Yahoo News DWP will pay you £737 a month if you have stress, anxiety or depression - how to apply
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be offering a monthly payment of up to £737 to people suffering from stress, anxiety or depression. As per the latest figures, over 1.3 million people across Britain were claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for psychiatric disorders by the end of January.
This includes conditions such as anxiety and mood disorders, stress reactions and depressive disorders.
Furthermore, other conditions that could potentially impact an individual's mental wellbeing are also covered. The number of people claiming PIP for a psychiatric disorder has seen an increase of more than 462,000 between February 2020 and January 2024.
Last week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans for a new consultation on PIP. This would examine potential changes to the eligibility criteria, assessment process and support offered.
READ: DWP to change PIP rules in crackdown on 'benefit cheats' - how it will affect you The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed it is set to overhaul Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments
READ: DWP benefit that few know about leaves gran £4k a year better off Yvonne Bailey, 78, says it has made a 'huge difference' to her life
He warned that if no changes are made, PIP spending is projected to rise by over 50 per cent in the next four years.
Currently, almost 3.5 million people across Britain are receiving PIP, with 37 per cent claiming for psychiatric disorders including mental health conditions. PIP provides additional financial support for adults with a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition who require assistance with daily tasks or mobility.
Following the annual adjustment earlier this month, a successful claim for PIP is now valued between £28.70 and £184.30 weekly. The benefit is paid every four weeks, equating to between £114.80 and £737.20 per payment period, as reported by the Daily Record.
Those requiring additional financial assistance to cover daily living or mobility needs due to a mental health condition should contemplate submitting a new PIP claim.
Who might be eligible for PIP?
To be eligible for PIP, you must have a health condition or disability where you:
have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for three months
expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months
You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply. If you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP:
preparing, cooking or eating food
managing your medication
washing, bathing or using the toilet
dressing and undressing
engaging and communicating with other people
reading and understanding written information
making decisions about money
planning a journey or following a route
moving around
There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the GOV.UK website here. DWP will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks.
For each task they will look at:
whether you can do it safely
how long it takes you
how often your condition affects this activity
whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment
How is PIP paid?
PIP is usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. It is paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account.
What is the PIP payment rate?
An assessment to work has to be carried outto determine the level of financial help you will receive and your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support.
PIP is made up of two components:
Daily living
Mobility
Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you. You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:
Daily living
Standard rate: £72.65
Enhanced rate: £108.55
Mobility
Standard rate: £28.70
Enhanced rate: £75.75
How you are assessed
An independent healthcare professional carries out the assessment to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need, for PIP. Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments.
The DWP and the health professional decide which type of assessment is best suited for each claimant. You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here.
Adult Disability Payment assessments will not involve face-to-face assessments, unless the claimant prefers this. Find out more about the changes here.
How do you make a claim for PIP?
Make a new claim by contacting the DWP - you will find all the information you need to apply on the GOV.UK website here.
Before you call, you will need:
your contact details
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
