Earlier in 2022, the Scottish Government unveiled £240,000 in funding for services which provide help for those with chronic pain.
The funds were assigned in order to increase pain management services for 13 projects funded by the Scottish Government across Health Boards, third-sector and other partners to help administer improved healthcare for services such as the bladder and pelvic pain management programme and support for chronic hip, knee and back pain.
Approximately 20% of people living in Scotland have chronic pain, but many may be unaware that they could be eligible for extra financial assistance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) via Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance.
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The former is for people over the age of 16 but under the State Pension age, who may also be entitled to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if their capacity to work is affected by their symptoms.
Additionally, PIP can help with the costs faced if you require assistance moving around in your day-to-day life.
Attendance Allowance is intended for those who have reached the State Pension age, and require assistance with tasks such as washing, dressing and going to the toilet as a result of their symptoms.
Recent data from the DWP reveals that there are approximately 2.9 million people throughout the UK who claim PIP, with 35% of those receiving the maximum amount of money.
Of that 2.9 million, over 305,000 people in Scotland receive financial help in the form of payments of between £97.80 and £627.60 every four weeks. The DWP uprating of 3.1% was applied to benefits earlier this month.
The figures also reveal that new applications are currently taking around 22 weeks to be completed — from registration to a decision being reached — meaning that those who are considering applying for PIP should do so as soon as they can.
PIP is intended to provide assistance to people who have a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition — though many do not apply under the false assumption that they would not be eligible.
As reported by the Daily Record, here is a rundown of the 21 main disabling conditions, disorders and diseases which people are currently claiming PIP for.
UK breakdown of PIP claimants - January, 2022
- Total UK claimants: 2,881,401
- Scotland: 305,279
- England: 2,368,560
- Wales: 207,357
Disabling conditions and number of claimants across the UK - January 2022
Here are the primary disability categories, under which a total of 547 other conditions fall.
- Haematological Disease - 6,522
- Infectious disease - 6,649
- Malignant disease - 86,119
- Metabolic disease - 4,330
- Psychiatric disorders - 1,045,503
- Neurological disease - 376,249
- Visual disease - 53,684
- Hearing disorders - 30,801
- Cardiovascular disease - 72,911
- Gastrointestinal disease - 24,343
- Diseases of the liver, gallbladder, biliary tract - 10,001
- Skin disease - 19,049
- Musculoskeletal disease (general) - 587,148
- Musculoskeletal disease (regional) - 345,429
- Autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders) - 16,230
- Genitourinary disease - 21,073
- Endocrine disease - 39,692
- Respiratory disease - 128,316
- Multisystem and extremes of age - 1,024
- Diseases of the immune system - 907
Who is eligible to claim PIP?
In order to qualify for PIP, you must have a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition that results in difficulties in your daily living and getting around — or both — and you must predict that these difficulties will persist for at least nine months.
You can qualify for PIP regardless of whether you have worked or paid National Insurance contributions, and it does not matter what your income or savings are.
The DWP will determine whether you are eligible for PIP by looking at a period of 12 months — three months before the claim was made and nine months after — to consider how your illness may change over time.
In order to qualify, you also normally must have lived in Scotland for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply.
PIP components
PIP consists of two components, a daily living component and a mobility component.
PIP payment rates 2022/23
Each component has two payment rates - a standard rate and an enhanced rate.
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
Additional payment
If you receive PIP, you will also get an additional £10 Christmas bonus every year, which is paid into your account automatically and does not impact any other benefits you might be claiming.
What the DWP takes into consideration about your condition
In determining how you are able to carry out day-to-day and mobility tasks, the DWP will consider the following:
- whether you can do them safely
- how long they take you
- how often your condition affects them
- whether you need help to do them, from a person or using extra equipment
Daily living activities
In determining whether you are eligible for the daily living component, and if so at what rate, the DWP allocates points for the following tasks:
1. Preparing food
2. Taking nutrition
3. Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
4. Washing and bathing
5. Managing toilet needs or incontinence
6. Dressing and undressing
7. Communicating verbally
8. Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
9. Engaging with other people face-to-face
10. Making budgeting decisions
Each of these activities is divided into a number of point scoring descriptors. In order to qualify for the daily living component, you need to have scored:
- 8 points for the standard rate
- 12 points for the enhanced rate
You can only score one set of points from each activity, if two or more apply from the same activity only the highest will count.
Mobility activities
The decision about whether you are entitled to the mobility component, and if so at what rate, is based on the number of points you score in total for the following activities:
1. Planning and following journeys
2. Moving around outside the home
Both of these activities are divided into a number of point scoring descriptors. To get an award of the mobility component you need to score:
- 8 points for the standard rate
- 12 points for the enhanced rate
As with the daily living component, you only score the highest points that apply to you from each activity.
All the questions on the PIP claim form
These are the questions on the PIP 2 claim form, also referred to as the 'How your disability affects you' evidence document.
Q1: List your health professionals
You need to give the DWP details of any health professional you've seen about your condition.
Q2: List your conditions, medications and treatments
List all the physical and mental health conditions and disabilities you have and the date they started.
Q3: Preparing and cooking a meal
This question is about how your condition makes it difficult for you to prepare a simple meal for one and heating it on a hob or in a microwave until it's safe to eat. This includes food preparation, using utensils and kitchen equipment and cooking the meal itself.
Q4: Eating and drinking
This question is about how your condition makes it difficult for you to eat and drink.
This means being able to cut up food into pieces, put it in your mouth, chew and swallow it.
You should say if you need prompting or reminding to eat, as well if you have physical difficulties.
Q5: Managing treatments
This question is about how your health condition makes it difficult for you to:
manage your treatments
monitor your own health condition, including your mental health
take action to stop your condition getting worse
Q6: Washing and bathing
This question is about whether your condition makes it difficult for you to wash or bathe in a standard bath or shower that hasn’t been adapted in any way.
It’s also about whether you use any aids or appliances to help you wash or bathe.
Q7: Managing toilet needs
This question is about how your condition makes it difficult for you to:
get on and off an unadapted toilet seat
clean yourself afterwards
if applicable, manage your incontinence
Q8: Dressing and undressing
This question is for you to describe any difficulties you have dressing or undressing. This means putting on and taking off unmodified, appropriate clothes - including shoes and socks.
'Appropriate clothes' means clothes that are appropriate for:
the weather
the occasion
the time of day
Q9: Communicating verbally
This question is about how your condition makes it difficult for you to:
speak to others so that you're understood
hear and understand what other people are saying to you
Q10: Reading
This question is about how your condition makes it difficult for you to:
read information that is a standard text size (not large print)
read signs - for example, emergency exit signs
read indoors and outside
Q11: Mixing with other people
This question is about how your condition makes it difficult for you to:
meet people and mix with them
judge situations when you're with other people and behave appropriately
establish relationships with people - for example make friends
Q12: Making decisions about money
This question is about how your condition makes it difficult for you to manage everyday purchases and transactions.
This means things like:
paying in shops and restaurants
budgeting for and paying your bills
budgeting for bigger things such as a TV
Q13: Going out
This question is about how your condition makes it difficult for you to:
plan and follow a route to a place you know (it doesn't matter how you get there)
plan and follow a bus or train route to a place you don't know
cope in places that you don't know
if applicable, leave the house because of stress or anxiety
Q14: Moving around outside the home
This question is about how your condition makes it difficult for you to:
stand safely without help
walk safely without stopping and without help
Additional information
This is a blank page that you can use if you run out of space on the claim form.
You can also use it to give any additional information you think necessary. There's no right or wrong type of information to include but it's a good idea to use this space to tell the DWP if:
someone had to fill in the form for you and explain why
you filled in the form slowly or with pain
filling in the form caused you anxiety or stress
you're attaching medical evidence to support your claim - for example, a care plan
How you are assessed
The assessment will be carried out by an independent healthcare professional who will determine what level of financial support you qualify for.
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.
How to apply for PIP
To start the application process, you will need to contact the DWP on 0800 917 2222 (textphone 0800 917 7777).
You can ask for a paper form to complete if you are unable to claim by phone, although this may delay your claim.
For more information about PIP, visit GOV.UK here.
