MILLIONS declare Private Independence Fee (PIP) to cowl the price of long-term well being situations.
However you won’t bear in mind there are a host of freebies and reductions you will get on prime.
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Households can declare council tax reductions, blue badges, free NHS prescriptions and extra.
You may declare PIP in case you are 16 or over and below the state pension age, presently 66.
It’s value as much as roughly £170 per week too so it is positively value trying into.
The profit is made up of two elements and you may obtain one or each, relying in your incapacity.
The day by day dwelling half is designed to cowl the price of difficulties you may need making ready or consuming meals, washing, bathing and extra.
The weekly price is both £68.10 or £101.75 – you will get each components which provides as much as £172.15.
In the meantime, the mobility half is given to those that need assistance after leaving residence or shifting round and is value both £26.90 or £71.
It is value noting that funds for PIP are going up from April by 6.7%, according to the patron value index stage of inflation for September 2023.
It means the utmost fee somebody can get will rise to over £180 inside months.
Both approach, listed here are the added freebies and reductions you will get on the profit for now.
Council tax reductions
In the event you’re on both the day by day dwelling or mobility a part of PIP you may have the ability to get cash off your council tax invoice.
However the quantity you will get off varies relying on how a lot PIP you truly obtain and the place you reside.
You must contact your native authority to search out out what low cost you are entitled to, and it’d ask for a PIP letter as proof.
You will discover what council space you fall below through the use of the Authorities’s council locator instrument on its web site.
The typical Band D council tax set by native authorities in England for the 2023/24 monetary 12 months is £2,065.
So when you obtained a full low cost, you’d make a good saving.
Blue Badge
You need to use your PIP award letter to use for a blue badge, though some councils can cost as much as £10 for it.
Blue badge parking areas are usually nearer to the entrance of store entrances, making your expertise simpler.
It is value noting you’ll be able to’t use them for off-street automobile parks, similar to these offered by procuring centres, hospitals or supermarkets.
In the event you’re on PIP and trying to declare a blue badge, you must contact your native council to use.
Profit increase
In the event you’re on PIP and considered one of numerous different advantages, you is likely to be entitled to a top-up, also referred to as a premium.
These are the opposite advantages you will want to be receiving alongside PIP to get a top-up:
- Housing Profit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Revenue Help
- Working Tax Credit score
- Employment and Help Allowance – however provided that you get the PIP day by day dwelling element
- Pension Credit score – however provided that you get the PIP day by day dwelling element
It’s best to get in contact with the division answerable for issuing you your advantages, which might be both by the HMRC or the Division for Work and Pensions.
Chances are you’ll must ship them a PIP award letter and they’re going to let you know how a lot additional you will be entitled to.
Automobile tax discount
You is likely to be entitled to an entire automobile tax exemption when you’re on PIP, relying in your circumstances.
You may apply for 100% off when you’re on the improved price mobility element of the profit.
In the meantime, you will get a 50% discount when you’re on the usual price mobility element.
In some circumstances, you’ll be able to pay as much as £2,595 on automobile tax, so an exemption is value a good quantity.
You may apply for a reduction or exemption on the Authorities’s web site.
In the event you’re making use of for the primary time, you must have the ability to do it at your native Put up Workplace department.
To seek out your nearest department, you’ll be able to go on the Put up Workplace’s web site and use its department finder or cellphone 0345 722 3344.
Free prescriptions
In the event you’re on PIP and relying on whether or not you have got a qualifying incapacity, you may have the ability to get your NHS prescriptions free.
A few of the diseases that make you qualify are most cancers, diabetes and epilepsy. The complete listing is on the NHS web site.
To say the freebie you want a medical exemption certificates (MedEx).
Converse to your GP and ask for an FP92A kind, which they are going to signal and you should use to say the MedEx on-line.
The present prescription cost is £9.65 per merchandise, so primarily based on one a month, you’ll save £115.80 a 12 months.
Disabled Amenities Grant
In the event you’re disabled and must make adjustments to your house to fit your wants you’ll be able to apply for a Disabled Amenities Grant.
For instance, you may must widen doorways or set up ramps to permit for wheelchair entry.
Otherwise you may must have a heating system that fits your particular wants put in.
The grants you will get fluctuate relying on the place you reside.
In the event you reside in Wales you’ll be able to rise up to £36,000 value of help, £30,000 in England and as much as £25,000 in Northern Eire.
You apply via your native council which has six months to let you realize what resolution it has come to.
Disabled individual’s railcard
A disabled individual’s railcards can provide you as much as a 3rd off rail fares, value £4.26 per journey or £91 a 12 months, in line with Nationwide Rail’s web site.
A commuter travelling from Peterborough to London would save £5.75 whereas Newcastle to York falls from £19.10 to £12.60.
You may apply for the railcard on Nationwide Rail’s web site.
Keep in mind, the quantity you will save will fluctuate relying on what time you are travelling.
Capped water payments
You may have the ability to get assist together with your water invoice through the WaterSure scheme.
However you will should be on a water meter, or be ready to have one put in and have a necessity to make use of plenty of water.
In the event you qualify, which is not assured, your water invoice is capped and you will not pay greater than the common metered invoice in your space.
The WaterSure scheme applies to solely households in England. You may apply via your water provider.
There are completely different schemes for these in Northern Eire, Scotland and Wales.
Lease a automobile with PIP money
You may have the ability to use your PIP allowance to lease a automobile that fits your wants via the Motability Scheme.
In case you are on the upper price of the mobility element of PIP and have 12 months or extra remaining in your allowance, you’ll be able to apply.
You may have over 2,000 vehicles to select from and insurance coverage, tax and servicing are all included.
You will discover extra particulars at Motability.co.uk.
Discounted days out and memberships
You could possibly get reductions on days outs and memberships when you’re on PIP.
A number of firms supply cash off for these on advantages.
You could possibly get reductions on cinema, theatre and artwork gallery visits or practice and bus journey.
Incapacity charity Scope has a helpful web page on a number of the reductions you will get.
Methods to apply for PIP
You can also make a brand new Private Independence Fee (PIP) declare by calling the Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 0800 917 2222.
There are additionally different methods to say when you discover it troublesome to make use of a phone. See gov.uk for extra info.
Once you declare, you will want:
- Your contact particulars
- Date of delivery
- Nationwide Insurance coverage quantity
- Financial institution or constructing society account quantity and kind code
- Your physician or well being employee’s identify, deal with and phone quantity
- Dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent overseas, in a care residence or hospital
Another person can name in your behalf, however you’ll should be with them after they name.
You may then be despatched a kind to fill in, after which you will be invited for an evaluation or your well being or social care employee might be requested for info.
After this, you will be despatched a letter telling you in case your declare has been profitable.
You will discover out extra about making use of on the Authorities’s web site.
