The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published the full list of 12 medical conditions most likely to receive the maximum Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award length of five years or longer.
PIP provides financial support to people with long-term physical or mental health conditions or disabilities, helping with additional living and mobility costs. Awards can range from nine months to an ongoing award with a light-touch review after 10 years.
How PIP awards work
PIP is split into daily living and mobility components, with different standard and enhanced rates depending on how a condition affects someone. The maximum combination can provide around £187 per week, or approximately £748 every four weeks.
The DWP says award lengths are based on each claimant's individual circumstances and the impact of their condition on daily life and independence. Most claimants can still have their award reviewed regardless of how long it lasts.
Conditions with the highest long-term award rates
Visual disease has the highest proportion of long-term PIP claimants, with 40,809 out of 60,360 claimants (68%) receiving awards lasting five years or longer. Neurological disease follows at 55%, with 273,628 long-term claimants out of 494,817.
Hearing disorders and general musculoskeletal disease both have 54% of claimants on long-term awards, affecting 22,317 and 398,534 people respectively. Respiratory disease follows at 51%, with 71,941 long-term claimants.
Other conditions and claimant numbers
Regional musculoskeletal disease has 47% of claimants on long-term awards, while skin disease stands at 45% and endocrine disease at 44%. Cardiovascular disease has 42% of claimants receiving awards lasting five years or longer.
Psychiatric disorders account for the largest number of long-term claimants at 617,281, although they represent 41% of claimants for that condition. Gastrointestinal disease stands at 34%, while malignant disease has the lowest proportion at 25%.
