Payment rates for benefits are increased in April
The DWP has issued an update for people on Universal Credit, PIP and three other benefits. The guidance was issued after a question from Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick. Mr Chadwick asked the Government if it would adopt a policy “to guarantee working-age people with a terminal illness a state pension-level of income”.
The full new state pension currently pays £230.25 a week, or £11,973 a year. Payment rates for the state pension go up each April in line with the triple lock.
This will increase payments 4.8 percent next April, meaning the full new amount will go up to £241.30 a week, or £12,547.60 a year. DWP minister Sir Stephen Timms provided a response from the Government.
He told the MP “we have no such policy” but he did explain the support that is available to those nearing the end of their life. The minister said: “Supporting people nearing the end of their life is important to the Government.
“The main way the Department does this is through the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL) which enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit and Attendance Allowance.”
Guidance on the Government website about these special rules explains that they can help you get avoid a medical assessment and get “higher payments for certain benefits”. The rules can apply in a case where an adult or child is nearing the end of their life and they are likely to have less than 12 months to live.
In these cases, you may be able to make a fast-tracked claim for one of these benefits:
- Personal Independence Payment
- Universal Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Attendance Allowance.
You may be asked to provide medical evidence on an SR1 form to support a benefit claim made under the special rules.
Higher payments
If you apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) under the special rules, you will automatically get the higher daily living part for the benefit, which is currently £110.40 a week, or £5,740.80 a year. The lower daily living rate is currently £73.90 a week.
If you were on the higher rate for PIP and your payments were increased in line with Mr Chadwick’s suggestion of a state pension-level guaranteed rate, of £230.25 a week, you would get an extra £119.85 a week, or £6,232.20 a year.
The benefit also includes a mobility part which pays £29.20 a week at the lower rate and £77.05 a week at the higher rate. PIP support people who live with a long-term health condition or disability, and how much you get for each part depends on to what extent your condition affects you.
Mr Timms also said in his response: “The department is committed to ensure that eligible claimants at the end of life have their claims processed as quickly as possible. Latest figures show that in Great Britain, new claims to PIP under the Special Rules are being cleared in 3 working days on average.”
Other guidance on the Government website states that under the special rules, you may also be able to get Universal Credit “more quickly and at a higher rate”.
