Notice

If you’ve got a mental health condition and didn’t get the higher rate of PIP mobility

The rules for getting the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mobility component have changed. You are now more likely to get the mobility component if you have a mental health condition that makes it difficult for you to plan or make a journey.

Because of the change, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said it will look again at any PIP claims which were decided after 27 November 2016 but before 28 June 2018 – you can check the date on your decision letter.

If you think this would change a decision made about your PIP then you can ask the DWP to look at your claim again. You can ask them to do this if you:

have a mental health condition that makes going outside difficult

didn’t get the mobility component of PIP or you got the standard rate of the mobility component

Ask the DWP to look at your claim again

If your PIP decision was made before 28 November 2016

If you didn’t get the mobility component or you got a lower rate than you expected, you might be able to get your claim backdated to before 28 November – contact your nearest Citizens Advice.

The DWP has written to some people who they think might benefit from the change. However the DWP might not correctly identify everyone, so you should contact them yourself.

Write to the benefit office listed on your original decision letter. Tell them you think the new rules mean you should have got the higher mobility component and you want them to look at your PIP decision again.

You'll need to include your:

National Insurance number

address

contact details

If you don’t have your original decision letter, call the PIP enquiry line to find out where to send your letter.

If you’re already getting PIP when you ask for a review

The DWP will look at your entire PIP claim again - this includes the care and mobility components. This means you might get less money overall than you were getting. If you’re not sure, contact your nearest Citizens Advice for help.

If you aren’t getting any PIP

You should make a new claim if you think you might now qualify for the mobility component – you don’t need to wait until your old claim has been reviewed. If you make a new claim you could get extra money sooner and they might backdate the payment.

How your claim will be reviewed

You won’t have to go to another face-to-face assessment. The DWP will review your claim by using all the information you sent when you applied.

If they need more information they might contact you or your doctor.

If you’re eligible for more money

The DWP will send you a letter after the review to tell you their decision. If you’re entitled to more money it will tell you how much you’ll get.

Your payment will be backdated to the date of your claim or when the mobility component rules were first changed (28 November 2016), whichever is later.