How to claim PIP and what happens during the assessment?

MILLIONS claim personal independence payments (PIP) to help with long-term health conditions or disabilities.

But you might not know how to claim the benefit, or who is entitled.

The payment can be worth up to £156.90 a week, so it's definitely worth seeing if you are eligible.

It is split into two components, known as the daily living component and mobility component.

You can qualify for both parts at the same time.

The daily living part lower weekly rate is worth £61.85 and the daily living part higher weekly rate £92.40.

The mobility part lower weekly rate is £24.45 and the mobility part higher weekly rate is £64.50.

Who can claim PIP?

PIP is for those aged 16 or over who have not reached state pension age.

You also have to be suffering from a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability.

Those conditions will mean you struggle with everyday tasks or getting around. This includes:

• 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

You must expect that the issues you are suffering from will last for at least 12 months from when they first started.

You also must have lived in England or Wales for at least two of the last three years and be in one of these countries when applying.

If you live in Northern Ireland or you are not a British citizen or live abroad, the process is different.

In Scotland you will need to apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) instead.

You can claim PIP at the same time as other benefits, except the armed forces independence payment.

If you receive constant attendance allowance you will receive less of the daily living part of PIP, and if you get war pensioners' mobility supplement you will not get the mobility part of PIP.

How to claim PIP

You can make a new PIP claim by calling the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 0800 917 2222.

This is the Government department that handles benefit payments.

If you don't want to call through, you can apply via post.

You have to send a letter to Personal Independence Payment New Claims, Post Handling Site B, Wolverhampton, WV99 1AH.

Make sure you having the following to hand before starting your application:

• your contact details
• your date of birth
• your National Insurance number
• 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

If you can't call to process an application, someone can on your behalf. But you need to be with them when they call.

After the initial contact with the DWP, you'll be sent a form to fill in and return, after which you might be invited for an assessment via a letter.

Once you've carried out an assessment, if needed, you will be sent a letter telling you if your claim has been successful.

The letter will tell you the date of your first payment.

If you have less than six months to live, the application process is different.

You should visit the Government's website for more information on this.

What happens during the PIP assessment?

You might need to attend a PIP assessment so the DWP can understand the type of support you need.

Sometimes, the assessment is face-to-face with a health professional, or it might be done over the phone.

You will receive a letter from the DWP telling you the date and time of your assessment at least seven days before it.

The professional might ask you to do some simple movements to show how you manage everyday activities and usually takes around an hour.

You can have someone come with you to the appointment. This might be a carer, support worker or friend.

It's essential you attend your appointment or the PIP application might not go through.

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