People who receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are being warned they may not be entitled to the full amount typically offered under certain circumstances. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) support, designed to assist those with prolonged health conditions or disabilities, offers up to £184.30 weekly for eligible individuals.
However, due to ‘overlapping’ benefits, some claimants might not get the full amount. As the PIP manual outlines: “The PIP mobility component overlaps with War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement. The PIP daily living component overlaps with Constant Attendance Allowance.”
It further clarifies that “The overlapping benefit is always paid in full and PIP is reduced by the amount of the overlapping benefit.” For example, should a person be awarded the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement, associated with the War Disablement Pension, this could have an impact.
Its purpose is to tackle mobile difficulties arising from service-connected disabilities, which consequently means a reduction in PIP’s mobility element, allocated at £28.70 on a standard tier and £75.75 on the higher end per week. In terms of the Constant Attendance Allowance, eligibility hinges on whether one is receiving the Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit or War Disablement Pension.
That provides support for those needing round-the-clock care, including home nursing services or help with meal preparations, and is applicable only for fully disabled recipients. Claimants can receive a full day rate of £88.70, while the part-day rate is set at £44.35.
Additionally, there’s an exceptional rate of £117.40 and an intermediate rate of £133.05, reports Lancs Live. Those eligible for the exceptional and intermediate rates may also qualify for the Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance, which provides an additional £88.70 on top of their Constant Attendance Allowance rate.
However, receiving this support could reduce the amount entitled to the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which offers £72.65 weekly at the standard rate and £108.55 at the enhanced rate. The PIP handbook notes that recipients of the Armed Forces Independence Payment “will not be entitled to PIP”.
This particular payment stands at £172.75 per week, issued every four weeks similar to PIP. It serves as part of the compensation package for those injured during service.
To qualify, individuals must have sustained a serious injury while serving on or after April 6 2005. Government guidelines suggest that people can apply for PIP payments while their compensation claim is under consideration.