PIP claimants may get a ‘top up’ over £150 a week outside benefit via premium…

PIP claimants could get an extra £152.80 a week if they qualify for a disability premium.

Many new and existing benefit claimants may not be aware that they could also be eligible for additional support on top of certain benefits through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and qualify for a disability premium.

As the cost of living crisis continues to squeeze families on a low income, any extra cash could be vital.

There are three types of disability premiums available for adults which can be an extra cash boost on top of their benefits.

Who is eligible for premiums?

There are three types of disability premium available for adults which include Disability Premium, Enhanced Disability Premium and Severe Disability Premium.

Claimants can get more than one premium at a time.

Disability premium payments can be added to someone’s:

· Income Support

· Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

· Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

· Housing benefit

People will usually need to be eligible for the disability premium to qualify for the severe or enhanced premiums.

If someone gets income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) they can only get the severe or enhanced premium.

To get the disability premium, an individual and their partner must be under Pension Credit age and either registered blind or getting:

· Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

· Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

· Adult Disability Payment (ADP)

· Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)

· Working Tax Credit with a disability element

· Attendance Allowance

· Constant Attendance Allowance

· War Pensioners Mobility Supplement

· Severe Disablement Allowance

· Incapacity Benefit

People claiming PIP can be eligible to get the severe disability premium if they fit certain criteria: an extra £76.40 per week for each person who qualifies, or £152.80 a week for a couple if they’re both eligible.

Any money people get is added to their benefit payments automatically, so they usually do not have to apply for a Disability Premium.

How to claim disability premiums

People do not have to claim disability premiums.

If they’re eligible, it’s automatically added to their Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or housing benefits.

Claimants should contact their local Jobcentre Plus if it has not been paid.

If someone disagrees with a decision, they can challenge a decision about their claim. This is called asking for mandatory reconsideration.

For more information, people can visit the Government website.