Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) data reveals which Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants are most likely to receive an ongoing award worth up to £778, with four groups standing out.
The latest figures show there are now over 4 million PIP claimants in England and Wales receiving between £30.30 and £194.60 every week. More than 1.5 million (39%) of all PIP claimants have been issued with an award of five years or longer.
Top conditions for longer awards
More than half of all claimants with general musculoskeletal conditions (50.8%) such as arthritis, muscle or joint pain, have been given a longer award, along with 49.5 per cent of people with a neurological condition such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy.
More than 58 per cent of people claiming PIP for a visual condition are awarded the higher rates for over five years. The four groups with the highest percentage of five-year or longer awards are:
- Visual disease - 60,360 claimants, 34,692 with awards for 5 or more years
- Musculoskeletal disease (general) - 740,225 claimants, 34,434 with awards for 5 or more years
- Neurological disease - 494,817 claimants, 230,412 with awards for 5 or more years
- Respiratory disease - 141,072 claimants, 64,835 with awards for 5 or more years
Other conditions with high rates include autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders) with 21,082 claimants and 8,697 receiving five-year awards, and musculoskeletal disease (regional) with 469,641 claimants and 185,916 receiving longer awards.
Award lengths and reviews
PIP awards can last between nine months and up to 10 years, but 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 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."
The guidance also says 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". 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.
Ongoing awards and eligibility
An ongoing award with 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, or 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."
Proposed changes by the DWP to PIP have been put on hold until a review of the eligibility and assessment process has been completed. Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, will co-produce the review with disabled groups and charities, which is expected to be completed this autumn.
To be eligible for PIP or Adult Disability Payment (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 and 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.
PIP and ADP are usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. PIP is made up of two components: daily living and mobility. Daily living standard rate is £76.70 and enhanced rate is £114.60. Mobility standard rate is £30.30 and enhanced rate is £80.00.
