Claim PIP for chronic pain and DWP could give you up to £156 each week

Earlier this year, the Scottish Government announced additional funding of £240,000 for services which help people living with chronic pain.

The money was allocated to expand pain management services for 13 Scottish Government-funded projects across Health Boards, third-sector and other partners to deliver enhanced care for a range of services including the bladder and pelvic pain management programme and support for chronic hip, knee and back pain.

One in five people in Scotland are living with chronic pain and many may not be aware that their condition could also entitle them to additional financial support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) either through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance.

If you are over State Pension age and you need help with your personal care, such as washing, dressing and going to the toilet, because of your symptoms, you may be able to claim Attendance Allowance - find out more here.

If you’re under State Pension age and over 16, you may be able to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and if your ability to work is limited due to your symptoms you could claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

PIP helps cover the extra costs you may face if you need help in taking part in everyday life or find it difficult moving around.

The latest figures released by the DWP show that on January 31, 2022 there were 2.9 million people across the UK claiming support through PIP, with just over one in three claimants (35%) receiving the highest level of award.

Of that total, 305,279 Scots are now receiving financial support of between £24.45 and £156.90 each week, the benefit is paid every four weeks so this amounts to between £97.80 and £627.60 every payment period. The DWP uprating of 3.1% was applied to benefits on April 11.

The figures also showed that new claims are currently taking 22 weeks to complete, from registration to a decision being made, which means people who are thinking about making a new claim for PIP - whatever your health condition - should consider doing so as soon as possible.

The benefit is designed to help people living with a long-term illness, mental health condition or physical or learning disability, but many people are put off claiming this essential benefit, wrongly assuming that they are not eligible.

To help more people understand the benefit and make a claim, we have listed the 21 main disabling conditions, disorders and diseases which claimants are currently receiving regular support payments for.

We have also simplified the terminology used by the DWP and explained what elements are involved in a claim including components, rates and how the application is scored, which in turn determines the level of award a person receives.

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

These are the main disability categories, the umbrella term by which a total of 547 other conditions fall under.

This list is only an overview of conditions, disorders and diseases and how the DWP lists the main disabilities being claimed for.

• 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?

You don’t need to have worked or paid National Insurance contributions to qualify for PIP, and it doesn’t matter what your income is, if you have any savings or if you’re in or out of work - or on furlough.

You must also have a health condition or disability where you:

• have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for three months
• expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months

The DWP will judge the eligibility of your PIP claim on a period of 12 months, looking back for three months and forward for nine months - they must consider if your illness changes over time.

You usually need to have lived in Scotland for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply.

PIP components

PIP is made up 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 qualify for PIP, you will also receive a Christmas bonus which is £10 each year - this is paid automatically and it does not affect any other benefits which you may be receiving.

What the DWP takes into consideration about your condition

The DWP will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they will look at:

• whether you can do it safely
• how long it takes you
• how often your condition affects this activity
• whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment

Daily living activities

The decision about whether you are entitled to the daily living component, and if so at what rate, is based on the number of points you score in total for the following activities:

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. To get an award of the daily living component, you need to score:

• 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.

One in five people in Scotland are living with chronic pain (Getty)

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

You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need.

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.

You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here.

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.

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