What age can I claim PIP?
To claim PIP initially, you need to be:
aged 16 or over, and
below State Pension age.
As state retirement age increases over time, the age at which you will be able to make a claim for PIP will also increase. You can check your State Pension age here.
If you receive PIP before you reach State Pension age you will go on being able to receive it after you are over this age.
If you have claimed PIP in the past and then stopped because of an improvement or remission in your condition, you may be covered by the linking rules (see below), if you need to claim again.
Qualifying period
For PIP, you need to have had your current level of needs for at least three months and be likely to continue having them for a further nine months. The three months test does not apply if you are transferring from DLA to PIP.
Linking rules and age limits
If you are under State Pension age and need to reclaim PIP within two years of a previous award ending, then you do not need to serve the 3-month qualifying period. This only applies where your claim:
- is for the same component you received before;
- is based on substantially the same health condition or conditions; or
- is based on a condition which developed from the original condition; and
- you still meet all the other qualifying criteria, such as scoring enough points in the assessment and being likely to have your needs for at least nine months.
If you are over State Pension age, then the same linking rules apply, but the claim must be made within one year of your previous award ending
Age limit for higher components
If you reach state pension age and are already in receipt of PIP you can continue to receive any mobility award that you have.
A Daily Living award can be increased after pension age, if you needs increase.
However, your mobility award cannot be increased once you have reached state pension age.
