The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the full list of 12 medical conditions most likely to get the maximum Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award length of five years. PIP is a disability benefit that helps with living costs for people facing long-term physical or mental health conditions or disability.
It supports those who need help with daily living tasks, particularly people of State Pension age who want to maintain their independence at home. The shortest award is only nine months long, while the longest is an ongoing award with a "light touch" review at 10 years.
How PIP awards are decided
PIP is not a single flat rate. Instead, it 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 current edition of the PIP Handbook explains the decision maker will make an award of PIP based on the impact of the claimant's health condition or disability on their daily life and their ability to live independently. It added: "The length of award will be based upon each claimant's individual circumstances."
Guidance from the DWP also said 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".
The 12 conditions with the highest long-term claims
Latest data from the DWP has revealed the top 12 conditions with the highest amount of long term PIP claimants. Below is the full list of the 12 medical conditions most likely to get the maximum PIP award length, the number of long term claimants, the number of total claimants for that condition and the percentage of claimants who are long term.
- Visual disease: 40,809 / 60,360 (68%)
- Neurological disease: 273,628 / 494,817 (55%)
- Hearing disorders: 22,317 / 41,155 (54%)
- Musculoskeletal disease (general): 398,534 / 740,225 (54%)
- Respiratory disease: 71,941 / 141,072 (51%)
- Musculoskeletal disease (regional): 220,169 / 469,641 (47%)
- Skin disease: 11,936 / 26,676 (45%)
- Endocrine disease: 22,297 / 51,089 (44%)
- Cardiovascular disease: 42,925 / 102,889 (42%)
- Psychiatric disorders: 617,281 / 1,523,811 (41%)
- Gastrointestinal disease: 13,121 / 38,987 (34%)
- Malignant disease: 32,044 / 127,423 (25%)
The data shows that visual disease has the highest proportion of long-term claimants, with 68% receiving the maximum award length, followed by neurological disease and hearing disorders. The list reflects the conditions most likely to result in a five-year PIP award, based on the latest DWP figures.
