More than 1.5 million Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims list psychiatric disorders as the main condition, making it the most claimed category tracked by the Department for Work and Pensions' computer system. The latest figures show over 4 million people were receiving PIP as of April 2026.
Psychiatric conditions dominate claims
The DWP records a claimant's "primary disabling condition" during the assessment process. For people with multiple conditions, the one that has the biggest impact on their life is listed as the primary condition for statistics, though all other conditions are considered when deciding on a claim.
The psychiatric disorders category includes 20 different types of conditions, one of which has just 41 claimants. The most common psychiatric conditions on PIP applications include mixed anxiety and depressive disorders (435,330 claimants), autistic spectrum disorders (258,539), learning disability global (173,452), mood disorders (156,155), and psychotic disorders (131,910).
How PIP works
PIP can provide hundreds of pounds each month to help people with disabilities or health conditions. The benefit is not means-tested, but a diagnosis alone may not be enough to successfully claim it. To qualify, a condition must affect either daily living or mobility, with some people potentially eligible before receiving an official diagnosis.
PIP can provide up to a maximum of £191.30 a week, though not all claimants receive this amount as support depends on how severely the condition affects them. The benefit is split into two elements: daily living and mobility, which can be claimed individually or together.
Rates and eligibility
Each element has two weekly rates. The daily living enhanced rate is £114.60, and the standard rate is £76.70. The mobility enhanced rate is £80, and the standard rate is £30.30.
To be eligible, claimants must be aged over 16 but under state pension age if claiming for the first time. They must also expect the difficulties from their condition to last for at least 12 months from the time they started.
