Applying For PIP Before Retirement
It is important that you apply for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) before reaching retirement to ensure that you can claim this benefit.
Disability Rights UK have provided us with answers to the most frequently asked questions concerning the State Retirement Age and PIP.
State Retirement Age And PIP
Are there upper age limits for claiming PIP?
Yes. You need to apply for PIP before you reach 65. If you are already in receipt of this will continue to be paid.
If you have reached State Pension age, you cannot claim PIP for the first time except, in limited circumstances, if you already get disability living allowance.
When do I need to apply for PIP?
If your birthday was 6 October 1954 to 5 April 1960 you have until the date of your 66th birthday to apply for PIP.
From 6 May 2026, State Pension age will start increasing again and will reach 67 by 6 March 2028 (and so affect anyone born between 6 April 1960 and 5 April 1977).
You can find out your own State Pension age and the date you reach it by using the Government State Pension calculator
Is it possible to increase your rate of PIP or switch rates after reaching State Pension Age?
From pension age, if you are not already entitled to the daily living component, you can still claim it, as long as you are already entitled to the mobility component.
If your care needs change after you reach pension age, you can switch between the standard and enhanced rates of the daily living component.
However, from pension age, if you are not already entitled to the mobility component, you cannot claim it, even if you are already entitled to the daily living component (unless you are re-claiming the benefit within one year of a previous award of the mobility component ending – see below).
Once you reach pension age, if your mobility needs increase, you cannot move up from the standard to the enhanced rate.
Can you reclaim PIP after State Pension age?
If you have a short break in PIP entitlement (less than 12 months) after reaching State Pension age, you can make a new PIP claim provided it is made on the basis of substantially the same disability or health conditions as the previous award.
If you leave it longer than 12 months or your claim relates to a different condition or conditions, you need to claim Attendance Allowance instead.
In the case of the PIP mobility component, there is an additional restriction.
You can only receive an award of the enhanced rate in the new claim if you were receiving that rate in the previous award. If you were receiving the standard rate in the previous award, you can only be awarded that rate in the new claim, even if your mobility needs have increased.
Is it possible to increase your rate of PIP or switch rates after reaching State Pension age?
From pension age, if you are not already entitled to the daily living component, you can still claim it, as long as you are already entitled to the mobility component.
If your care needs change after you reach pension age, you can switch between the standard and enhanced rates of the daily living component.
However, from pension age, if you are not already entitled to the mobility component, you cannot claim it, even if you are already entitled to the daily living component (unless you are re-claiming the benefit within one year of a previous award of the mobility component ending – see below).
Once you reach pension age, if your mobility needs increase, you cannot move up from the standard to the enhanced rate.
What is the exception to the rule about being able to claim PIP after State Retirement age?
PIP is gradually being introduced for existing DLA claimants throughout the UK.
The exception to the rule relating to claiming PIP after State Pension age relates to the DWP’s DLA to PIP reassessment programme.
If you get DLA and on 8 April 2013 (or 20 June 2016 in Northern Ireland) you were aged 65 or over, you will not be re-assessed for PIP and cannot choose to claim it. Your DLA continues and can be renewed as normal.
However, if you get DLA and were under 65 on 8 April 2013 (or 20 June 2016 in Northern Ireland) but have since reached 65, you will be re-assessed for PIP. AND you will be able to claim both the daily living and mobility components.
Need further information or advice?
We have produced lots of information to help you find out more about PIP – including a PIP pack and some case studies.
If you would like to speak to someone, contact the Health & Wellbeing team on 01480 474074 and one of our Co-ordinators will able to help you.
