PersonalIndependencePayment

April 2018

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What is personal independence payment (PIP)?

Personal independence payment (PIP) has been introduced to replace disabilityliving allowance (DLA) for people aged 16 to 64. You may qualify for PIP if you havea physical disability, mental health problem or learning disability which affects yourability to cope with daily living and/or mobility. PIP is paid by the Department forWork and Pensions (DWP). If you are awarded PIP you can spend it in the way thatsuits you best.

If you currently get disability living allowance (DLA), the DWP will invite you toapply to transfer to PIP some time before the end of 2018. There is an exception forDLA claimants who were born on or before 8 April 1948, who will remain on DLA andwon’t have to transfer to PIP. Children aged under 16 will stay on DLA until theyreach their 16th birthday.

If you receive DLA and you don’t apply for PIP when invited to do so, your DLA willstop. It is not possible to receive both PIP and DLA at the same time. See page 7 forfurther information.

Who can get PIP?

To claim PIP you must:

be aged 16 to 64 when you start your claim* (or, if you are over 65 andalready getting DLA, you can transfer to PIP if you were born after8 April 1948) and

meet residence and presence conditions: you must pass the habitualresidence test, and (unless terminally ill) must have been present in GreatBritain for at least two out of the past three years and

score enough points to pass the daily living and/or mobility assessment(unless terminally ill) and

have satisfied the daily living and/or mobility assessment for at least threemonths before claiming (unless terminally ill) and be likely to satisfy theassessment for at least nine months after claiming.

* From December 2018 onwards, the upper age limit will gradually increase inline with increases in state pension age.

PIP is not means tested and you don’t need to have paid national insurancecontributions. You can get PIP whether you are in or out of work, or if you arestudying.

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What if I am over 65?

If you get DLA and you were born after 8 April 1948 then you will be asked totransfer to PIP, even if you are now over 65.

If you are awarded PIP you can continue getting it after you are 65, and can renewyour claim, as long as you still meet the qualifying conditions. If you previously hadan award of PIP which ended less than two years ago then you may be able to goback onto it; seek advice.

If you are aged 65 or over and not already getting PIP or DLA, you may be able toget attendance allowance instead. For more information see the attendanceallowance factsheet at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits

How much is PIP worth?

PIP has two parts (components) - the daily living component and the mobilitycomponent. You may qualify for either or both parts, depending on how yourdisability or health condition affects you. Each component has two rates.From 9 April 2018, the rates are as follows.

The daily living component has:

a standard rate: £57.30 per week

an enhanced rate: £85.60 per week

The mobility component has:

a standard rate: £22.65 per week

an enhanced rate: £59.75 per week

What if I am terminally ill?

If you are suffering from an illness where death can be expected within six months,you will automatically be entitled to the enhanced rate of PIP daily living component.If you have mobility problems then you should also receive the mobility component.You will not have to satisfy the waiting period of three months, and you don’t need tohave been present in Britain for two out of the last three years.

Someone else can make the claim for you. You (or the person making the claim foryou) should ask your doctor or Macmillan nurse for a DS1500 certificate to confirmthat you are terminally ill. Your claim will be fast tracked and you will not need tocomplete a form or attend a face to face consultation.

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How can I apply for PIP?

Phone the DWP on 0800 917 2222 (textphone 0800 917 7777) to register yourclaim. During the phone call you will need to confirm your identity and provideinformation such as details of your doctor, bank account and any recent periodsspent abroad, in hospital or in residential care. See Appendix 2 for more information.

Another person can make the phone call for you. However, you will need to bepresent to confirm your identity during the call, unless the person calling has beenofficially appointed to deal with your claims or you are terminally ill.

If you are unable to start your claim by phone, you (or someone helping you) canrequest a paper claim form by emailing rfp1.pilot@dwp.gsi.gov.uk. You can only starta claim this way if it is genuinely necessary - for example, if you can’t speak on thephone at all because of your disability and don’t have anyone appointed to deal withyour claims.

After registering your claim you will be sent a form asking for information about yourdisability or medical condition and how it affects you. When you fill in the form youshould describe in detail how you have difficulty with different activities.See our factsheet ‘Guide to completing the PIP form’ onwww.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits for more information. You can send evidence tosupport your claim if you wish, such as a letter from a doctor or social worker.

You must complete and return the form within one month of the date it was posted toyou. If you need longer, phone the PIP Enquiry Line on 0800 121 4433 to ask for anextension. They will normally agree to give you an extra two weeks.

After returning the form, you will probably be asked to attend a face-to-faceconsultation with an independent health professional. If you are terminally ill you willnot need to attend a consultation.

It may take several months for your claim to be processed (unless your claim isbeing fast tracked because you are terminally ill). If you are awarded PIP, it willnormally be paid from the date when you phoned to register your claim.

How is PIP assessed?

To get PIP you must score a certain number of points (unless you are terminally ill).Points can be scored for twelve different activities. The point scoring system is setout in law and you cannot score points for things that are not on the list.

For the daily living component, the activities are:

1. preparing food

2. taking nutrition

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3. managing therapy or monitoring a health condition

4. washing and bathing

5. managing toilet needs or incontinence

6. dressing and undressing

7. communicating verbally

8. reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

9. engaging with other people face to face

10.making budgeting decisions

For the mobility component, the activities are:

11.planning and following journeys

12.moving around

Each activity has a set of ‘descriptors’ – sentences which describe how muchsupport, and the type of support, you need to do the activity. Each descriptor has ascore attached to it, ranging from 0 to 12 points. You may score points if you requireassistance, supervision, prompting, or need to use an aid or appliance to perform theactivities. For example, you will score four points if you need assistance to prepareor cook a simple meal. You can see a list of all the activities and descriptors, thepoints attached to each, and a list of definitions, in Appendix 1 at the end of thisfactsheet.

The assessor chooses one descriptor for each activity. If more than one descriptorapplies to you, the one that scores highest is chosen.

Your total score for the daily living activities, and your total score for the mobilityactivities, will determine which component(s) you can get, and at what rates:

Total score fordaily living

(activities 1 to 10)

0 to 7 points Not entitled to daily living component

8 to 11 points Standard rate daily living component

12 or more points Enhanced rate daily living component

Total score formobility

(activities 11 and 12)

0 to 7 points Not entitled to mobility component

8 to 11 points Standard rate mobility component

12 or more points Enhanced rate mobility component

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How do the descriptors work?

The person assessing your claim should consider whether you can carry out theactivities reliably – i.e. safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in areasonable time period.

There are rules about fluctuating conditions. For a descriptor to apply, it must besatisfied on over 50 per cent of days in a one year period. If two or more descriptorsare satisfied for over 50 per cent of days, the highest scoring descriptor will bechosen. If no scoring descriptors apply for over 50 per cent of days, but, when takentogether, two or more scoring descriptors are satisfied on more than 50 per cent ofdays, the one that applies for the greatest amount of that time will be chosen.

If you are waiting for further treatment, you will be assessed based on the likelycontinuing impact of your health condition or impairment as if any treatment hasn’ttaken place.

How does the assessment happen?

PIP claims are assessed by an independent health professional before the DWPdecides whether PIP is payable. In Hertfordshire, PIP claims are assessed byIndependent Assessment Services (formerly known as Atos). The healthprofessional will look at your form and any other evidence you have submitted. Theymay contact your GP or other professionals named on your form, to request furtherinformation.

Most claimants have to attend a face-to-face consultation. However if you areseverely disabled, or if you provide evidence which clearly indicates your entitlementto PIP, you may not need a face-to-face consultation. If you are terminally ill you willnot need to attend a consultation. If you are unable to travel to a consultation youcan ask for a home visit but will need evidence (such as a letter from your GP) toconfirm that you are unable to travel.

When you attend a face-to-face consultation you can take someone with you, suchas a family member, carer or support worker.

At the consultation, the health professional will ask you about your condition andyour daily life. If you have a physical disability they will examine you and may ask toobserve you performing certain tasks or movements. They will also observe how youcope with activities such as walking into the room, removing your coat, handling yourbag and holding a conversation. For more information see our Guide to PIPassessments at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits

After the consultation, the health professional will send a report to a DWP casemanager who will decide if you are entitled to PIP and at what rate. They will alsodecide the length of your award. This will depend on whether your condition is likelyto change.

If you are awarded PIP, you may be contacted at any time afterwards to see if yourneeds have changed. Claimants who fail to report a change that would have resultedin a reduction in benefit may have to pay a financial penalty.

If you are unhappy with a decision about your claim you should seek advice; youay be able to challenge the decision.

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What happens if I am aged 16 to 64 and currentlygetting DLA?

The DWP will invite you to apply to transfer to PIP at some point before the end of2018. This will happen even if you have previously been told that you have anindefinite or ‘lifetime’ DLA award.

You will not be automatically transferred from DLA to PIP; you must apply for PIPwhen invited to do so, and be assessed under the PIP rules.

What happens if I am aged 65 or over and currentlygetting DLA?

If you were born after 8 April 1948 you will be invited to claim PIP at some pointbefore the end of 2018.

If you get DLA and were born on or before 8 April 1948, you can stay on DLA(provided that you continue to meet the qualifying conditions); you will not need toclaim PIP. You can renew your DLA if necessary. If your DLA stops, you can reclaimit within one year of it stopping, subject to certain conditions.

What will happen to my DLA payments when I applyfor PIP?

If you apply for PIP within the time limit after being invited to do so, you will carry ongetting DLA until your PIP claim is decided. If you do not apply for PIP when told todo so, your DLA will end. DLA may also end if you fail to return your PIP form or failto attend an assessment appointment (but seek advice if you had a good reason fornot being able to complete the form or attend the assessment).

If the DWP decide that you do not qualify for PIP, your DLA will end but you will notnormally have to pay back any of the DLA which you received while your PIP claimwas being processed.

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I currently get DLA. Can I apply for PIP before theDWP invite me to?

You can choose to apply to transfer to PIP, instead of waiting until the DWP tells youto do so. If you are considering doing this, get advice first to see if you arelikely to be better off on PIP. Most DLA claimants will be better off remainingon DLA for as long as possible.

Some people with learning disabilities, who currently get DLA lowest or middle ratecare component, or lower rate DLA mobility component, may get more money whenthey transfer to PIP. However, this does depend on individual circumstances, so it isimportant to get advice.

What happens if I am getting attendance allowance?

Attendance allowance is not affected by the introduction of PIP.

What happens if I have a child under 16 who iscurrently getting DLA?

Children under 16 can still claim (and renew) DLA.

Children on DLA are asked to apply for PIP when they turn 16. If they apply for PIPwithin the time limits they will carry on getting DLA until their PIP claim is decided. Ifthey don’t apply for PIP, they will not be able to remain on DLA.

Can my carer claim any benefits?

Your carer may be able to qualify for carer’s allowance if you receive either rate ofPIP daily living component. However you should seek advice first as your otherbenefits may be affected if they get carer’s allowance.

Your carer may also be entitled to means tested benefits such as income support.

For more information see our carers allowance factsheet atwww.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits

Will PIP affect my other benefits?

PIP is paid on top of other benefits and is not counted as income when calculatingother benefits.

If you (or your partner or a child included in your claim) are awarded PIP, you mayget an increase in means tested benefits. For example, the following benefits cansometimes be paid at a higher rate if someone included in the claim is getting PIP:income support, income-based jobseekers allowance, income-related employment

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and support allowance, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax support, and taxcredits. You will be exempt from the benefit cap if you, or your partner or dependentchild, receive any rate or PIP. An award of PIP may even mean that you can startgetting means tested benefits, even if you weren't entitled before.

It is a good idea to get advice about this as early as possible, to make sure you don’tmiss out on anything you are entitled to. You may need to apply for other benefitsbefore you get the result of your PIP claim, to make sure that the other benefits canbe fully backdated when you get PIP.

Tell all of the offices that pay your other benefits if you get PIP.

Universal credit is being phased in to replace income support, income-based jobseekers allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, housingbenefit and tax credits. There is no extra amount in universal credit for peoplereceiving PIP. However, if your existing means-tested benefits are higher than whatyou would get on universal credit, you can keep this amount if you are part of themanaged universal credit migration programme. For more information seewww.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits

If you receive home care services arranged by Hertfordshire County Council, orattend a day centre, PIP daily living component can be counted as income and affectthe amount you have to pay towards those services. However, if you have disabilityrelated expenses then those should also be taken into account. PIP mobilitycomponent is not counted as income and will not affect the amount you need to payfor these services.

Will PIP passport me to help with transport costs?

If you are awarded the enhanced rate of PIP mobility component you can use it tofund a vehicle under the Motability scheme.

If you score at least 8 points for the ‘moving around’ activity you will automaticallyqualify for a blue badge. If you don’t reach this threshold you may still be able to geta badge - www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/adult-social-services/disability/blue-badge/blue-badge.aspx

You will be exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) if you get the enhanced rateof PIP mobility component, or get a 50 per cent discount if you receive the standardrate mobility component. You can also apply for concessions on public transport.

What can I do if I am unhappy with the result of myPIP claim?

If you are refused PIP, or are unhappy with the rate of benefit awarded or the lengthof time it has been awarded for, you can ask the DWP to look at that decision again.This is called a mandatory reconsideration. You must do this within one calendar

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month of the date on the decision letter if possible, but the time limit can be extendedin some circumstances. It may be helpful to provide additional information orevidence in support of your claim; seek advice. The DWP will look at your claimagain and tell you whether they can change their previous decision.

If you are still not satisfied, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. The time limitfor this is one month from the date of the revised decision but this can be extendedin some circumstances. Seek advice before appealing.

For more information, see our factsheet challenging decisions atwww.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits`

I have been awarded PIP for a fixed period. Can Icontinue getting it after that period?

Most PIP awards are made for a fixed period; the end date will be stated in thedecision letter. Before your award ends, you will be invited to apply to renew yourclaim. You may be asked to complete a PIP review form (AR1), which is muchshorter than the PIP2 form completed by new claimants and focuses on changes inyour circumstances. Alternatively you may be asked to complete the PIP2 formagain. Renewal claims are sometimes decided by the DWP, without being referred tohealth professionals. However some claimants will have to attend another face toface assessment.

The DWP has discretion to contact claimants to review a PIP claim at anytime, even if the PIP award still has several years to run. If you are asked tocomplete a form or attend an assessment it is important to do so, otherwiseyour payments could stop.

What happens if my condition changes after I havebeen awarded PIP?

You must tell the DWP about changes which could affect your entitlement to PIP -such as an improvement in your health condition or mobility. You may have to pay acivil penalty if you do not declare a relevant change in circumstances.

Alternatively, if your condition gets worse and you start having more difficulty withdaily living or mobility, it may be possible to get your PIP increased. This is called asupersession. Check the PIP entitlement criteria and seek advice before doing this tomake sure that it’s worthwhile asking for your benefit to be looked at again and thatyou are not putting your existing award at risk. A deterioration in your conditioncannot be taken into account until three months have passed, unless you areterminally ill.

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Further help and advice

DWP PIP Claim Line 0800 917 22228am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (text phone 0800 917 7777)

DWP PIP General Enquiry Line 0800 121 4433

GOV.UK www.gov.uk/pipBasic information about PIP and how to claim

DWP PIP Toolkit www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-personal-independence-payment-toolkit-for-partners/the-personal-independence-payment-pip-toolkit

Information including factsheets and a copy of the PIP form (for reference only)

Independent Assessment Services 0300 3300121(formerly known as Atos Healthcare) PIP-customerservice@atos.net

www.mypipassessment.co.uk

PIP assessments in Hertfordshire are carried out by Independent AssessmentServices (formerly known as Atos). Their website includes information about theassessment process.

Disability Rights UK www.disabilityrightsuk.orgOnline information including a guideto claiming PIP:

Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) 0344 4111 444Online information: www.adviceguide.org.ukInformation about local CABx and opening times: www.hcas.org.uk

How you can contact Hertfordshire County Council

Our websiteVisit our website for more information about support for carers and adult social care -make a referral for care services or apply online for meals on wheels or a BlueBadgewww.hertfordshire.gov.uk/adults

If you would like more information about benefits and debt you can find a wide rangeof Money Advice Unit factsheetswww.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits

Hertfordshire Directory

Find national and local community groups, charities, services and activitieswww.hertfordshire.gov.uk/directory

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HertsHelpIndependent support, guidance and information to get the most out of lifeTelephone: 0300 123 4044Minicom: 0300 456 2364Email: info@hertshelp.net

Call usFor information and advice on how to get care and supportTelephone: 0300 123 4042 Text Message: 07507 306911Textphone: 0300 123 4041

Calls to 0300 cost no more than a national rate call to a 01 or 02 number

If you are worried that you or someone you know is at risk of abuse or neglectCall us on 0300 123 4042 (24 hours a day)

If you need help to understandCall 0300 123 4042 if you would like help to understand this information or need it in adifferent format. You can also ask to speak to someone in your own language.

This information is correct at time of print. It is for guidance only and is not anauthoritative statement of the law.

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Appendix 1: PIP activities and descriptors

The PIP assessment looks at your ability to cope with ten daily living activities andtwo mobility activities. One descriptor is chosen for each activity. If two or moredescriptors apply for a particular activity, the highest scoring one is chosen. Thereare additional rules about how claimants with a fluctuating condition should beassessed – see page 6.

Your total score for daily living and your total score for mobility are calculated byadding up the points scored for each activity. The entitlement thresholds for PIP are:

Daily living component: Standard rate: 8 points Enhanced rate: 12 points

Mobility component: Standard rate: 8 points Enhanced rate: 12 points

Daily livingactivities

Descriptors

1. Preparing food a. Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided (0 points)

b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to either prepare or cook asimple meal (2 points)

c. Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but isable to do so using a microwave (2 points)

d. Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simplemeal (2 points)

e. Needs supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook asimple meal (4 points)

f. Cannot prepare and cook food (8 points)

2. Takingnutrition

a. Can take nutrition unaided (0 points)

b. Needs either(i) to use an aid or appliance to take nutrition; (ii) supervision to beable to take nutrition; or (iii) assistance to cut up food (2 points)

c. Needs a therapeutic source to take nutrition (2 points)

d. Needs prompting to take nutrition (4 points)

e. Needs assistance to be able to manage a therapeutic source totake nutrition (6 points)

f. Cannot convey food and drink to their mouth and needs anotherperson to do so (10 points)

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3. Managingtherapy ormonitoring ahealthcondition

a. Either (i) Does not receive medication, therapy or need to monitor ahealth condition; or (ii) can manage medication, therapy or monitor ahealth condition unaided (0 points)

b. Needs any one or more of the following:(i) to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage medication;(ii) supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to managemedication;(iii) supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to monitor a healthcondition (1 point)

c. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy thattakes no more than 3.5 hours a week (2 points)

d. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy thattakes between 3.5 and 7 hours a week (4 points)

e. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy thattakes between 7 and 14 hours a week (6 points)

f. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy thattakes more than 14 hours a week ( 8 points)

4. Washing andbathing

a. Can wash and bathe unaided (0 points)

b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe (2 points)

c. Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe (2 points)

d. Needs assistance to be able to wash either their hair or body below thewaist (2 points)

e. Needs assistance to be able to get in or out of a bath or shower(3 points)

f. Needs assistance to be able to wash their body between theshoulders and waist (4 points)

g. Cannot wash and bathe at all and needs another person to wash theirentire body (8 points)

5. Managingtoilet needs orincontinence

a. Can manage toilet needs or incontinence unaided (0 points)

b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage toilet needsor incontinence (2 points)c. Needs supervision or prompting to managetoilet needs (2 points)

d. Needs assistance to be able to manage toilet needs (4 points)

e. Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of either bladder

or bowel (6 points)

f. Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of both bladder

and bowel (8 points)

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6. Dressing andundressing

a. Can dress and undress unaided (0 points)

b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to dress or undress (2 points)

c. Needs either (i) prompting to dress, undress or determineappropriate circumstances for remaining clothed; or(ii) prompting or assistance to select appropriate clothing (2 points)

d. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their lower body(2 points)

e. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their upper body(4 points)

f. Cannot dress or undress at all (8 points)

7. Communicatingverbally

a. Can express and understand verbal information unaided (0 points)

b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear(2 points)

c. Needs communication support to be able to express or understandcomplex verbal information (4 points)

d. Needs communication support to be able to express or understandbasic verbal information (8 points)

e. Cannot express or understand verbal information at all even withcommunication support (12 points)

8. Reading andunderstandingsigns, symbolsand words

a. Can read and understand basic and complex written informationeither unaided or using spectacles or contact lenses (0 points)

b. Needs to use an aid or appliance, other than spectacles or contactlenses, to be able to read or understand either basic or complexwritten information (2 points)

c. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex writteninformation (2 points)

d. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand basic writteninformation (4 points)

e. Cannot read, or understand signs, symbols or words at all (8 points)

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9. Engaging withother peopleface-to-face

a. Can engage with other people unaided (0 points)

b. Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people (2 points)

c. Needs social support to be able to engage with other people (4 points)

d. Cannot engage with other people due to such engagement causingeither(i) overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant; or(ii) the claimant to exhibit behaviour which would result in a substantialrisk of harm to the claimant or another person (8 points)

10.Makingbudgetingdecisions

a. Can manage complex budgeting decisions unaided (0 points)

b. Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make complex budgetingdecisions (2 points)

c. Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make simple budgetingdecisions (4 points)

d. Cannot make any budgeting decisions at all (6 points)

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Mobility activities Descriptors

1. Planning andfollowing journeys

a. Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided (0 points)

b. Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoidoverwhelming psychological distress to the claimant (4 points)

c. Cannot plan the route of a journey (8 points)

d. Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without anotherperson, assistance dog or orientation aid (10 points)

e. Cannot undertake any journey because it would causeoverwhelming psychological distress to the claimant (10 points)

f. Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without anotherperson, assistance dog or orientation aid (12 points)

2. Moving arounda. Can stand and then move more than 200 metres, either aided or

unaided (0 points)

b. Can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than200 metres, either aided or unaided (4 points)

c. Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but nomore than 50 metres (8 points)

d. Can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than20 metres but no more than 50 metres (10 points)

e. Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than20 metres, either aided or unaided (12 points)

f. Cannot, either aided or unaided, -(i) stand; or(ii) move more than 1 metre (12 points)

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Definitions for activities and descriptors

“aided” means with –

(a) the use of an aid or appliance; or

(b) supervision, prompting or assistance;

“assistance” means physical intervention by another person and does not include speech;

“assistance dog” means a dog trained to guide or assist a person with a sensory impairment;

“basic verbal information” means information in the claimant’s native language conveyed verbally in asimple sentence;

“basic written information” means signs, symbols and dates written or printed standard size text in theclaimant’s native language;

“bathe” includes getting into or out of an unadapted bath or shower;

“communication support” means support from a person trained or experienced in communicating withpeople with specific communication needs, including interpreting verbal information into a non-verbalform and vice versa;

“complex budgeting decisions” means decisions involving –

(a) calculating household and personal budgets;

(b) managing and paying bills; and

(c) planning future purchases;

“complex verbal information” means information in the claimant’s native language conveyed verballyin either more than one sentence or one complicated sentence;

“complex written information” means more than one sentence of written or printed standard size textin he claimant’s native language;

“cook” means heat food at or above waist height;

“dress and undress” includes put on and take off socks and shoes;

“engage socially” means –

(a) interact with others in a contextually and socially appropriate manner;

(b) understand body language; and

(c) establish relationships;

“manage incontinence” means manage involuntary evacuation of the bowel or bladder, including usea collecting device or self-catheterisation, and clean oneself afterwards;

“manage medication” means take medication, where a failure to do so is likely to result in adeterioration in the claimant’s health;

“manage therapy” means undertake therapy, where a failure to do so is likely to result in adeterioration in the claimant’s health

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“medication” means medication to be taken at home which is prescribed or recommended by aregistered doctor, nurse or pharmacist;

“monitor a health condition” means –

(a) detect significant changes in the claimant’s health condition which are likely to lead to adeterioration in the claimant’s health; and(b) take action advised by a registered doctor, registered nurse or health professional who isregulated by the Health Professions Council, without which the claimant’s health is likely todeteriorate;

“orientation aid” means a specialist aid designed to assist disabled people to follow a route safely;

“prepare”, in the context of food, means make food ready for cooking or eating;

“prompting” means reminding, encouraging or explaining by another person;

“psychological distress” means distress related to an enduring mental health condition or anintellectual or cognitive impairment;

“read” includes read signs, symbols and words but does not include read Braille;

“simple budgeting decisions” means decisions involving –

(a) calculating the cost of goods; and

(b) calculating change required after a purchase;

“simple meal” means a cooked one-course meal for one using fresh ingredients;

“social support” means support from a person trained or experienced in assisting people to engage insocial situations;

“stand” means stand upright with at least one biological foot on the ground;

“supervision” means the continuous presence of another person for the purpose of ensuring C’ssafety;

“take nutrition” means –

(a) cut food into pieces, convey food and drink to one’s mouth and chew and swallow food and drink;

or

(b) take nutrition by using a therapeutic source;

“therapeutic source” means parenteral or enteral tube feeding, using a rate-limiting device such as adelivery system or feed pump;

“therapy” means therapy to be undertaken at home which is prescribed or recommended by aregistered doctor, nurse, pharmacist or health professional regulated by the Health ProfessionsCouncil, but does not include taking or applying, or otherwise receiving or administering, medication(whether orally, topically or by any other means) or any action which falls within the definition of“monitor a health condition”

“toilet needs” means –

(a) getting on and off an unadapted toilet;

(b) evacuating the bladder and bowel; and

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(c) cleaning oneself afterwards; and

“unaided” means without –

(a) the use of an aid or appliance; or

(b) supervision, prompting or assistance.

Appendix 2: information required to register a PIPclaim

You should have the following information ready before you make the call to registeryour PIP claim:

Full name

National insurance number

Full address including postcode

Date of birth

Bank or building society account details

Daytime contact number

GP or other health professionals’ details

Details of any recent stays in hospital, care homes or hospices

Nationality or immigration status

If you have been abroad for more than four weeks at a time over last threeyears - details of this

If you are working or paying insurance to another EEA state or Switzerland -details of this

If you or a family member are receiving any pensions or benefits from anotherEEA state or Switzerland – details of this

As a security check, you may also be asked about any welfare benefits you arecurrently receiving and the date they started.