People with muscle problems and mental health issues are among those most likely to qualify for financial help from the Department for Work and Pensions worth up £108 per week
There are more than three million Brits currently claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefits, designed to provide financial assistance to people to help with living costs associated with a disability or long-term health condition. Many people who live with common ailments qualify for this help from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) but do not claim it.
Frequent health issues such as certain mental health or muscular problems can entitle you to regular cash payments from the DWP, worth up to £470 a month for those who need help with their daily living costs. There is also an additional mobility-related payment, adding a further £328 to each PIP installment.
However, even with a spike in people claiming the benefit as work-related sickness rises, DWP data shows that the majority of PIP applications (59%) are rejected due to not meeting the criteria to claim. But, it can be difficult to know if you fall into the broad categories of disability and sickness set out by the department,
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Analysis by Homecare shows that most PIP claimants will fall into five categories, though there is no definitive list of conditions that will entitle you to financial help. But, if you are one of the millions of people struggling to live their everyday lives due to a common complaint, you might be able to get some help and take some off the stress out of your life.
If you apply for PIP, you will have to wait for an assessment, where your capability to work, or just function in day-to-day life, is taken into account before you are rejected, or approved and given a low or high award. The lower level of the PIP daily living benefit is worth £315 every month.
Mental health issues
If you live with a mental health condition that affects how you interact with people and the world around you, PIP is one of the most straightforward ways to get financial assistance. Around a third of all PIP claims are for mental health issues and psychiatric disorders, the most common cause for requiring extra help.
Not everyone will qualify after the assessment, but some examples of conditions that people can claim for include:
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Bipolar disease
- Eating disorders
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Addictions (for example drug or alcohol misuse)
Respiratory diseases
Problems with your breathing can make everyday tasks far more difficult, or even impossible. If you struggle to catch your breath due to an underlying health condition, you should consider applying for some help with your living costs.
The most common respiratory issues that qualify people for PIP are:
- Asthma
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Emphysema
- Chronic bronchitis
Musculoskeletal – General
People who live with musculoskeletal problems are much more likely to struggle to get around or work full time due to their conditions, Many who have particularly severe issues will also qualify for the additional mobility PIP award.
Typical muscle or bone-related issues that people claim PIP for are:
- Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tendonitis
Musculoskeletal – Regional
If your muscular or bone-related issues are specific to a part of your body, it is categorised as a regional musculoskeletal issue. This could mean a problem with almost any part of your body, such as a repetitive strain injury, or broken limb.
Neurological disorders
People who live with a condition that affects their brain and nervous system should qualify for help through PIP. These can range from age-related conditions to common neurological disorders like epilepsy.
Other examples of PIP-qualifying neurological disorders are:
- Motor neurone disease
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Epilepsy
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s
- Narcolepsy
