The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has paid out Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for 45 different eye conditions, including herpes and astigmatism, with a total of 61,778 eye-related claims as of September data.
The £114 weekly PIP payment is available to help with extra costs caused by long-term disability, ill-health, or when people are approaching the end of their life due to a progressive disease. As of April 2026, 45 eye conditions were eligible for regular support to assist with daily living tasks.
Payment Structure and Components
PIP is paid on a tiered basis and can be reduced or increased if claimants undergo certain life changes, such as needing less care or support at home. The daily living component supports those who need help with everyday tasks like eating, washing, or dressing, with a standard rate of £76.55 per week and an enhanced rate of £114.80.
The mobility payment supports those who struggle to get around independently, with a base rate of £30.20 and an increased level of £80.10.
Claim Numbers and Eligibility
More than four million people were claiming PIP as of April 2026, up from 3,926,015 in January to 4,010,098, as the Government attempts to tackle the benefits bill. PIP is not automatic, and the DWP assesses how difficult daily living and mobility tasks are for claimants. According to the DWP, claimants must experience difficulty with tasks most of the time, for more than half of the days over a 12-month period.
Full List of Eligible Eye Conditions
The list includes conditions such as conjunctiva cornea eyelids and lacrimal apparatus (1,315 claims), corneal ulceration (96), entropion (7), herpes zoster ophthalmic (19), keratitis (115), keratoconus (1,408), orbital cellulitis (9), ptosis (35), scleritis (36), anterior uveitis (253), chorioretinal disorders (396), posterior choroiditis (66), glaucoma (4,141), eye injuries (597), posterior vitreous detachment (38), vitreous disease (122), vitreous haemorrhage (123), diabetic retinopathy (2,011), hypertensive retinopathy (53), macular degeneration (3,331), optic atrophy (1,449), optic neuritis (322), retina and optic nerve disorders (4,164), retinal artery occlusion (108), retinal detachment (1,108), retinal vein occlusion (145), retinitis pigmentosa (5,123), retinopathy (1,040), cataract (1,849), astigmatism (129), hypermetropia (66), myopia (489), refractive errors (134), eye movement disorders (454), nystagmus (2,120), strabismus (65), amblyopia (179), cortical blindness (9,361), diplopia (399), hemianopia (262), quadrantanopia (11), scotoma (15), tunnel vision (563), visual field defects (4,682), and other vision diseases (13,377).
