The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit that helps people over the age of 16 and under the statutory retirement age with the additional daily cost of living with a long-term illness, physical or mental health condition, or disability.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could award you between £ 23.70 and £ 152.15 per week to cover the additional costs of daily living and outdoor mobility. If you are awarded PIP, you may be able to claim additional money on top of your existing benefits, council tax breaks, and travel discounts.

The DWP guidelines state: “Eligibility for PIP provides a gateway or pass to other benefits such as care allowance and systems sponsored by other departments such as the Blue Badge program.”

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You will need your PIP Reward Letter before you can apply for additional assistance. This is often referred to as a PIP Award Notice and will be sent to you when the DWP has made a decision about your entitlement.

Here’s a quick rundown of the additional perks, discounts, and discounts PIP applicants may also be able to take advantage of. You can find all details here on GOV.UK.

Advantage charges

You can receive a top-up, a so-called premium, for the following services when you receive PIP:

  • Housing benefit

  • Unemployment benefit

  • social care

  • Labor tax credit

  • Employment and Support Allowance – only if you are receiving the PIP component of daily living

  • Annuity Credit – Only if you receive the PIP component of daily living

How to apply

Contact the person responsible for your benefits, let them know that you are receiving PIP and ask them what other help it will entitle you to.

You may need to send them a copy of your PIP Reward Letter – they should also be able to tell you how much additional you are getting.

If you are on disability allowance, your PIP or any other benefits will not be reduced. Therefore, it is always best to ask the DWP what extras you are entitled to and request them.

Municipal tax reductions

If you get either the daily living or mobility component from PIP, you can get cash from your council tax bill.

It’s hard to say exactly how much discount you will get because it depends on things like the component and rate of the PIP you are getting – your local council can tell you this.

How to apply

To get your council tax rebate, contact your local council and let them know you’re getting PIP. You may need to send them a copy of your PIP Reward Letter.

Find your local council here.

When claiming PIP for a child

If your child is receiving PIP, is between 16 and 20 years old and is still in education, your housing benefit can be increased.

You can also get money from your council tax bill.

Your local council can tell you this. Find your local council here.

How to apply

To see if you can get this help, contact the housing benefit office and your local council and let them know that your child is getting PIP.

They can also tell you how much the increase or discount will be.

Travel assistance

When you receive your PIP Rewards Letter, there are several methods of travel assistance you can apply for.

National Authorization Card (NEC)

With the NEC, people can conveniently access various public services and facilities with just one card. It can be used for free travel on most bus routes across Scotland and discounted travel on trains, tubes and ferries.

It is also used by many local councils as a library and recreational membership card.

Find out more about the NEC here.

Disabled Access Rail Ticket (£ 20 for annual membership)

This offers up to a third of the majority of rail fares across the UK. Find out more here.

Blue Badge (£ 20 for three years in Scotland)

A Blue Badge holder traveling as a driver or passenger can park for free in disabled parking spaces and can be exempted from other parking restrictions.

Further information on eligibility can be found here and on the mygov.scot website here.

Exemption from road tax

If you are on the standard PIP mobility tariff, you are also entitled to a 50% vehicle tax reduction – the vehicle must be registered in your name or that of your designated driver.

If you receive the PIP extended mobility tariff, you are entitled to a 100% discount on road tax.

More information can be found here on the gov.uk website.

Mobility program

You may also be able to take advantage of the mobility scheme if you receive the PIP extended mobility tariff.

The mobility program enables people to become mobile by swapping their mobility allowance for a new car, wheelchair accessible vehicle, scooter or power wheelchair.

Find out more here.

Check that you are using all of the services that you are entitled to

It is always a good idea to check that you are receiving all of the services that you are entitled to.

These calculators are free to use, anonymous, and have replaced the Benefits Adviser service.

Online performance calculator

Advice Direct Scotland

This new online tool is the first to fully integrate decentralized benefits, including the new Scottish Child Payment.

It provides a free and impartial assessment of eligibility for a range of benefits such as universal credit, crisis grants and support payments.

Cycle – for information on PIP, earnings-related benefits, tax credits, council tax relief, care allowance, universal credit and how your benefits will affect you when you start work or change your working hours.

Politics in practice – for information on PIP, earnings-related benefits, tax credits, contributory benefits, council tax relief, care allowance, universal credit, how these are calculated and how your benefits will affect you when you start work or change your working hours.

entitled to – for information on PIP, income-related benefits, tax credits, contribution-based benefits, council tax relief, care allowance, universal credit and how your benefits will affect you when you take up employment.

What will you need

You need detailed information about your:

  • savings

  • Income, including that of your partner

  • Existing benefits and pensions (including those who live with you)

  • Expenses (such as rent, mortgages, childcare allowances)

  • Council tax assessment

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Who can’t use them

You cannot use the calculators if you are under 18 years of age and they will not give accurate results if you:

More information about PIP can be found here on the GOV.UK website.

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