The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published the complete list of 45 conditions that entitle claimants to weekly Personal Independence Payment (PIP) payments of £114. According to the most recent DWP data, released in September, there are 61,778 PIP claims relating to various eye conditions.
UK Government figures show that more than four million people were claiming PIP as of April 2026. The newly published figures reveal a rise in the number of PIP claimants, increasing to 4,010,098 from 3,926,015 in January of this year.
How PIP payments work
The benefit, administered by the DWP, assists with some of the additional costs arising from long-term disability, ill-health, or for those nearing the end of their life due to a progressive illness. PIP is intended for those who need assistance with daily living, particularly people of State Pension age who wish to remain independent in their own homes.
Rather than being paid at a single flat rate, the benefit is split into two components, determined by the extent to which a claimant's condition impacts their independence. The daily living component covers the additional costs of managing everyday tasks.
Payment rates and eligibility
The standard rate stands at £76.55 per week, while the enhanced rate provides £114.80. The mobility component addresses the difficulties of getting around. The base rate for this element is £30.20, rising to an increased level of £80.10.
By qualifying for the enhanced daily living rate and a proportion of the mobility support, eligible claimants can see their weekly total reach £187, which is £748 per month. Eligibility for PIP is not determined by National Insurance contributions and is not means-tested — meaning that even if you are employed, have savings, or are already receiving other benefits, you can still qualify for the payments to assist with daily living tasks.
Full list of qualifying eye conditions
PIP is not awarded automatically, and the DWP will assess how much difficulty claimants with the condition experience when carrying out daily living and mobility tasks. According to the DWP, to receive PIP you must experience difficulty with tasks most of the time. This means you are expected to have difficulty on more than half of the days over a 12-month period.
Qualifying eye conditions and the number 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
