Anybody affected with a health condition featured on a list of 547 different issues could be eligible for extra cash on top of their existing benefits.
Those with various health issues could be entitled to an extra £156.90 by claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP), reports Essex Live. Approximately 5.6 million people across the UK received financial help through Universal Credit by August 2022, according to the latest Government report.
This report was delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Universal Credit is a benefit issued to support those who are out of work, or on a low income, with their daily living costs.
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Most Universal Credit claimants are seeking work, better paid employment or a second income. However, some claimants of Universal Credit or Jobseeker's Allowance could be unaware that PIP are available to them.
PIP supports 547 different health conditions, and you can claim it if you live with a physical or mental health condition, long-term illness or a disability on top of any other benefit without being penalised.
The benefit is available to anyone aged over 16 and under State Pension age. The newest DWP figures show that there are now more than three million people in the UK claiming PIP.
A total of 329,334 of these claimants live in Scotland. Those who are successful in claiming PIP receive support of between £24.45 and £156.90 each week.
As the payment is delivered monthly, the totals amount to £97.80 and £627.60 every payment period.
Another positive is that you don't need to have ever paid National Insurance or have worked to qualify for PIP. It also isn't a means-tested benefit, so it doesn't matter what your income is or how much you have in your savings - or if you are even employed at the minute.
The biggest misconception about PIP is that the DWP will only award the benefit to people with outwardly visible physical, long-term health conditions or disabilities.
The truth is that PIP is a benefit aimed at providing help for people with an ever-evolving list of 'hidden' conditions, such as stress, depression and anxiety.
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. However, there are ways around this on an individual basis that the DWP can help with.
Conditions supported through PIP
These are the main disability categories that PIP covers. However, these are merely umbrella terms 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. The list is as follows:
- Haematological Disease
- Infectious disease
- Malignant disease
- Metabolic disease
- Psychiatric disorders
- Neurological disease
- Visual disease
- Hearing disorders
- Cardiovascular disease
- Gastrointestinal disease
- Diseases of the liver, gallbladder, biliary tract
- Skin disease
- Musculoskeletal disease (general)
- Musculoskeletal disease (regional)
- Autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders)
- Genitourinary disease
- Endocrine disease
- Respiratory disease
- Multisystem and extremes of age
- Diseases of the immune system
More information on how to claim PIP is available on the DWP website.
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