New figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveal that over 3.5 million people across Great Britain are now claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The record-breaking statistics exclude individuals in Scotland who have transitioned to Adult Disability Payment (ADP), with 172,954 Scots still receiving PIP and 254,365 on ADP.
The DWP data shows 250,000 new PIP claims were registered in England and Wales in the three months to April, the highest since the benefit's 2013 launch. Just over one in three cases (36%) received the highest award level, worth between £114.80 and £737.20 every four weeks.
More than 500 health conditions are supported by PIP or ADP. The top five disabling conditions recorded by the DWP as of April 2024 are: psychiatric disorders (including anxiety, stress, depression, OCD, and cognitive disorders); neurological conditions (muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, headache, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy); musculoskeletal issues (neck, back, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle pain); respiratory diseases (asthma, upper respiratory tract diseases, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis); and an 'unknown' category.
PIP and ADP eligibility requires a health condition or disability causing difficulties with daily living or mobility tasks. Applicants usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when applying. Awards are based on assessment of how severely the condition affects daily living and mobility, with payments every four weeks (weekly for terminal illness).
Assessments for PIP may be face-to-face, video, telephone, or paper-based, while ADP assessments avoid face-to-face unless preferred by the claimant. New claims for PIP can be made via the DWP, while ADP applications are handled by Social Security Scotland.
