DWP £8,292 a year cash lifeline if you have one of these 25 stomach problems

Those who live with health conditions that demand extra living costs can claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP) – and more than 2.8 million people do so. Those with a long-term disability, physical or mental health condition qualify for the cash boost.

Currently, 2% of all PIP claims are for gastrointestinal disabilities and conditions, reports LancashireLive. That number sits at 27,840 claimants.

This includes more common conditions such as Coeliac disease, hernia, Crohn’s disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This may be news to some people who may not realise they are able to claim for PIP if they suffer from these types of conditions, but if it affects their day-to-day life, they could qualify.

The highest weekly payments are £172.75 per week or £691 a month, with the payment period for PIP set at four weeks, and the amount depends on how difficult they find getting around and everyday tasks – and this applied to those with gastrointestinal disabilities and conditions.

Full list of conditions

Claims for gastrointestinal disabilities and conditions include common conditions such as Coeliac disease, hernia, Crohn’s disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome and DWP recognises the following gastrointestinal conditions, divided into sub-groups as those issues that qualify for PIP:

Inflammatory bowel disease

• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis

Diseases of the colon

• Colon – Other diseases of / type not known
• Constipation
• Diverticular disease / diverticulitis

Diseases of the small bowel

• Coeliac disease
• Small bowel – Other diseases of / type not known

Inflammatory bowel disease

• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis

Diseases of the colon

• Colon – Other diseases of / type not known
• Constipation
• Diverticular disease / diverticulitis

Diseases of the rectum and anus

• Anorectal abscess
• Fistula in anus
• Haemorrhoids
• Rectal prolapse
• Rectum/anus – Other diseases of / type not known

Congenital disorders of the GI tract

• Cleft lip
• Cleft lip with cleft palate
• Hirschprung Disease
• Tracheo-oesophageal fistula/atresia

Abdominal hernias

Diseases of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum

• Hiatus hernia / gastroesophageal reflux disease / reflux oesophagitis
• Oesophageal varices
• Oesophagus, stomach and duodenum – Other diseases of / type not known
• Peptic ulcer (gastric and duodenal)/gastritis

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Benign tumours of the gastrointestinal tract

Other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

• Attention to artificial opening colostomy/ileostomy/ stoma – no underlying diagnosis
• Gastrointestinal tract – Other diseases of / type not known

How does PIP work?

According to the Department for Work and Pensions. there are two parts to PIP:

• a mobility part – if you need help with getting around

• a daily living part – if you need help with everyday tasks

People do not have to have a physical disability to get the mobility part. They may also be eligible if they have difficulty getting around because of a cognitive or mental health condition, such as anxiety.

How difficulty with tasks is assessed

The DWP will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they’ll 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

For more details about PIP, see the DWP website here

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