Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants may find that everyday objects are considered aids during their assessment, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed. The clarification comes as many people claiming PIP use aids or appliances to complete daily tasks or move around, but not every object automatically qualifies as an aid.
Eligibility for PIP is determined by a functional assessment of how a condition or disability impacts an individual's ability to undertake daily living and mobility activities. Points are awarded based on descriptors, and using an aid can contribute to the score. However, the DWP does not hold a definitive list of recognised aids.
DWP Minister for Disabled People Tom Pursglove MP explained: 'Aids and appliances are devices which improve, provide, or replace the claimant’s impaired physical or mental function. For the purpose of the PIP assessment, aids and appliances may be everyday objects, but whether they are considered as aids in any particular case depends on how the claimant uses the object compared to how it might typically be used by someone with no relevant impairment.'
If an object would usually be used in the same way by someone without any limitation, it is unlikely to be considered an aid. Claimants are advised to describe how their condition affects their ability to complete tasks on the PIP2 form, and the assessment will determine which descriptors apply.
Successful PIP claims can provide between £26.90 and £172.75 per week, paid every four weeks. The standard rate for daily living or mobility requires 8–11 points, while the enhanced rate requires 12 points or more. In Scotland, PIP is being replaced by Adult Disability Payment (ADP), which follows similar rules.
