Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the new benefit replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA), begins to take effect today as it is rolled out across all parts of Great Britain.

What is changing?

There are a few notable differences between the Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance:

(Effective from June  2013)

• PIP assessment will be based on an external assessment such as face-to-face appointments and medical records rather than self assessment
• It will consist of a daily living component and a mobility component
• Higher,middle and lower rates will be replaced with standard or enhanced rates
• To be eligible for the enhanced (higher) rate mobility component you must not be able to walk unaided for more than 20m (under DLA that distance was 50m)

How will it affect me?

All new claimants will be assessed according to Personal Independence Payment.

For those already claiming Disability Living Allowance, the reassessment process will start in October 2013. All working age Disability Living Allowance claimants will be reassessed under PIP by 2016.

Here are some helpful guides and opinions on the new Personal Independence Payment:

For more information on changes to benefits, read our blog on Universal Credit.

What do you think of the new personal independence payment? How will the change from DLA to PIP affect you or the person you care for?