There are hundreds of health conditions which could qualify for support
Brits dealing with certain health issues could be eligible for a monthly payment – but many will not realise they can even apply. There are over 500 recognised health conditions that make certain people eligible to claim the government financial support.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) points people towards Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a benefit aimed at helping with the extra day-to-day costs that can come with ongoing health conditions and disabilities. For some claimants, the support can add up to roughly £748 a month, depending on how their condition affects them.
PIP isn’t a one-size-fits-all payout, and it’s not based purely on the name of a diagnosis. Instead, decisions are based on how someone’s condition impacts everyday independence – from coping with routine tasks to getting around.
The payment can be made in two parts, and people can receive either one or both. That combination is what can take payments to the highest level.
One part is the daily living component, designed to help with costs linked to managing ordinary activities and ranges from £76.55 to £114.80 per week. The other is the mobility component, for people who face difficulties with movement or journeys, paid at £30.20 to £80.10 per week. Those who qualify for the enhanced rate of both elements can get £194.90 a week — around £748 a month.
Others may receive a lower amount, or a mixed award (for example, standard rate for one component and enhanced for the other), depending on individual circumstances. PIP is open to people aged 16 up to State Pension age.
On its website, the DWP also references a huge list of medical conditions (hundreds of entries). Plus, broader umbrella terms to cover issues that aren’t named word-for-word — including a range of mental health-related conditions.
Being diagnosed isn’t the same as being awarded PIP. The decision is based on how your condition affects you most days, and what help you need to get through normal tasks.
Below, we have listed some of the health conditions that may be eligible for payments if the DWP deems the case sufficient. There is a full list of health problems that may be considered suitable for PIP payments:
- Haematological (Blood) Disease: Anaemia (B12/Iron Deficiency/Other), Thalassaemia, Haemophilia B (Christmas Disease)
- Infectious Disease: HIV/AIDs, COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis
- Malignant Diseases (Cancer): Cancers of the skin, brain, bone, blood, breast, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, genitourinary tract
- Metabolic Diseases: Obesity, hyperlipidaemia, porphyria
- Psychiatric Disorders: Anxiety, stress, dementia, eating disorders, global learning disability, autism
- Neurological Disease: Epilepsy, Parkinson’s, Tourette’s syndrome, multiple sclerosis, migraines
- Visual (Eye) Disease: Glaucoma, cataracts, astigmatism, myopia (short-sighted), hypermetropia (long-sighted)
- Hearing Disorders: Congenital deafness, mixed hearing loss, hearing loss due to trauma
- Cardiovascular (Heart) Disease: Cardiac failure, hypertension, angina, valve disease, deep vein thrombosis, heart transplantation
- Gastrointestinal (Stomach) Disease: Coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease, haemorrhoids, hernia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Liver, Gallbladder & Pancreas Diseases: Hepatitis, cirrhosis, Wilson’s disease, liver failure, gallstones, pancreatitis
- Skin Disease: Impetigo, cellulitis, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, leg ulcers, pressure sores, burns
- General Musculoskeletal Disease: Osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, gout, rickets, hypermobility syndrome
- Regional Musculoskeletal Disease: Tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, whiplash, scoliosis, hip/knee disorders, amputation, club foot
- Autoimmune Disease: Antiphospholipid syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, temporal (giant cell) arteritis
- Genitourinary (Kidney & Urinary) Disease: Incontinence, urinary tract infection, renal failure, endometriosis
- Endocrine Disease: Diabetes (type 1 and 2), hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency
- Respiratory Disease: Sleep apnoea, cystic fibrosis, asthma, Pneumonia, transplant (lung or lung and heart)
- Immune System Diseases: Allergy (with/without risk of anaphylaxis), food intolerance, hypersensitivity diseases
- Extremes of Age: Failure to thrive, old age, complication of prematurity
