The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the full list of 45 eye conditions that qualify claimants for £114 weekly payments of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Claims and recipients
There are a total of 61,778 PIP claims for the various eye conditions, according to the latest DWP data, released in September. In total, more than four million people were claiming PIP as of April 2026, according to government figures.
The newly released data shows an increase in the number of PIP claimants, up to 4,010,098 from 3,926,015 in January of this year. The disability benefit, paid out by the DWP, helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term disability, ill-health or when people are approaching the end of their life due to a progressive disease.
How PIP works
As of April 2026, there were a total of 45 eye conditions that could make you eligible for a regular support payment. PIP supports those who need help with daily living tasks, particularly people of State Pension age who want to maintain their independence at home.
The disability benefit is not a single flat rate but is divided into two parts based on how a claimant's condition affects their independence. The daily living component covers the extra costs of managing everyday tasks. The standard rate is £76.55 per week, while the enhanced rate provides £114.80.
The mobility component addresses the challenges of getting around. The base rate for this component is £30.20, with an increased level of £80.10. By qualifying for the enhanced daily living rate and a portion of the mobility support, eligible claimants can see their weekly total reach the £187 mark, totalling £748 per month.
Eligibility and full list of conditions
Eligibility for PIP is not determined by National Insurance contributions and it's not means-tested, meaning that even if you're employed, have savings, or are receiving other benefits, you can still qualify. PIP is not automatic, and the DWP will assess how difficult claimants with the condition find daily living and mobility tasks. To get PIP you must experience difficulty with tasks most of the time, expecting to have difficulty more than half of the days over a 12-month period.
Below is the full list of qualifying eye conditions and the amount of associated claims as of April 2026, according to the DWP:
- Conjunctiva cornea eyelids and lacrimal apparatus - Other diseases of / type not known - 1,315
- Corneal ulceration - 96
- Entropion - 7
- Herpes zoster - ophthalmic - 19
- Keratitis - 115
- Keratoconus - 1,408
- Orbital cellulitis - 9
- Ptosis - 35
- Scleritis - 36
- Anterior Uveitis (iritis) - 253
- Chorioretinal disorders - Other / type not known - 396
- Posterior (choroiditis) - 66
- Glaucoma - 4,141
- Eyes - Injuries to - 597
- Posterior vitreous detachment - 38
- Vitreous disease - Other / type not known - 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 - Other diseases of / type not known - 4,164
- Retinal artery occlusion - 108
- Retinal detachment - 1,108
- Retinal vein occlusion - 145
- Retinitis Pigmentosa - 5,123
- Retinopathy - Other / type not known - 1,040
- Cataract - 1,849
- Astigmatism - 129
- Hypermetropia (long-sighted) - 66
- Myopia (short-sighted) - 489
- Refractive errors - Other / type not known - 134
- Eye movement - Other disorders of / type not known - 454
- Nystagmus - 2,120
- Strabismus (Squint) - 65
- Amblyopia - 179
- Cortical blindness - 9,361
- Diplopia (double vision) - 399
- Hemianopia - 262
- Quadrantanopia - 11
- Scotoma - 15
- Tunnel vision - 563
- Visual field defects - Other / type not known - 4,682
- Vision - Other diseases affecting / type not known - 13,377
