Commentary on Sections Part 4: Personal independence payment
358.The Act replaces disability living allowance with a new cash benefit called personal independence payment. The purpose of the benefit is to contribute to the extra costs of overcoming the barriers faced by long-term disabled people to leading full and active lives.
359.Personal independence payment will consist of two components – the daily living component and the mobility component. For each component there will be two rates – standard and enhanced. Entitlement to either of the components (and the applicable rate) will be determined with reference to a new objective assessment, the details of which will be set out in secondary legislation.
360.The new assessment will assess the ability of an individual to perform specified activities and will take into account the impact of physical, sensory, mental, intellectual and cognitive impairments on the individual in undertaking the specified activities.
361.Personal independence payment is to be a non-contributory benefit, and is neither taxable nor means-tested.