The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that 3.16 million peopleclaim the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for those who suffer from long-term mental or physical health conditions, with some taking home up to £4,800 per year.
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Since September, this figure has been increasing with a further 34,962 new claimants for the benefit, which is intended to help with day to day costs and tasks that are more challenging as a result of the condition.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for PIP, you must have a health condition or disability where you have had difficulties with daily living for 3 months and expect these difficulties to continue for another 9 months or more. You need to have been living in the UK for at least two of the last three years and should be in the country when you apply.
If you struggle with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP:
- preparing, cooking or eating food
- managing your medication
- washing, bathing or using the toilet
- dressing and undressing
- engaging and communicating with other people
- reading and understanding written information
- making decisions about money
- planning a journey or following a route
- moving around
New applicants are required to undergo a DWP assessment to establish to what extent their condition impacts their day-to-day life, as per the Daily Record.
How much?
Recently the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt announced a 10.1% increase for PIPin his Autumn statement. The new rates will apply from April 2023 and are as follows:
Daily living
- Lower weekly rate - £68.10 (currently £61.85 per week)
- Higher weekly rate - £101.75 (currently £92.40 per week)
Mobility
- Lower weekly rate - £26.90 (currently £24.45 per week)
- Higher weekly rate - £71 (currently £64.50 per week)
If a person is on the highest weekly rate they will receive £4,804.80 a year and this would increase to £5,291 a year from April 2023, as per The Independent.
Health conditions supported by PIP
The following 21 health condition categories that are entitled to payments are as follows:
- Haematological Disease
- Infectious disease
- Malignant disease
- Metabolic disease
- Psychiatric disorders
- Neurological disease
- Visual disease
- Hearing disorders
- Cardiovascular disease
- Gastrointestinal disease
- Diseases of the liver, gallbladder, biliary tract
- Skin disease
- Musculoskeletal disease (general)
- Musculoskeletal disease (regional)
- Autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders)
- Genitourinary disease
- Endocrine disease
- Respiratory disease
- Multisystem and extremes of age
- Diseases of the immune system
- Unknown or missing
You can make a claim by contacting the DWP on the GOV.UK website.
Sources used:
- The Independent 'The 21 health conditions that could entitle you to a PIP payment worth up to £4,800 a year'
- Daily Record 'People on Universal Credit with certain health conditions could be due up to £156 extra every week'
