DWP can give up to £737 a month to people with stress, anxiety or depression - here's how

If you have a condition affecting your mental health and it has an impact on your daily life, you may be able to get some financial help from the Government.

Latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that by the end of January, there were more than 1.3 million people across Britain claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for a psychiatric disorder. This is the main disabling descriptor used by the DWP and it covers anxiety and mood disorders, stress reactions and depressive disorders, along with a wide range of other conditions that may affect a person's mental health.

The number of people claiming PIP for a psychiatric disorder has increased by more than 462,000 between February 2020 - before the first Covid lockdown - and January 2024, reports the Daily Record. Last week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans for a new consultation on PIP that will look at changes to the eligibility criteria, assessment process and types of support that can be offered through the disability benefit.

• Read More: DWP set to get more powers to stop benefit fraud on top of bank account monitoring

• Get all the latest money news and budgeting tips from Chronicle Live with our free newsletter

He said that PIP spending is forecast to rise by more than 50% over the next four years if no changes are made. Nearly 3.5 million people across Britain are currently in receipt of PIP, with 37% of that overall figure claiming for psychiatric disorders - which includes mental health conditions.

PIP provides financial support to adults with a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition who need help completing daily tasks or moving around. A claim for PIP is now worth between £28.70 and £184.30 each week and as the benefit is paid every four weeks, this amounts to between £114.80 and £737.20 every payment period. If you need extra support to cover the costs of daily living or mobility needs due to a mental health condition, it may be worthwhile considering a claim 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. 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:

• 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

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.