PIP Eligibility Criteria 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the upper age limit to make a NEW claim for PIP?
- State Pension age (Correct answer)
- 65
- 70
- 75
Correct answer: State Pension age
You must be under State Pension age when you make a new PIP claim; the exact age varies depending on your date of birth.
Question 2: Under the 'special rules for terminal illness,' how is a person's prognosis defined for a fast-tracked PIP claim?
- A progressive disease expected to cause death within 12 months (Correct answer)
- Any life-limiting illness regardless of prognosis
- A condition requiring full-time hospital care
- A disability lasting more than 5 years
Correct answer: A progressive disease expected to cause death within 12 months
Since April 2023, special rules apply when a healthcare professional certifies that a condition is progressive and death within 12 months is a reasonable expectation.
Question 3: A terminally ill PIP claimant using special rules receives which component automatically at the enhanced rate?
- Daily Living only (Correct answer)
- Mobility only
- Both Daily Living and Mobility
- Neither — they still must be assessed
Correct answer: Daily Living only
Under special rules, the Daily Living component is automatically awarded at the enhanced rate, but Mobility still requires a standard assessment.
Question 4: Which minimum age must a person reach before they can first claim PIP?
- 16 (Correct answer)
- 18
- 21
- 25
Correct answer: 16
PIP is available from age 16; before that age, children may claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children instead.
Question 5: For PIP eligibility, a claimant's difficulties must have lasted at least how many months before the claim date?
- 3 months (Correct answer)
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 12 months
Correct answer: 3 months
The 'past period' condition requires that the disability or health condition has caused the relevant difficulties for at least 3 months.
Question 6: In addition to the 3-month past period, how long must the difficulties be expected to continue?
- 9 months (Correct answer)
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 12 months
Correct answer: 9 months
The 'future period' condition requires that difficulties are likely to continue for at least 9 more months from the date of assessment.
Question 7: Does PIP take into account a claimant's savings or household income when deciding eligibility?
- No — PIP is not means-tested (Correct answer)
- Yes — savings over £16,000 disqualify you
- Yes — household income above £30,000 disqualifies you
- Only partially — savings affect the Mobility component
Correct answer: No — PIP is not means-tested
PIP is not means-tested, so savings, income, and a partner's earnings have no bearing on eligibility or award amount.
PIP Eligibility Criteria 2
What is the upper age limit to make a NEW claim for PIP?