The DWP’s List of Medical Conditions That Qualify For PIP In the UK
Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes
This article was reviewed by Sara Chapin, Director of Finance at Lottie, on 26th November 2024, to ensure accurate and trustworthy information for care seekers. Sara Chapin has been a Certified Public Accountant with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy since 2017. Next review due November 2025.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has provided a list of medical conditions that qualify for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). There are 21 main categories of medical conditions, and we’ve listed these in this article, along with explaining exactly how PIP works.
People in the UK with certain medical conditions that impact their daily lives and mobility could be eligible to claim almost £800 per month (or £184.30 per week) through PIP. This benefit financially supports those who have additional care or mobility needs as a result of a condition or disability.
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In this article:
- What is Personal Independence Payment?
- Full list of medical conditions that qualify for Personal Independence Payment
- How many people claim it in the UK?
- Rates for 2024/2025
- Are you eligible?
- How to claim
We aren't able to provide Personal Independence Payment (PIP) advice through our concierge service. For help when trying to claim PIP, call the PIP claims contact number on 0800 917 2222. Citizens Advice, Turn2us and many local authorities can also provide free and confidential PIP advice.
What is Personal Independence Payment (PIP)?
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit you can claim to help you pay for additional living costs caused by:
- A long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- Difficulty with day-to-day tasks or getting around because of your condition or disability
PIP consists of two components:
- Daily living component - if you require help with everyday tasks
- Mobility component - if you need help getting from one place to another
You may be eligible for one or both of these components.
PIP is gradually replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged between 16 and the State Pension age.
Your eligibility for PIP isn’t affected by your income, savings and whether you’re currently employed.
For detailed information about how to claim, how long the form will take to complete and whether your application has been successful or not, download our Personal Independence Payment guide, written by our Lead Care Expert Hannah Karim.
The Full List of Medical Conditions That Qualify For PIP In the UK
There’s no set list of medical conditions that make you eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in the UK.
Eligibility for PIP depends on how a long-term condition or disability affects your daily life and mobility, including things like washing, dressing, shopping, making decisions and getting from one place to another. This condition or disability must have affected you for at least three months, and you expect to continue being affected for at least another nine months.
With that said, the Department for Work and Pensions has provided a list of the main categories of qualifying disabilities and how many people claimed PIP for that disability, from October 2013 to April 2024. This is the most recent data release. These 21 categories encompass 547 different conditions - and these can be found here.
The table below shows whether your condition may make you eligible for PIP payments, along with how many people already claim PIP through this condition.
| Medical Condition | How Many People Have Claimed For It? (As of April 2024) | Percentage Of All Claims |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric disorders | 1,347,889 | 38.03% |
| Musculoskeletal disease (general) | 672,201 | 18.97% |
| Neurological disease | 465,187 | 13.13% |
| Musculoskeletal disease (regional) | 416,878 | 11.77% |
| Respiratory disease | 138,003 | 3.89% |
| Malignant disease | 111,874 | 3.16% |
| Cardiovascular disease | 92,015 | 2.60% |
| Visual disease | 59,085 | 1.67% |
| Endocrine disease | 47,236 | 1.33% |
| Hearing disorders | 37,384 | 1.05% |
| Gastrointestinal disease | 33,315 | 0.94% |
| Genitourinary disease | 27,812 | 0.79% |
| Skin disease | 23,849 | 0.67% |
| Autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders) | 19,240 | 0.54% |
| Infectious disease | 13,543 | 0.38% |
| Diseases of the liver, gallbladder and biliary tract | 13,241 | 0.37% |
| Unknown or missing | 9,243 | 0.26% |
| Haematological disease | 8,391 | 0.24% |
| Metabolic disease | 5,130 | 0.15% |
| Multisystem and extremes of age | 1,616 | 0.05% |
| Diseases of the immune system | 1,262 | 0.04% |
| Total | 3,544,042 |
Source: Stat-Xplore - PIP Cases with entitlement - Data from April 2013 to April 2024
Remember, this isn’t an all-encompassing list. If you have a condition or disability which is impacting your daily life, you can still check to see if you’re eligible for PIP.
The five most common conditions people claim PIP for
Below are the conditions which people most commonly claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for, according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). As of April 2024, these five conditions comprised over 85% of total claims.
1. Psychiatric disorders - 1,347,889 claims - 38.03% of total claims
This includes:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Mood disorders
- Cognitive disorders
- Eating disorders
- Learning disabilities
2. Musculoskeletal diseases (general) - 672,201 claims - 18.97% of total claims
This includes:
- Osteoarthritis
- Fracture complications
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
3. Neurological diseases - 465,187 claims - 13.13% of total claims
This includes:
- Epilepsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Headaches
- Head injuries
- Cerebral palsy
- Neuropathy
4. Musculoskeletal diseases (regional) - 416,878 claims - 11.77% of total claims
This includes disorders affecting specific body parts such as the:
- Shoulders
- Wrists
- Hands
- Neck
- Back
- Hips
- Knees
- Ankles
- Feet
5. Respiratory diseases - 138,003 claims - 3.89% of total claims
This includes:
- Asthma
- Cystic fibrosis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Diseases of the upper respiratory tract
You can use the money from PIP to help pay for care at home, and we can assist you in finding the best home carer for your or your loved one’s care needs. You can request a free home care shortlist, where we’ll match you with suitable home care agencies that have availability in your local area.
How Many People Claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) In the UK?
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) statistics show that as of the 30th of April 2023, there were just over three million claimants entitled to the benefit across England and Wales, with 36% of these claimants receiving the highest level of the award.
There were also 300,000 claimants in Scotland, bringing the total number of people claiming PIP in the UK to around 3.3 million.
As of April 2024, over 3.5 million people in the UK claim PIP.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Rates For 2024/2025
Like other Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits, PIP rates rose by 6.7% for 2024/2025.
These payments are given monthly, unless you have a terminal illness, in which case you’ll receive them every week.
Here are the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) rates for 2024/2025:
| Daily Living Component | Mobility Component | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Weekly Rate | £72.65 | £28.70 |
| Standard Monthly Rate | £314.82 | £124.37 |
| Enhanced Weekly Rate | £108.55 | £75.75 |
| Enhanced Monthly Rate | £470.38 | £328.25 |
If you get the standard daily living and mobility component, you’ll receive £101.35 per week, or £439.18 per month.
If you get the enhanced daily living and mobility component, you’ll get £184.30 per week, or £798.63 per month.
Data from the DWP shows that around one in three PIP claimants receive the highest level of the benefit.
Are You Eligible For Personal Independence Payment (PIP)?
You’ll be eligible to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) if all of the following apply to you:
- You’re aged 16 or over
- You have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- This condition or disability makes it difficult for you to perform day-to-day tasks, or limits your mobility
- You expect these difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they began
People who claim PIP often receive care at home, including personal care and specalised forms of care. You can use Lottie to find home care near you.
If you haven’t claimed PIP before, you also need to be under the State Pension age. If you’re over the State Pension age, you can instead apply for Attendance Allowance. If you’ve previously received PIP, you can still make a new claim if you were eligible during the year before you reached the State Pension age.
How To Claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
To begin your claim, you’ll need to call the PIP new claims phone number on 0800 917 2222 from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm.
You’ll need to provide the following information:
- Contact details such as a phone number or email address
- Your date of birth
- Your National Insurance number (if you have one)
- Your bank or building society account number and sort code
- Your doctor or health worker’s name, address and contact details
- The addresses of any care homes or hospitals you’ve spent time in, along with the dates you were in them to and from
- Any other countries you’ve visited for more than four weeks at a time, along with the dates you were in them to and from
After this phone call, you’ll be sent a form which you’ll have a month to complete and return. You should include as much evidence as possible about your condition with this form, such as letters or reports from medical professionals.
Next, you may be invited for a medical assessment. This could be in person, over the phone or via a video call.
To make applying easier and to learn the information you'll need to provide, download our Personal Independence Payment checklist, written by our Lead Care Expert Hannah Karim.
How does an assessment work?
An assessment will help the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) determine how much financial support you require, including which components you’re eligible for and whether you need the standard or enhanced rates.
The DWP bases its decision on a points-based system. During the assessment, you’ll score points if you’re unable to do things:
- Safely
- Quickly enough
- To a reasonable standard
- As often as is required
Can you claim PIP without a diagnosis?
You’re able to apply for and claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) without getting a formal diagnosis.
You will however, need to provide evidence explaining how your condition affects you on a day-to-day basis. This evidence could include letters or reports from a medical professional, or a diary you’ve been keeping updated.
Lottie matches care seekers with the best home carers for their care needs. You can request a free list of home care agencies, where we’ll find you home care providers with availability in your local area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PIP check with your doctor?
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will review your form, before deciding if they need any further information.
They’ll often contact your GP or a different medical professional to obtain medical evidence as part of your claim process. Or, they might directly contact you with additional questions, or simply send you a letter inviting you to an assessment.
Do you need a doctor’s letter for PIP?
You don’t need a doctor’s letter or a statement (such as from your GP or a different medical professional) for your PIP claim to be successful.
With that said, including as much medical evidence as possible when applying will increase your chances of getting approved. This includes a report or letter from your GP or a different medical professional. This report will explain your condition, how it affects your day-to-day life and how you’re treated for it.
What counts as medical evidence?
For something to be classed as medical evidence, it should include the name of your condition, the date on which you were diagnosed, any prescriptions or treatment you’ve had, any specific care plans and any further information from professionals such as a GP, doctor, specialist nurse, physiotherapist, social worker, counsellor or anybody else relevant.
What are PIP assessors looking for?
During a PIP assessment, the assessor will be looking at whether you’re able to carry out a series of day-to-day activities, and how much difficulty you get from performing these tasks. This assessment will focus on the impact a medical condition has on you, rather than focusing on the diagnosis yourself.
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