of DLA in the Turn2us PIP guide.

Before you call, you’ll need:

• your contact details, for example telephone number
  
• your date of birth
  
• your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits
  
• your bank or building society account number and sort code
  
• your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
  
• dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital
  

The telephone number to call is 0800 917 2222 or you can use a textphone on 0800 917 7777 from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Find out more on the GOV.UK website

• be aged 16 to 64
• have a long-term health condition or disability and difficulties with activities related to ‘daily living’ and / or mobility
• be in Great Britain when you claim - there are some exceptions, eg members and family members of the Armed Forces
• have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years
• be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands
• not be subject to immigration control (unless you’re a sponsored immigrant)
  

• preparing or eating food
  
• washing, bathing and using the toilet
  
• dressing and undressing
  
• reading and communicating
  
• managing your medicines or treatments
• making decisions about money
• engaging with other people
  

If you are unhappy with the outcome of your claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), what you can do about it depends on what you are unhappy about.

Do not leave it too long the request for the first step normally has to happen within a month of the date on the decision letter.  For more information Turn2us have a step by step guide