Nearly 1.9 million people have been receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for five years or longer, according to the latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Official statistics show just over 4 million people were claiming PIP in England and Wales at the end of April 2026. Separate DWP data indicates 1,854,768 claimants had been receiving the disability benefit for five years or longer, which means around 46 per cent of all PIP claimants had been on the benefit for at least five years.
Adult Disability Payment (ADP) has replaced PIP for all new and the majority of existing claimants in Scotland.
What is PIP and how much is it worth?
PIP is a benefit for people over 16 who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around. It is not means-tested, so savings and income do not affect eligibility.
A successful claim for PIP is worth between £30.30 and £194.60 a week, with payments made in arrears every four weeks. This amounts to awards of between £121.20 and £778.40.
Conditions with the highest number of long-term claimants
The largest number of people on PIP for five years or longer were recorded under psychiatric disorders, followed by musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.
- Psychiatric disorders - 638,476
- Musculoskeletal disease (general) - 407,939
- Neurological disease - 278,566
- Musculoskeletal disease (regional) - 225,587
- Respiratory disease - 73,548
- Cardiovascular disease - 44,393
- Visual disease - 41,245
- Malignant disease - 33,319
- Endocrine disease - 23,995
- Hearing disorders - 22,811
- Gastrointestinal disease - 14,022
- Skin disease - 12,348
- Genitourinary disease - 10,704
- Autoimmune disease - 10,668
- Diseases of the liver, gallbladder and biliary tract - 4,854
- Haematological disease - 3,965
- Infectious disease - 3,906
- Metabolic disease - 2,544
- Multisystem and extremes of age - 827
- Diseases of the immune system - 584
- Unknown or missing - 463
The figures do not mean people are automatically entitled to PIP because they have one of these conditions. Eligibility is based on how someone’s condition affects their daily living or mobility needs, rather than the diagnosis itself.
How long do PIP awards last?
For people thinking about making a new claim for PIP, or ADP, awards can last between nine months and up to 10 years, however, DWP data only records awards given up to ‘five years or longer’.
PIP guidance on GOV.UK explains the decision maker will consider an award for PIP based on the impact of the claimant’s health condition or disability on their daily life and their ability to live independently. It adds: “The length of award will be based upon each claimant’s individual circumstances.”
DWP guidance also states that most claimants will have their award regularly reviewed, “regardless of the length of the award” in order to make sure “everyone continues to receive the most appropriate level of support”.
Types of awards and reviews
Some claimants will be given a limited term award for a fixed period of up to two years - DWP says these awards will not be reviewed. Limited awards with no review date are given where the claimant’s health condition may be reasonably expected to improve.
A ‘light touch’ review is typically awarded to claimants who have:
- very stable needs which are unlikely to change over time
- high level needs which will either stay the same or get worse
- a planned award review date due on or at State Pension age
- a special rules for end of life claim due when of State Pension age
The DWP guidance states: “These claimants would not usually be expected to have a face-to-face assessment at review.”
Eligibility and how to apply
To be eligible for PIP or ADP, you must have a health condition or disability where you:
- have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months
- expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months
You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply.
If you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP or ADP:
- preparing, cooking or eating food
- managing your medication
- washing, bathing or using the toilet
- dressing and undressing
- engaging and communicating with other people
- reading and understanding written information
- making decisions about money
- planning a journey or following a route
- moving around
There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the GOV.UK website here.
DWP or Social Security Scotland will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they will look at:
- whether you can do it safely
- how long it takes you
- how often your condition affects this activity
- whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment
Payment rates and assessment
PIP and ADP are usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. It will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account. ADP is paid at the same rates as PIP.
You will need an assessment to work out the level of financial help you will receive and your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support. Payments are made every four weeks.
PIP is made up of two components: daily living and mobility. Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you.
You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:
- Daily living standard rate: £76.70
- Daily living enhanced rate: £114.60
- Mobility standard rate: £30.30
- Mobility enhanced rate: £80.00
You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need, for PIP. Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments - it's important to be aware the health professional and DWP determine which type of assessment is best suited for each claimant.
Adult Disability Payment assessments will not involve face-to-face assessments, unless this is preferred by the claimant.
You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP. Before you call, you will need:
- your contact details
- your date of birth
- your National Insurance number
- your bank or building society account number and sort code
- your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
- dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital
People can apply for ADP over the phone, by post or in-person. To find out more or apply, visit the dedicated pages on mygov.scot or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
