DWP's most common health complaints for PIP claimants as payments set to rise

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared the most common medical conditions which qualify a person for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The payment is handed out to millions of Brits every years to help assist them with their everyday needs due to an illness or disability.

The payment is given to anyone living with a debilitating condition and the specific amount given depends on how much the condition affects the suffers' life. It is paid every four weeks and claimants can get from £114.80 to £1007.20 per month. However, this is set to increase from next year.

It is split into two parts - the daily living component for people struggling with everyday tasks, and mobility support for people who need help moving around. Both come with a standard rate and an enhanced rate. Eligibility depends on how difficult individuals find everyday tasks and moving around.

Homecare reports that, in January 2024, there were some 3.3 million people claiming PIP, but despite this number, most claims aren't successful. In the last five years, only 41 percent of PIP claims have been successful.

The five most common conditions for which people claim PIP are:

• Psychiatric disorders (which includes mixed anxiety and depressive disorders)
• Musculoskeletal disease (general)
• Musculoskeletal disease (regional)
• Neurological disease
• Respiratory disease

PIP is split into two parts - help with everyday tasks and help with mobility. Even if you successfully make a claim for one it doesn't necessarily mean you will get the other and not being eligible for one won't mean you can't claim the other.

You might get the daily living part of PIP if you need help with:

• preparing food
• eating and drinking
• managing your medicines or treatments
• washing and bathing
• using the toilet
• dressing and undressing
• reading
• managing your money
• socialising and being around other people
• talking, listening and understanding

You might get the mobility part of PIP if you need help with:

• working out a route and following it
• physically moving around
• leaving your home

You do not have to have a physical disability to get the mobility part. You might also be eligible if you have difficulty getting around because of a cognitive or mental health condition, like anxiety.

The current payment rates for PIP are:

Daily living

• Standard rate - £72.56
• Enhanced rate - £108.55

Mobility

• Standard rate - £28.70
• Enhanced rate - £75.75

From next April, these will increase by 1.4 percent to:

Daily living

• Lower rate: £72.65 a week to £73.90 a week
• Higher rate: £108.55 a week to £110.40 a week

Mobility

• Lower rate: £28.70 a week to £30.20 a week
• Higher rate: £75.75 a week to £77.05 a week