Yahoo News DWP paying up to £737 a month to people with mental health conditions - how to apply
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is providing up to £737 per month to individuals suffering from conditions such as anxiety, stress or depression. In the UK, hundreds of thousands grapple with mental health issues.
The latest statistics reveal that 1.3 million people across Britain are claiming Personal Independence Payments due to psychiatric disorders as of January's end. The DWP's payments also extend to other conditions that could potentially impact a person's mental wellbeing.
From February 2020 to January 2024, there has been an increase of over 462,000 people claiming PIP for psychiatric disorders. Last week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled plans for a new consultation on PIP. This would involve examining potential alterations to the eligibility criteria, assessment process, and support provided.
He cautioned that without changes, PIP expenditure is expected to surge by more than 50% in the coming four years, according to the Daily Record. Currently, nearly 3.5 million people across Britain receive PIP, with 37% of these claims being for psychiatric disorders, including mental health conditions, reports Wales Online.
The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) offers additional financial support for adults with a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition who need help with daily tasks or mobility. Following the annual adjustment earlier this month, a successful PIP claim is now worth between £28.70 and £184.30 per week.
This benefit is paid every four weeks, which amounts to between £114.80 and £737.20 per payment period. Those needing extra support to cover daily living or mobility costs due to a mental health condition should consider making a new PIP claim.
Who is eligible for PIP?
To qualify for PIP, you must have a health condition or disability where you:
have experienced difficulties with daily living or mobility (or both) for three months
anticipate these difficulties to persist for at least nine months
You generally 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 your condition requires or will require help with any of the following, you should think about 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, which can be found on the GOV. UK website here.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they will examine:
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 typically paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. It is directly deposited into your bank, building society or credit union account.
What is the PIP payment rate?
An assessment for work must be conducted to determine the level of financial assistance you will receive, and your rate will be regularly reviewed to ensure you are receiving the appropriate support.
PIP consists of two components:
Daily living
Mobility
Whether you receive one or both of these and how much you receive depends on the severity of your condition. The following amounts will be paid 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 conducts the assessment to assist the DWP in determining the level of financial support, if any, you need for PIP. Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are available, as well as video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments.
The DWP and the health professional decide which type of assessment is most suitable for each claimant. You can learn more about DWP PIP assessments here.
How do you make a claim for PIP?
To make a new claim, contact the DWP - all the information you need to apply can be found on the GOV. UK website here.
Make sure you have the following before you call:
your contact details
your date of birth
your National Insurance number - this can be found 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.
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