Thousands of people could be missing out on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), according to welfare experts. The team at debt support group Money Wellness has warned that many individuals are either not claiming the benefit at all or are receiving less than they are entitled to, potentially losing out on more than £4,000 a year.
PIP is designed to support people with long-term health conditions or disabilities, covering both daily living and mobility needs. However, a common misconception is that only those with severe disabilities qualify. Rebecca Lamb, external relations manager at Money Wellness, explained: 'Thousands of people could be missing out on PIP top-ups without realising it, often because they assume it's only for the most severe disabilities.'
Ms Lamb listed six common health conditions that could qualify individuals for PIP: arthritis, chronic pain, back and joint problems, respiratory conditions, long-term injuries, and fluctuating health conditions. She emphasised that PIP is not means-tested and is based solely on how a condition affects daily tasks such as cooking, washing, managing medication, or getting around safely.
She also highlighted that people often understate their struggles during assessments, leading to lower awards. 'We often see people who are used to 'coping' understate their struggles, but that can mean missing out on significant financial support - in some cases more than £4,000 a year between standard and enhanced rates,' she said.
Current weekly PIP rates (after the April 3.8% increase) are: daily living part - standard rate £72.65, enhanced rate £108.55; mobility part - standard rate £28.70, enhanced rate £75.75. Annual amounts range from £1,575.60 for standard mobility to £5,959.20 for enhanced daily living. Ms Lamb urged people to use free online benefit calculators, such as the Better Off Calculator, to check their eligibility.
