Recent Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures show that more than one million adults across the UK receive support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for 87 different musculoskeletal conditions. These injuries and disorders limit or affect a person's movement or musculoskeletal system - muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs and blood vessels.
Arthritis is a general term which refers to many of these, but some common conditions also include osteoarthritis, back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, gout, polymyalgia, lupus and ankylosing spondylitis.
Should you be between the age of 16 and under State Pension age, you may in fact be eligible to claim PIP to help compensate your condition - and if your ability to work through pain or movement limitation is substantially affected, you could even claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Read more: PIP benefit claimants could see payments stop due to DWP holiday rules
The Daily Record reports that the aforementioned DWP figures also detailed how by the end of April this year, there were 3.3million across Great Britain claiming PIP.
Number of PIP claimants (April 2023)
England and Wales: 2,988,370
- Scotland: 298,427 (does not include case transfer or new claims of Adult Disability Payment)
- Abroad: 2,184
- Total: 3,289,162
While PIP is being replaced in Scotland by the new Adult Disability Payment, it will follow the same criteria while taking a more 'people-centric- approach, according to Social Security Scotland. A successful claim for PIP or ADP is worth between £26.90 and £172.75 each week - being paid every four weeks.
When collated, this amounts to between £107.60 and £691 each pay period.
The latest figures also detail that over one million people are in receipt of PIP for musculoskeletal conditions.
England and Wales: 955,763
- Scotland: 88,768 (does not include case transfer or new claims of Adult Disability Payment)
- Living abroad: 1,006
- Total: 1,045,586
Here's the list of all of the 87 musculoskeletal conditions which are supported through PIP, to help with daily living, mobility needs or a combination of both. It isn't definitive however, so if your condition doesn't appear then don't be put off from making a claim.
Musculoskeletal conditions - general
Osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis of Hip
- Osteoarthritis of Knee
- Osteoarthritis of other single joint
- Primary generalised Osteoarthritis
Chronic pain syndrome
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
- Fibromyalgia
- Pain syndromes - Chronic - Other / type not known
Inflammatory arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Arthritis - Psoriatic
- Arthritis - Reactive
- Inflammatory arthritis - Other / type not known
- Juvenile chronic arthritis (Still's disease)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Crystal deposition disorders
- Crystal deposition disorders - Other / type not known
- Gout
- Pseudogout
Osteonecrosis and osteochondritis
- Osteochondritis
- Osteonecrosis
Metabolic and endocrine disorders
- Osteomalacia
- Osteoporosis
- Other metabolic and endocrine disorders of musculoskeletal system
- Paget's disease
- Rickets
Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations
- Achondroplasia
- Epiphyseal dysplasia - multiple
- Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations - Other / type not known
- Hereditary multiple exostosis (diaphyseal aclasis)
- Hypermobility syndrome
- Marfan's syndrome
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
Benign tumours of bone
- Tumours of bone - benign
Fracture complications
- Compartment syndrome (Volkmann's ischaemia)
- Fracture complications - Other / type not known
- Sudek's atrophy
Other generalised musculoskeletal conditions
- Generalised musculoskeletal disease - Other / type not known
Musculoskeletal conditions - regional
Shoulder disorders
- Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
- Rotator cuff disorder
- Shoulder disorders - Other / type not known
- Shoulder instability
Elbow disorders
- Elbow disorders - Other / type not known
- Golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis)
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
Wrist and hand disorders
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Dupuytrens contracture
- Tendon lesions
- Tenosynovitis
- Wrist and hand disorders - Other / type not known
Neck disorders
- Cervical disc lesion
- Cervical spondylosis
- Neck disorders - Other / type not known
- Whiplash injury
Non specific back pain
- Back pain - Non specific (mechanical)
Specific back pain
- Back pain - Specific - Other / type not known
- Kyphosis
- Lumbar disc lesion
- Lumbar spondylosis (OA spine)
- Schuermann's disease
- Scoliosis
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
Hip disorders
- Dislocation of the hip - congenital
- Hip disorders - Other / type not known
- Perthes disease
- Slipped upper femoral epiphysis
Knee disorders
- Bursitis
- Chondromalacia patellae
- Knee disorders - Other / type not known
- Ligamentous instability of knee
- Meniscal lesions
- Osgood schlatters disease
- Osteochondritis dissecans
- Patellar dislocation - Recurrent
Ankle and foot disorders
- Ankle and foot disorders - Other / type not known
- Club foot (talipes)
- Fore foot pain (Metatarsalgia)
- Hallux valgus /rigidus
Amputations
- Amputation - Lower limb(s)
- Amputation - Upper limb(s)
- Amputations - Upper & Lower limb/s
Injuries/fracture/Dislocation
- Abdomen - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
- Lower limb - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
- Multiple - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation
- Pelvis - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
- Spine - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
- Thorax - Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of
- Upper limb - Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of
Other regional musculoskeletal disease
- Musculoskeletal disease - Regional / Localised - Other / type not known
How do you make a claim for PIP?
You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the GOV.UK website here.
Before you call, you will need:
your contact details
your date of birth
your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits
your bank or building society account number and sort code
your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital
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