Direct payments of £173 per week for dyslexia sufferers – can you get help?
SIX million people in Britain are thought to suffer from dyslexia, but some may not realize they could be eligible for benefits worth £173.
Anyone with a common learning disability may be eligible for government benefits.
According to the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), around 10% of the population is thought to have dyslexia.
If you have these, you may be eligible for Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
The benefit is intended to help people who suffer from a health condition or disability.
Payments can be up to £173 a week, or almost £9,000 a year, and you can qualify whether you work or not.
You are eligible for the benefit if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and have difficulty carrying out certain daily tasks or getting around.
These may include neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia.
PIP consists of two elements: the daily living part and the mobility part.
The daily living area is for those who need help with daily tasks, while the mobility area is for those who need help getting around.
There are two rates for each part, depending on your needs: standard or extended. The weekly rates are:
- Standard daily living component: £68.10
- Enhanced Daily Living Component: £101.75
- Standard mobility component: €26.90
- Enhanced Mobility Component: £71
Understanding Dyslexia and Common Traits
HERE'S everything you need to know…
The British Dyslexia Association describes dyslexia as a learning difficulty that mainly affects people's ability to read and spell fluently.
Hallmarks of the condition include problems with phonological awareness, verbal memory, and verbal processing speed.
Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and pronounce the spoken parts of sentences and words, while verbal memory refers to the number of words people can keep in mind while reading.
Verbal processing speed is the time it takes for people to absorb, understand, and then respond to verbal information.
People with dyslexia may also have difficulty with their motor coordination, concentration and organizational skills.
However, people with dyslexia often have strengths in other areas, including design, problem solving, creative skills, interactive skills and oral skills.
You can qualify for both parts of PIP, meaning the maximum amount you can currently receive each week is €172.75.
It's a potentially life-changing amount, so if you're not claiming it yet, it's worth checking whether you qualify.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says there is no specific list of conditions that entitle people to PIP.
This means that you are not automatically eligible for PIP because you have dyslexia.
However, if you have a learning disability and it has a sufficient impact on your daily life, you may qualify.
What is PIP and who is eligible for it?
PIP is available to people aged 16 or over, but you must also be under state pension age (currently 66).
Crucially, you also have a health condition or disability that has caused you to have difficulty with daily living or getting around (or both) for three months.
You should also bear in mind that these difficulties will last for at least nine months (unless you are terminally ill and have less than twelve months to live).
Problems with daily life may include:
- Preparing or eating food
- Washing, bathing and going to the toilet
- Dressing and undressing
- Read and communicate
- Managing your medications or treatments
- Making decisions about money
- Dealing with other people
PIP payments are tax-free and the amount you receive is not affected by your income or savings.
You can also claim it along with other benefits apart from the Armed Forces Independence Pay.
In the meantime, if you receive a constant attendance allowance, you will receive less of the daily living expenses of PIP.
If you receive the Mobility Supplement for War Pensioners, you will not receive the mobility part of PIP.
How do you apply for PIP?
You can make a claim by calling the DWP on 0800 917 2222.
There are also other ways to claim if you don't want to call. You should check out government.co.uk For more information.
If you make a claim you will need the following information:
- Your contact details
- Date of birth
- National insurance number
- Account number and sorting code of the bank or building society
- The name of your doctor or health professional
- Address and telephone number
- Dates and addresses of the time you spent abroad, in a nursing home or hospital
Someone else can call on your behalf, but you must be present with them when they call.
You will then receive a form that you must complete. You will then be invited for an assessment or your healthcare or social worker will be asked for information.
You will then receive a letter stating whether your claim has been successful.
Are you missing out on unclaimed benefits?
You can use a benefit calculator to check whether you are not missing out on money you are entitled to.
Charity The Turn2Us benefits calculator figuring out what you could get.
Entitlement is free calculator calculates whether you are eligible for various benefits, tax credits and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefit tools powered by Entitledto's data.
You can use The Policy in Practice calculator to find out not only what benefits you can receive, but also to find out how much money you have left every month after paying your housing costs.
Exactly what you are entitled to will not become clear until you make a claim, but calculators can give you an indication of what you may be eligible for.
You can read about Citizens Advice's help in preparing an assessment guide on the website.
If you apply for PIP and are unsuccessful, you can appeal the decision.