The Confusion Over The Purpose Of The PIP benefit

 

Absolutely—this confusion is super common, and Samuel you're right to say PIP is neither an in-work nor out-of-work benefit.

🇬🇧 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is designed to help people aged 16 and over with the extra costs of living with a long-term illness, disability, or mental health condition. It’s not based on income, employment status, or National Insurance contributions. You can receive PIP whether you’re:

• Working full-time or part-time
• Unemployed
• Retired (if you started receiving it before reaching State Pension age)

🔍 What matters is how your condition affects your daily life, not whether you're working. PIP is split into two components:

• Daily Living: For help with tasks like cooking, washing, dressing, managing medication, or social interaction
• Mobility: For help with getting around, whether physically or due to cognitive or mental health challenges

It’s not a wage replacement like Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance. It’s a recognition that living with a disability often comes with extra costs—whether you're employed or not.