MILLIONS of people who claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can also get extra freebies and discounts.
The benefit, which is aimed at helping people with long-term health conditions and disabilities, is made up of two parts.
One is a daily living part for those who need help with everyday tasks and another is a mobility part for people who need help with getting around.
Depending on your disability, you can receive one part or both of them.
The lower weekly rate of the daily living part is £72.65 and the higher weekly rate is £108.55.
The mobility part is worth either £28.70 or £75.75.
PIP is tax-free and is not means-tested, so you can claim it even if you’re working, have savings, or are getting most other benefits.
In addition to the weekly payment, people who receive PIP can also get extra freebies including council tax discounts, blue badges, and free NHS prescriptions.
Usually, a PIP award letter or notice is needed to claim the extra discounts.
However, keep in mind that receiving PIP doesn’t automatically mean you’re eligible for the extra freebies, as you still need to apply for them and provide any documents needed.
We have looked at 11 discounts and concessions PIP claimants could get, including how to apply for them.
A blue badge makes you exempt from certain parking restrictions and gives you access to designated parking spaces.
These spaces are usually larger and closer to shop entrances, making your overall experience easier.
People who have the badge can also get free or discounted on-street parking.
The badge, also known as a disabled badge, needs to be displayed on the windscreen of your car.
Some councils can charge up to £10 for the badge and you can use your PIP award letter to apply for it.
If you’re on PIP and looking to claim a blue badge, you should contact your local council to apply.
If you receive PIP, you may be able to get money off your council tax bill or get it wiped completely, through Council Tax Support.
The amount you can get off varies depending on how much PIP you receive and where you live.
People classed as “severely mentally impaired” could be eligible for a complete exemption and would not need to pay any council tax at all.
The average Band D council tax set by local authorities stands at £2,171, meaning even a discount of 10% is worth £217.
You can find help by using the Government’s online tool at gov.uk/apply-for-council-tax-discount.
Your local authority will confirm the discount you’re entitled to but might ask for a PIP letter as proof.
It is estimated that around 2.8 million people in the UK don’t take advantage of the council tax discount, with £2.7 billion going unclaimed each year.
If you’re in receipt of PIP, you might also be able to get help with your water bill via the WaterSure scheme.
To be eligible, you’ll need to be on a water meter or be waiting to have one installed.
Another eligibility criterion is that due to your disability, you need to use a lot of water.
If you qualify for the WaterSure scheme, your water bill will be capped and you won’t pay more than the average metered bill for your area.
The amounts you can get off vary, but someone got more than £1,000 refunded through the scheme.
The WaterSure scheme applies to households in England and you can apply through your water supplier.
There are different schemes for those living in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
You can find out who your supplier is by entering your postcode at https://www.water.org.uk/customers/find-your-supplier.
HOUSEHOLDS suffering from a long-term illness, disability or mental health condition can get extra help through personal independence payments (PIP).
The maximum you can receive from the Government benefit is £172.75 a week.
PIP is for those over 16 and under the state pension age, currently 66.
Crucially, you must also have a health condition or disability where you either have had difficulties with daily living or getting around – or both- for three months, and you expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months (unless you’re terminally ill with less than 12 months to live).
You can also claim PIP if you’re in or out of work and if you’re already getting limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) payments if you claim Universal Credit.
PIP is made up of two parts and whether you get one or both of these depends on how severely your condition affects you.
You may get the mobility part of PIP if you need help going out or moving around. The weekly rate for this is either £26.90 or £71.
While on the daily living part of PIP, the weekly rate is either £68.10 or £101.75 – and you could get both elements, so up to £172.75 in total.
You can claim PIP at the same time as other benefits, except the armed forces independence payment.
Make a claim by calling the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 0800 917 2222.
If you claim PIP and receive one of a list of other benefits, you might be entitled to a top-up, also known as a premium.
These are the other benefits you will need to be receiving alongside PIP to get a top-up:
If eligible, you could get one of the following payments:
To get the premium payment, you need to get in touch with the department in charge of issuing you your benefits, which will be either HMRC or the Department for Work and Pensions.
You may need to send them a PIP award letter and they will tell you how much extra you’ll be entitled to.
If you’re disabled and need to make changes to your home to suit your needs you can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant.
It could include, for example, the need to widen doors or install ramps to allow for wheelchair access.
Or you might need to have a heating system that suits your specific needs put in.
The grants, which you don’t need to repay, vary depending on where you live.
People in Wales can get up to £36,000 worth of support, those in England can get £30,000, and in Norther Ireland you can receive up to £25,000.
You need to apply through your local council – and the authority six months to let you know what decision it has come to.
PIP claimants who meet specific criteria can get free NHS prescriptions.
Some of the illnesses that make you qualify are cancer, diabetes, and epilepsy. You can find the full list on the NHS website.
To claim the freebie, you need a medical exemption certificate (MedEx).
You should speak to your GP and ask for an FP92A form, which they will sign and you can use to claim the MedEx online.
NHS prescriptions currently cost £9.90 in the UK, based on one prescription per month, that’s a £118.80 saving over the year.
You could be entitled to a complete vehicle tax exemption if you’re on PIP, depending on your circumstances.
You can apply for 100% off if you’re on the enhanced rate mobility component of the benefit.
If you’re on the standard rate mobility part, you can get a 50% reduction.
In some cases, you can pay up to £2,595 on vehicle tax, so an exemption is worth a fair amount.
You can apply for a discount or exemption on the Government’s website.
If you’re applying for the first time, you should be able to do it at your local Post Office branch.
To find your nearest branch, you can go on the Post Office’s website and use its branch finder or phone 0345 722 3344.
The Motability Scheme allows you to use your PIP allowance to lease a car that suits your needs.
You can apply if you are on the higher rate of the mobility component of PIP and have 12 months or more remaining on your allowance.
You’ll have over 2,000 cars to choose from and insurance, tax, and servicing are all included.
You can find more details at motability.co.uk.
If you have a disability, you may not have to pay the full fare at some river crossings, bridges, and tunnels.
This would apply to people who claim the enhanced rate mobility component of PIP.
However, the Government’s website says that in most cases you need to apply in advance to get a concession.
The Government also recommends checking the latest toll rates before you travel.
A disabled person’s railcards can give you up to a third off rail fares.
If another adult is travelling with you, they can also get a third off their ticket price.
A ticket from Manchester to London, normally costing £76.30, would cost £50.35 with the railcard, saving £25.95.
You can apply for the railcard on National Rail’s website.
If you’re on PIP, you might get discounts on days out, and if you have a carer, they might also be entitled to free entry at a number of attractions.
For example, National Trust and English Heritage offer free entry to a carer through the Essential Companion Card.
Having the card isn’t compulsory but makes the entry process quicker.
The UK Cinema Association also offers CEA cards so that carers can get a free ticket at participating locations.
Merlin Entertainment attractions also offer one complimentary pass per disabled person.
You can also get a free carer pass that anyone helping you on the day can use.
Disability charity Scope has a useful page on some of the discounts you can get.
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
You can make a new PIP claim by calling the Department for Work and Pensions on 0800 917 2222.
There are also other ways to claim if you find it difficult to use a phone.
When you submit a claim, you’ll need your:
Someone else can call on your behalf, but you’ll need to be with them when they call.
You’ll then be sent a form to fill in, after which you’ll be invited for an assessment or your health or social care worker will be asked for information.
After this, you’ll be sent a letter telling you if your claim has been successful.
You can find out more about applying on the Government’s website.
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