DWP Confirms Over 500 Health Conditions That May Be Eligible for Up to £748 Per Month
People living with a long-term health condition or disability may be able to receive financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) records hundreds of health conditions among PIP claimants, with payments potentially reaching around £748 per month for people who qualify for the highest rates of both components.
What Is Personal Independence Payment?
PIP is intended to help people meet some of the additional everyday costs associated with living with a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition.
However, receiving PIP does not depend solely on having a particular diagnosis. The DWP considers how a person’s condition affects their ability to complete daily activities and move around.
People can normally claim PIP from age 16 until State Pension age.
How Much PIP Could You Receive?
PIP consists of two separate parts: the daily living component and the mobility component. A claimant may receive one or both depending on their circumstances.
Daily Living Component
This part of PIP is designed for people who need assistance with everyday activities.
The weekly rates are:
- £76.55 at the standard rate
- £114.80 at the enhanced rate
Mobility Component
The mobility element provides support to people who experience difficulties moving around or making journeys.
The weekly rates are:
- £30.20 at the standard rate
- £80.10 at the enhanced rate
Someone receiving the enhanced rate of both components would get £194.90 per week, equivalent to approximately £748 per month.
Not every claimant receives the maximum payment. Awards depend on how severely a person’s condition affects their daily life and mobility.
A Diagnosis Does Not Automatically Qualify You for PIP
Having one of the conditions associated with PIP claims does not automatically result in an award.
The DWP assesses how a person’s health problems affect them on most days, including whether they require assistance, supervision or support when carrying out everyday activities.
Conditions that could be associated with a PIP claim include the following.
Autoimmune Conditions
Examples include:
Antiphospholipid syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome and temporal or giant cell arteritis.
Cardiovascular and Heart Conditions
Conditions include:
Cardiac failure, hypertension, angina, heart valve disease, deep vein thrombosis and complications following a heart transplant.
Endocrine Conditions
Examples include:
Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism and growth hormone deficiency.
Conditions Related to Extremes of Age
These may include:
Failure to thrive, complications associated with premature birth and conditions connected with old age.
Gastrointestinal Conditions
Digestive and stomach-related conditions include:
Coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease, haemorrhoids, hernia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Musculoskeletal Conditions
Examples include:
Osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, gout, rickets and hypermobility syndrome.
Kidney and Urinary Conditions
These can include:
Incontinence, urinary tract infections, renal failure and endometriosis.
Blood Disorders
Examples include:
Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, other forms of anaemia, thalassaemia and Haemophilia B, also known as Christmas disease.
Hearing Conditions
These include:
Congenital deafness, mixed hearing loss and hearing loss caused by trauma.
Immune System Conditions
Examples include:
Allergies with or without a risk of anaphylaxis, food intolerance and hypersensitivity disorders.
Infectious Diseases
Conditions can include:
HIV/AIDS, Covid-19, malaria and tuberculosis.
Liver, Gallbladder and Pancreatic Conditions
Examples include:
Hepatitis, cirrhosis, Wilson’s disease, liver failure, gallstones and pancreatitis.
Cancer
PIP claims may involve people affected by cancers including those involving the:
Skin, brain, bones, blood, breast, gastrointestinal system, respiratory system and genitourinary system.
Metabolic Conditions
Examples include:
Obesity, hyperlipidaemia and porphyria.
Neurological Conditions
These can include:
Epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome, multiple sclerosis and migraines.
Mental Health and Psychiatric Conditions
Examples include:
Anxiety, stress-related conditions, dementia, eating disorders, global learning disabilities and autism.
Regional Musculoskeletal Conditions
Conditions include:
Tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, whiplash, scoliosis, hip and knee disorders, amputations and club foot.
Respiratory Conditions
Examples include:
Sleep apnoea, cystic fibrosis, asthma, pneumonia and conditions involving lung or heart-and-lung transplantation.
Skin Conditions
These include:
Impetigo, cellulitis, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, leg ulcers, pressure sores and burns.
Visual and Eye Conditions
Examples include:
Glaucoma, cataracts, astigmatism, myopia or short-sightedness, and hypermetropia or long-sightedness.
Hundreds of physical and mental health conditions may be associated with successful PIP claims, but an award is not based on diagnosis alone. The DWP looks primarily at how a person’s condition affects their ability to manage everyday activities and mobility.
Those experiencing significant difficulties because of a long-term condition may therefore be eligible for financial support, with the highest combined PIP award reaching around £748 per month.
