More than 36,200 working age adults across Scotland, England and Wales are currently receiving up to £627.60 every four weeks to help with the additional costs of daily living or mobility needs as a result of diabetes. Approximately 276,000 people living in Scotland have either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, yet only 3,899 are claiming additional financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Thousands of people living with diabetes may not be aware of the financial support available from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) through PIP, however, those living in Scotland should be aware the benefit is being replaced by Adult Disability Payment (ADP). The devolved disability benefit will follow similar eligibility criteria and payment rates, but anyone making a new claim for PIP in Scotland should apply for ADP instead - find out more about this here.
Recent statistics from Diabetes UK show that more than 4.9 million people in Great Britain have diabetes with around 90 per cent of those living with Type 2 diabetes and around 8 per cent with Type 1 diabetes.
The latest figures from the DWP show that at the end of October, 2022 there were more than 3.1 million people across the country claiming support through PIP, with just over one in three claimants (35%) receiving the highest level of award.
Of the overall total, 322,387 people living in Scotland are now receiving financial support of between £24.45 and £156.90 each week and as the benefit is paid every four weeks, this amounts to between £97.80 and £627.60 every payment period.
Breakdown of PIP claimants with diabetes
The DWP statistics also show there are 36,202 people claiming PIP for diabetes.
This includes:
- Scotland: 3,899 claimants
- England and Wales: 32,276 claimants
Diabetes conditions supported through PIP
- Diabetes mellitus Type 1 (insulin dependent): 11,675 claimants
- Diabetes mellitus Type 2 (non insulin dependent): 13,052 claimants
- Diabetes mellitus (category unknown): 11, 479 claimants
If you are over 16 and under State Pension age, you may be able to claim PIP to help with a health condition, and if your ability to work is limited due to your symptoms you could be eligible for ‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Even though PIP is being replaced in Scotland by Adult Disability Payment, it will follow the same eligibility criteria, but take a more ‘people-centric’ approach, according to Social Security Scotland.
Below is a simplified guide to the terminology used by the DWP with an explanation of the elements involved in a PIP claim including components, rates and how the application is scored, which in turn determines the level of award a person receives.
What is PIP?
PIP is a benefit which is gradually replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
If you need extra help because of an illness, disability or mental health condition you could be eligible for PIP.
You will be assessed by a health professional to work out the level of help you can get and your rate will be reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support.
Who is eligible for PIP?
To be eligible for PIP, you must have a health condition or disability where you:
have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months
expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months
You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply.
In addition to what we have outlined above if you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP - or Adult Disability Payment, depending on where you live.
- preparing, cooking or eating food
- managing your medication
- washing, bathing or using the toilet
- dressing and undressing
- engaging and communicating with other people
- reading and understanding written information
- making decisions about money
- planning a journey or following a route
- moving around
There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the GOV.UK website here.
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
How is PIP paid?
PIP is usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. It is paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account.
Adult Disability Payment will be paid at the same rates as PIP.
What are the PIP payment rates?
You will need an assessment to work out the level of financial help you will receive and your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support.
PIP is made up of two components:
Daily living
Mobility
Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you.
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
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.
Adult Disability Payment assessments will not involve face-to-face assessments, unless this is preferred by the claimant - find out more about the changes here.
You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here.
How do you make a claim for PIP?
You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the GOV.UK website here.
Before you call, you will need:
your contact details
your date of birth
your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits
your bank or building society account number and sort code
your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital
To make a claim for Adult Disability Payment , visit the MyGov.Scot website here.
Once you have contacted the DWP, they will send you a document to complete which consists of 14 questions. This includes space for any additional information you feel is relevant to your claim.
The questions focus on how your condition affects you, so put as much detail in as you can to help the assessor understand your physical or mental health needs.
If you have difficulty filling in your form or understanding the questions, contact your local council and ask for help or Citizens Advice Scotland.
We have a breakdown of all 14 questions here and you can take an anonymous self-test online at Benefits and Work to see how many points you would be awarded for each response.
There is also an online PIP toolkit with examples of all the questions to help you answer fully with the most relevant information, find out more about this here.
Even if you don't qualify for financial support, you could be eligible for a National Entitlement Travel Card, which offers free or reduced travel across Scotland on most public transport links.
For more information about PIP, visit GOV.UK here.
To keep up to date with the latest PIP or Adult Disability Payment news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out daily, Monday to Friday - sign up here.
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