MILLIONS of households on benefits could get essential payments quicker as a new trial is extended.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is trialling the use of online applications for new personal independence payments (PIP) claims.
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The service is being offered claimants in certain postcodes who call the PIP helpline to apply for the benefit.
Personal Independence Payments (PIP) is a disability benefit that is given to those with long-term mental or physical health problems or disabilities.
Nearly three million claimants are entitled to PIP in England and Wales.
Most households that think they’re eligible for PIP are encouraged to apply by calling the claim helpline on 0800 917 2222.
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You’ll then be sent a form that asks about your condition and you’ll have to return this in the post.
Tom Pursglove MP, DWP minister for disabled people, talked about the rollout of the scheme in a recent written response to Labour MP, Liz Twist.
He said only a select number of postcodes have been chosen so the “functionality and stability” of the new service can be tested.
But he added: ” As we scale the service, this list of postcode districts will gradually increase until the service is available nationally across England, Wales and Northern Ireland by 2024.
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Below is a full list of postcodes currently able to access online applications:
- Birmingham – B16, B18, B21, B42, B66, B67, B68, B69, B70, B71
- Bradford – BD11, BD12, BD4
- Bournemouth – BH1, BH10, BH11, BH12, BH13, BH14, BH15, BH16, BH17, BH18, BH2, BH22, BH3, BH4, BH5, BH6, BH7, BH8, BH9
- East Sussex – BN20, BN22, BN23
- Cambridge – CB11, CM24
- Crewe – CW12
- Derby – DE21, DE7, DE72, DE75
- Dudley – DY11, DY13
- London – E11, E12, E18, E7
- Gloucester – GL1, GL10, GL5
- Huddersfield – D1, HD4
- Hemel Hempstead – HP23
- Hereford – HR7, HR8
- Ilford – IG1, IG2, IG3, IG4, IG5, IG6, IG7, IG8, IG9
- Ipswich – IP10, IP11, IP12, IP13, IP15, IP16, IP17, IP18, IP19, IP20, IP3, IP4, IP5, IP6
- Kingston-upon-Thames – KT10, KT12, KT6, KT7, KT8, KT9
- Liverpool – L10, L21, L22, L23, L29, L30, L38, L9
- Leicester – LE13
- Lincoln – LN10, LN11, LN12, LN13, LN9
- Luton – LU1, LU2, LU3, LU4, LU7
- Manchester – M15, M16, M23, M31, M32, M33, M41
- Newcastle – NE1, NE2, NE4, NE5, NE98
- Nottinghamshire – NG10, NG15, NG17
- Norwich– NR31, NR32, NR33, NR34, NR35
- Peterborough – PE21, PE23, PE24, PE25, PE34
- Reading – RG14, RG20, RG21, RG22, RG23, RG24
- Surrey – RH7, RH8
- Romford – RM10
- Stevenage – SG7
- Stockport – SK11
- Southampton – SO24
- Stoke-on-Trent – ST13
- Kent – TN8
- Twickenham – TW16, TW17
- Warrington – WA14, WA15
- West Yorkshire – WF13, WF15, WF16, WF17
- Worcester – WR13, WR14, WR2, WR5, WR6, WS6
- York – YO11, YO12, YO13, YO14, YO22, YO25
- Chelmsford – CM17
The DWP has said that the following groups of people will begin to be included as it grows the scope of the service:
- Anyone applying in an official capacity (e.g. appointees)
- Anyone with a Welsh or Northern Ireland postcode
- Anyone applying for special rules
- Anyone with a previous or existing PIP or DLA claim
- Those without a National Insurance number or with a GY or JY postcode.
The DWP will gradually increase the service availability over the coming months.
What is PIP?
Millions suffering from long-term health conditions or disabilities get extra cash help through personal independence payments (PIP).
You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.
The payments can be worth up to £172.75 a week, so if you don’t claim it already, check to see if you’re eligible.
PIP is available to those aged 16 or over but no fresh claims can be made if you’ve reached the State Pension age.
The current state pension age is 66 but this is set to rise to 68.
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).
Difficulties with daily living can include:
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- Preparing or eating food
- Washing, bathing and using the toilet
- Dressing and undressing
- Reading and communicating
- Managing your medicines or treatments
- Making decisions about money
- Engaging with other people
You can claim PIP at the same time as other benefits, except the armed forces independence payment.
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.
