More than 500 health conditions could make people eligible for a monthly payment of up to £748 through Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a benefit administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Many claimants may not realise they can apply.
What is PIP?
PIP is designed to help with extra daily costs arising from long-term health conditions or disabilities. The amount awarded depends on how the condition impacts everyday independence, not just the diagnosis itself. Payments can be made in two components: daily living and mobility. Claimants may receive one or both, with combined enhanced rates reaching £194.90 per week, approximately £748 a month.
Components and rates
The daily living component, for help with routine activities, ranges from £76.55 to £114.80 per week. The mobility component, for movement difficulties, pays between £30.20 and £80.10 per week. Some may receive a mixed award, such as standard for one component and enhanced for the other. PIP is available to people aged 16 up to State Pension age.
Eligible conditions
The DWP references a broad list of medical conditions, including umbrella terms for issues not named explicitly. While diagnosis is a starting point, awards are based on how the condition affects daily life. Examples of potentially eligible conditions include:
- Blood diseases: anaemia, thalassaemia, haemophilia B
- Infectious diseases: HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, tuberculosis
- Malignant diseases: various cancers
- Metabolic diseases: obesity, hyperlipidaemia
- Psychiatric disorders: anxiety, dementia, autism
- Neurological diseases: epilepsy, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis
- Visual and hearing disorders: glaucoma, cataracts, congenital deafness
- Cardiovascular diseases: heart failure, hypertension, angina
- Gastrointestinal diseases: coeliac disease, Crohn's disease, IBS
- Musculoskeletal conditions: osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, amputation
- Autoimmune diseases: antiphospholipid syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome
- Kidney and urinary diseases: incontinence, renal failure
- Endocrine diseases: diabetes, hypothyroidism
- Respiratory diseases: sleep apnoea, cystic fibrosis, asthma
- Immune system diseases: allergies, food intolerance
This list is not exhaustive; the DWP assesses each case individually.
