Statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions has found that by the end of October 2022 more than three million people across the UK were claiming Personal Independence Payment. This includes 2.6m people in England compared to 330,000 claimants living in Scotland and 226,000 in Wales.
A successful PIP claim or Adult Disability Payment can be anywhere from £24.45 and £156.90 each week in additional financial support. As the payment is paid every four weeks, this adds up to between £97.80 and £627.60 for each payment period, reports The Daily Record.
More than 540 health conditions are supported by PIP or ADP, but a study from the forum Benefits and Work has found which ones are most and least likely to receive support, as the average success rate for PIP claims is 52 percent. However, whether a benefit is given or not depends on how much a condition or health issue impacts someone's daily living and mobility needs.
Benefits and Work identified that awards for arthritis are above the average rate:
- Osteoarthritis of other single joint - 56.5 per cent
- Osteoarthritis of Knee - 64.2 per cent
- Osteoarthritis of Hip - 73.8 per cent
- Primary generalised Osteoarthritis - 74.0 per cent
- Rheumatoid arthritis - 74.7 per cent
It also found that some conditions are ‘extremely likely’ to get an award:
- Dementia - 94.1 per cent
- Motor neurone disease - 97.5 per cent
- Down’s syndrome - 99.6 per cent
- Creutzfeldt Jacob disease CJD) - 100 per cent
The official statistics from DWP indicate that there has been an increase in the number of people claiming for Psychiatric Disorders, which includes a wide number of conditions, such as anxiety, stress, depression and learning disorders. In October the nationwide number of claimants for these conditions rose to 1,166,695 from 14,999 in September.
The number of people claiming for Musculoskeletal Conditions such as arthritis, joint, chronic or back pain and hip disorders, has also increased by 10,200 to 1,012,415. From September to October 2022, the number of people receiving PIP across Great Britain has also increased by 34,962 claimants to 3,164,551 people.
PIP breakdown - October 2022
- Scotland: 329,334
- England: 2,609,559
- Wales: 225,660
- Total: 3,166,864
Total number of PIP categories:
- Disability category - 21 (including unknown or missing)
- Disability Sub Group - 178
- Disability - 547
Five most commonly recorded disabling conditions
Psychiatric disorder - 37 per cent of claims
- This includes mixed anxiety, stress, depressive and mood disorders, OCD and cognitive disorders.
Musculoskeletal disease (general) - 20 per cent of claims
- This includes muscle or joint pain and arthritic conditions.
Neurological disease - 13 per cent of claims
- This includes muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, headache, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy and other movement disorders.
Musculoskeletal disease (regional) - 12 per cent of claims
- This includes neck, back, shoulders, elbow, wrists, hands, hip, knee and ankle pain.
Respiratory disease - 4 per cent of claims
- This includes asthma, diseases of the upper respiratory tract, pulmonary fibrosis and cystic fibrosis.
Some 35 per cent of all claims with entitlement to PIP at the end of October 2022 are in receipt of the highest level of award of £627.60, with both daily living and mobility components received at the enhanced rate.
Disabling conditions and number of UK claimants - October 2022
These are the main disability categories, the umbrella term by which a total of 547 other conditions fall under. This list is only an overview of conditions, disorders and diseases and how the DWP lists the main disabilities being claimed for.
- Haematological Disease - 7,300
- Infectious disease - 9,897
- Malignant disease - 9,7426
- Metabolic disease - 4,667
- Psychiatric disorders - 1,166,695
- Neurological disease - 403,469
- Visual disease - 56,351
- Hearing disorders - 33,424
- Cardiovascular disease - 80,815
- Gastrointestinal disease - 27,840
- Diseases of the liver, gallbladder, biliary tract -11,328
- Skin disease - 20,835
- Musculoskeletal disease (general) - 635,450
- Musculoskeletal disease (regional) - 376,965
- Autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders) - 17,596
- Genitourinary disease - 23,805
- Endocrine disease - 42,264
- Respiratory disease - 135,530
- Multisystem and extremes of age - 1,186
- Diseases of the immune system - 1,028
- Unknown or missing - 10,688
- Total - 3,1645,51
State Pension PIP claimants
The DWP shows that 486,940 people over State Pension age are receiving payments for PIP. New claims for PIP cannot be made by anyone over State Pension age, but if a person is in receipt of the benefits when they reach State Pension age the award will continue.
Anyone over State Pension age with a disability, long-term health condition or illness who is not in receipt of PIP may be eligible for Attendance Allowance.
State Pension PIP breakdown - October 2022
- Scotland: 52,676
- England: 393,654
- Wales: 40,616
- Total: 486,940
If you are over 16 and under State Pension age, you may be able to claim PIP to help with a health condition, and if your ability to work is limited due to your symptoms you could be eligible for ‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Even though PIP is being replaced in Scotland by Adult Disability Payment, it will follow the same eligibility criteria, but take a more ‘people-centric’ approach, according to Social Security Scotland.
Below is a simplified guide to the terminology used by the DWP with an explanation of the elements involved in a PIP claim including components, rates and how the application is scored, which in turn determines the level of award a person receives.
Who is eligible for PIP or ADP?
To be eligible for PIP or ADP, you must have a health condition or disability where you have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months, or you expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months.
You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply. In addition to what we have outlined above if you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP or ADP.
- 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
There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the GOV.UK website here.
DWP will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they will look at:
- whether you can do it safely
- how long it takes you
- how often your condition affects this activity
- whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment
How are PIP and ADP paid?
PIP and ADP are usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. It will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account. ADP is paid at the same rates as PIP.
What are the PIP and ADP payment rates?
You will need an assessment to work out the level of financial help you will receive and your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support.
PIP is made up of two components:
Daily living
Mobility
Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you.
You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:
Daily living
Standard rate: £61.85
Enhanced rate: £92.40
Mobility
Standard rate: £24.45
Enhanced rate: £64.50
How you are assessed
You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need, for PIP.
Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments - it's important to be aware that there is no choice here, it's up to the health professional and DWP.
Adult Disability Payment assessments will not involve face-to-face assessments, unless this is preferred by the claimant - find out more about the changes here.
You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here.
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
Once you have contacted the DWP, they will send you a document to complete which consists of 14 questions. This includes space for any additional information you feel is relevant to your claim.
The questions focus on how your condition affects you, so put as much detail in as you can to help the assessor understand your physical or mental health needs. If you have difficulty filling in your form or understanding the questions, contact your local council and ask for help or Citizens Advice Scotland.
There is also an online PIP toolkit with examples of all the questions to help you answer fully with the most relevant information, find out more about this here.
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