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).
