People suffering from mental health conditions could be eligible for PIP (Picture: Getty Images)
If you suffer from a long-term health condition and not currently claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) you could be missing out on up to £798 a month.
PIP benefits, issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), are for people who need help with costs associated with their health condition or disability.
It falls into two components – daily living and mobility – which offers up to £470 and £328 a month respectively.
The daily living component is aimed at those who need help with everyday life such as eating, drinking, washing, communicating with others or handling money.
The mobility component, meanwhile, is for people who find it difficult to get about and need physical support outside their home or, for example, help planning a trip.
Some people might be eligible to receive both.
More than three million Brits claim PIP support, but there are many who qualify and don’t claim.
Musculoskeletal issues such as arthritis are among common conditions people claim PIP for (Picture: Getty Images)
Although there is no definitive list of conditions that qualify for PIP, the DWP say most claimants have health issues that fall into one of five categories: psychiatric disorders, respiratory diseases, general musculoskeletal problems, general musculoskeletal problems and neurological disorders.
It’s important to understand, however, that according to DWP data only 41% of those who apply for PIP are successful.
Each applicant is individually assessed, with their capability to work or just function in day-to-day life taken into account.
If a person is approved for PIP they will either be given a low monthly award of £315 a month for the daily living component and £124 for the mobility component or a high award of £470 and £328 respectively.
PIP is tax-free and is not means tested, meaning a person can be eligible irrespective of whether they work or not or the amount the earn if they do.
It’s available to people between the age of 16 and state pension age.
The Department for Work and Pensions will asses all PIP claims on an individual basis (Picture: In Pictures via Getty Images)
Most common PIP claimant conditions
Here we take a closer look at the common conditions that make you eligible for PIP benefits, according to DWP. The findings were recently shared by Homecare.
Psychological disorders
Psychological disorders that could qualify for PIP include:
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Depression
Bipolar disease
Eating disorders
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Addictions (for example drug or alcohol misuse)
Respiratory diseases
Chronic conditions that can cause breathing difficulties and potentially make you eligible for PIP include:
Asthma
Cystic Fibrosis
Emphysema
Chronic bronchitis
Respiratory diseases such as asthma may make you eligible for PIP (Picture: Getty Images/Science Photo Libra)
Musculoskeletal problems – general and regional
Musculoskeletal problems, which fall into either general and regional, can make it harder to get around or work full-time.
General muscle or bone-related issues tend to affect more than one part of your body. Typical conditions people claim PIP for are:
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Fibromyalgia
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Tendonitis
If your muscular or bone-related issues are specific to a part of your body, it is seen as a regional musculoskeletal issue. This could mean a problem with almost any part of your body, such as a repetitive strain injury or broken limb.
Neurological disorders
Those who live with a health condition that affects their brain or nervous system could qualify for PIP.
Common PIP eligible conditions include:
Motor neurone disease
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Epilepsy
Parkinson’s disease
Alzheimer’s
Narcolepsy
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