By the end of October last year, more than three million people across the UK were claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP), according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
In Scotland, of the three million, around 330,000 claimants lived here whilst 226,000 were in Wales followed by 2.6 million in England.
As reported by the Daily Record, PIP is gradually being replaced in Scotland by the devolved benefit, Adult Disability Payment (ADP), which rolled out nationwide to new claimants at the end of August after a phased rollout which began in March. Even though PIP is being replaced in Scotland by, the new benefit will follow the same eligibility criteria, but take a more ‘people-centric’ approach, according to Social Security Scotland.
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At the end of October, around 3,470 people were in receipt of ADP. Of this number, 3,135 were new applicants whilst 335 were people who had their PIP award transferred from DWP.
If you claim PIP or ADP, you can get between £24.45 and £156.90 each week in additional financial support and as the benefit is paid every four weeks. This amounts to between £97.80 and £627.60 every payment period.
Overall, the number of those receiving PIP across the UK increased from 3,129,589 to 3,164,551 from September to October 2022 - a rise of 34,962.
UK PIP breakdown - October 2022
- Scotland: 329,334
- England: 2,609,559
- Wales: 225,660
- UK Total: 3,164,551
Total number of PIP categories:
- Disability category - 21 (including unknown or missing)
- Disability Sub Group - 178
- Disability - 547
Five most commonly recorded disabling conditions
Psychiatric disorder - 37 per cent of claims
This includes:
- Mixed anxiety
- Stress
- Depressive and mood disorders
- OCD
- Cognitive disorders
Musculoskeletal disease (general) - 20 per cent of claims
This includes:
- Muscle or joint pain
- Arthritic conditions.
Neurological disease - 13 per cent of claims
This includes:
- Muscular dystrophy
- Epilepsy
- Headache
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neuropathy
- Other movement disorders
Musculoskeletal disease (regional) - 12 per cent of claims
This includes:
- Neck
- Back
- Shoulders
- Elbow
- Wrists
- Hands
- Hip
- Knee
- Ankle pain
Respiratory disease - four per cent of claims
This includes:
- Asthma
- Diseases of the upper respiratory tract
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Cystic fibrosis
Some 35 per cent of all claims with entitlement to PIP at the end of October 2022 are in receipt of the highest level of award, with both daily living and mobility components received at the enhanced rate.
Disabling conditions and number of UK claimants - October 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 - 7,300
- Infectious disease - 9,897
- Malignant disease - 9,7426
- Metabolic disease - 4,667
- Psychiatric disorders - 1,166,695
- Neurological disease - 403,469
- Visual disease - 56,351
- Hearing disorders - 33,424
- Cardiovascular disease - 80,815
- Gastrointestinal disease - 27,840
- Diseases of the liver, gallbladder, biliary tract -11,328
- Skin disease - 20,835
- Musculoskeletal disease (general) - 635,450
- Musculoskeletal disease (regional) - 376,965
- Autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders) - 17,596
- Genitourinary disease - 23,805
- Endocrine disease - 42,264
- Respiratory disease - 135,530
- Multisystem and extremes of age - 1,186
- Diseases of the immune system - 1,028
- Unknown or missing - 10,688
Total: 3,1645,51
State Pension PIP claimants
DWP data also shows that 486,940 people over State Pension age are receiving payments for PIP. At present, new claims for PIP cannot be made by anyone over the State Pension age however if a person is in receipt of the benefits when they reach State Pension age, which is 66 for everyone in the UK, the award will continue.
Anyone over State Pension age with a disability, long-term health condition or illness who is not in receipt of PIP may be eligible for Attendance Allowance.
UK State Pension PIP breakdown - October 2022
- Scotland: 52,676
- England: 393,654
- Wales: 40,616
UK Total: 486,940
If you are over 16 but 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).
So what is PIP? Here's what you need to know.
What is PIP?
PIP is a benefit which is gradually replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
If you need extra help due to an illness, disability or mental health condition, you could be eligible for PIP.
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 three months
Expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine 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.
If you get or need help with any one, or all of the following tasks because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP - or Adult Disability Payment, depending on where you live.
These tasks include:
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. If you are terminally ill, there are different rules which can be found on the GOV.UK website.
- 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
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
What are the PIP payment rates and how are you paid?
PIP is usually paid every four weeks - unless you are terminally ill. If this is the case, it is paid weekly. In both cases, they will be paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account. Adult Disability Payment will be paid at the same rates as PIP.
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
In order to be eligible for payments, you will firstly need to be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support you need and whether you can get it at all.
Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments - it's important to note is is up to the health professional and DWP which will be carried out and you cannot choose.
Adult Disability Payment assessments will not involve face-to-face assessments, unless this is preferred by the claimant - find out more about the changes online.
You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments online.
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.
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.
Once you have contacted the DWP, they will send you a document to complete which has 14 questions and in this, you can include any additional information you feel is relevant to your claim. The questions focus on how your condition affects you so 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.
For more information about PIP, visit GOV.UK.
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