DWP addresses why state pensioners cannot claim PIP payments – eligibility explained

07/23/2021

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PIP payments are usually only received by those aged between 16 and state pension age. For those who are eligible, payments will be split into daily living and/or mobility parts.

Daily living payments, which are either £60 or £89.60 per week, are awarded to those who need help more than half of the time for actions like preparing food or communicating.

Mobility payments are paid to those who need help going out or moving around and they’ll pay either £23.70 or £62.55 a week.

PIP rules were addressed in the Commons recently as Munira Wilson, the Liberal Democrat MP for Twickenham, pushed the DWP.

Ms Wilson said: “To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason people of retirement age are ineligible for the mobility component of personal independence payment.”

Yesterday, this question was answered by Justin Tomlinson, the Minister of State for the DWP.

Mr Tomlinson explained: “Government mobility support is focused on people who are disabled earlier in life; developing mobility needs in older life is a normal consequence of ageing.

“You can claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) until you reach state pension age. “Thereafter if you are receiving PIP you will continue to do so including the mobility component.

“If you have a change in circumstances where a health condition worsens after state pension age, you cannot claim the mobility component if you did not receive this previously.

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“A mobility component is also not provided to those who claim attendance allowance.”

To be eligible for PIP initially, a person must have a physical or mental health condition or disability where they:

have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for three months
expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months

Additionally, claimants will normally need to have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least two of the last three years, and be in one of these countries when they apply.

As Mr Tomlinson detailed, PIP can be received by state pensioners if:

They were already getting PIP before they reached state pension age and their condition has not changed
They have been claiming disability living allowance (DLA) and they’ve had a letter inviting them to apply for PIP

Retirees may get PIP if they previously received it and were still entitled to it over the previous year.

Where pensioners cannot get PIP, they may be able to apply for attendance allowance instead.

To make an initial claim for PIP, the DWP will need to be called or written to.

Following a claim, people will usually need to go through an assessment process where independent health professionals will assess their eligibility.

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