Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much to allow normal breathing. Symptoms include breathing stopping and starting, making gasping, snorting or choking noises and loud snoring.
It can be a tricky condition to manage and there are currently 2,217 people across the UK claiming support through the DWP's Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for sleep apnea and conditions of the upper respiratory tract. There are 1,850 claimants in England, 206 in Scotland and 162 in Wales - each receiving up to £156.90 each week
PIP is paid every four weeks so this amounts to between £97.80 and £627.60 every payment period. To be eligible, you must have a health condition or disability where you have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months and expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months, the Daily Record reports.
