People in the UK with certain medical conditions could get extra cash of up to £172 a week from the DWP.
Around three million people across the UK get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which is given to people aged over 16 with long-term mental or physical health problems or disabilities.
How much you get depends on how your condition affects you - and you can get it if you're working or have savings as it is not means-tested.
Read More: DWP says some people are missing out on weekly £201 payments
Amounts will rise by 10.1 per cent from April 2023 in line with the uprating of state benefits.
There are standard and enhanced rates for the daily and mobility elements of the benefit. The lowest amount is £24.45 a week for just being awarded standard mobility, which will increase to £26.90 from April, while the highest is £156.90 a week for both enhanced rates combined, which will rise to £172.75 a week from April. The DWP says 35 per cent of people on PIP get the highest level of payment, reports BirminghamLive.
PIP is paid into people's accounts every four weeks so that's a rise from £627.60 to £691 a month as a maximum sum. Over a year, based on 52 weeks, that equates to £8,158 a year, rising to £8,931 after April 2023.
In addition, those on PIP will automatically qualify for the new Universal Credit 'health element' announced in the Chancellor's Budget. This top-up will replace Universal Credit's existing Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) amount, which currently pays £354.28 on top of the standard allowance (rising to £390.06 from April 2023). These reforms would come in by 2026 at the earliest.
Top 50 medical conditions getting PIP
- Anxiety and depressive disorders (mixed)
- Learning disability
- Primary generalised Osteoarthritis
- Back pain
- Autism
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Schizophrenia
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) chronic bronchitis/emphysema
- Multiple sclerosis
- Depressive disorder
- Bipolar affective disorder (Hypomania / Mania)
- Personality disorder
- Seizures
- ADHD / ADD
- Neurological disorders
- Back pain - Non specific (mechanical)
- Asperger syndrome
- Cerebral palsy
- Vision diseases
- Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Osteoarthritis of Knee
- Asthma
- Psychotic disorders
- Down's syndrome
- Regional/localised Musculoskeletal disease
- Generalised musculoskeletal disease
- Generalised seizures (with status epilepticus in last 12 months)
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Anxiety disorders
- Knee disorders
- Breast cancer
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
- Osteoarthritis of other single joint
- Head injury - Cognitive and sensorimotor impairment
- Lumbar disc lesion
- Specific learning disorder
- Genetic disorders dysplasias and malformations
- Cardiovascular disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Spine Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation
- Dementia
- Hip disorders
- Lower limb Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation
- Amputation of Lower limb(s)
- Chronic Pain syndromes
- Ankle and foot disorders
- Multiple Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation
How to claim PIP
To start a claim, call the PIP new claims line on 0800 917 2222 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm). You will need to provide the following information: contact details (such as your telephone number), date of birth, National Insurance number, bank or building society account number and sort code, your doctor or health worker's details, dates and addresses for any time spent in a care home or hospital, and dates and locations for any time you spent abroad for more than four weeks at a time.
A form is sent out for you to fill in and return within a month and you may be invited to an assessment. More information on claiming PIP can be found at the Gov.UK website.
