Five common illnesses which will hand people on PIP £9,584 from DWP

Five common illnesses which make you eligible for PIP benefits worth up to £9,584 a year have been revealed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The DWP currently pays out Personal Independence Payments (PIP) to three million people.

New government figures show that as of July 31, there were 3.5 million people claiming PIP in England and Wales, a 3% increase on the number as of April 30. The actual payments from the DWP can vary from £28.70 to £184.30 per week, depending on the type and severity of the disability or illness.

It comes in two parts and you can be entitled to both or just one of these, depending on how your condition affects your life. There is a Daily Living rate, which is worth either £72.65 or £108.55 a week, and a Mobility Rate, which is worth either £28.70 or £75.75 a week.

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If you qualify for the higher rates, this means you'll get up to £737.20 every four weeks.

Psychiatric disorders

People suffering from psychiatric disorders make up 38% of the claims for PIP, according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It includes Depression, Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Schizophrenia.

To find out how much you are eligible for, the DWP conducts a PIP assessment. Your eligibility will be determined by an independent healthcare professional who will assess your needs to help the DWP decide the level of financial support you require. Assessments can take various forms, including face-to-face consultations, video calls, telephone or paper-based assessments. The type of assessment used will be decided by the health professional and the DWP based on what is most suitable for you.

To make a claim for PIP, you can contact the DWP directly. All the information needed to apply can be found on the GOV.UK website here.

Musculoskeletal disease (general) and musculoskeletal disease (regional)

General musculoskeletal diseases are pain in the human musculoskeletal system, including the joints, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. Around 19% of claims for PIP are made up of people who have to live with one of these conditions.

Examples of Musculoskeletal diseases include Osteoarthritis, Back pain, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Tendinopathy, Fractures, Osteoporosis, Epicondylitis, Fibromyalgia. Regional means a specific part of the body, such as the neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, or ankle.

If you're aged 16 or over but below the State Pension age, you might be eligible to claim PIP to assist with a musculoskeletal condition. If your ability to work is restricted due to your symptoms, you could qualify for 'new style' Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Neurological disease

13% of people claiming PIP suffer from a neurological disease. It includes Acute Spinal Cord Injury, Alzheimer's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Ataxia, Bell's Palsy and Brain Tumors, as well as Cerebral Aneurysm, Epilepsy and Seizures.

An assessment is required to determine the level of financial assistance you will receive, and your rate will be regularly reviewed to ensure you are receiving the appropriate support.

PIP is comprised of two components: daily living and mobility. The amount you receive for each depends on the severity of your condition's impact on your life.

Respiratory disease

Common types of respiratory disease include Asthma, Cystic fibrosis, Emphysema, Lung cancer, Mesothelioma, Pulmonary hypertension. Around 4% of PIP claims go towards helping people with these types of conditions.

PIP is typically paid every four weeks, unless you are terminally ill, in which case payments are made weekly. Payments are directly deposited into your bank, building society, or credit union account.