Those on the state pension may still be able to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and boost their income from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to £1,506 an income.
When Britons reach the state pension age, it is usually not possible to put in a claim for working-age disability benefit payment except in certain circumstances.
Figures from the DWP have revealed that there were nearly 3.4 million people across the UK claiming PIP by July 2023 with over 500,000 being state pensioners.
The state pension is a benefit reserved for Britons once they reach a certain age, which is currently 66, and payments are based on their previous National Insurance record.
PIP is a disability benefit for those of working age to help them with the extra costs that arise from their condition. In Scotland, new claims for PIP have been replaced by the Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
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Which state pensioners are claiming PIP?
It should be noted that when someone hits the state pension age, they are unable to make a new claim for PIP, ADP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Despite this, if someone is already one of these benefits once they reach 66, they will continue to receive payments until the award period comes to and.
After this point, their claim will be reviewed by the DWP under the normal process for benefit payments.
State pensioners who are no longer claiming working-age disability benefits may be able to reclaim payments if they are receiving them for the same health conditions that they initially received the payment for and their last claim ended 12 months before turning 66.
How much could older people get from PIP/ADP?
As it stands, the full weekly payment rate for the new state pension is £203.85 which means a claimant gets £10,600.20.
In comparison, the weekly rate for both components of PIP combined comes to £172.25 or £8.983 annually.
When the state pension and PIP are combined, older people could receive £376.60 a week. This translates to £1,506.40 every four weeks or £19,583.20 over the course of a year.
Pensioners with disabilities who are no longer eligible for PIP can still apply for Attendance Allowance which is worth either £61.85 or £92.40 every week from DWP.
Who is eligible for PIP
To get this DWP payment, claimants must have a health condition or disability where they have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for three months and expect their condition to last at least nine months.
On top of this, recipients must have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country during the application period.
If someone is struggling with the below tasks, they should consider applying for PIP or an alternative disability payment:
- 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.
