26 health problems could qualify you for nearly £700 a month

If you live with a long-term illness, mental health condition or physical or learning disability you could be missing out on hundreds a month in disability support.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides personal independence payments (PIP) to around 3.2m people annually. The payments are paid every four weeks and increased back in April as part of the 2023/24 uplift to benefits.

You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting other benefits. It is made up of two components – a daily living rate and a mobility rate – and you can be entitled to one or both at the same time. Within both these rates there is the standard rate and the enhanced rate, reports WalesOnline.

READ MORE: DWP gives cost of living crisis update for struggling households

With the number of people claiming the benefit increasing, it’s worth knowing the many common medical conditions that could see you qualify for the money. To get all the latest money-saving news straight to your inbox twice a week sign up here.

What common conditions qualify for the payment?

Here are 26 of the most common health conditions that often qualify claimants for PIP:

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
• 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
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Benign tumours of the gastrointestinal tract
• Abdominal hernias
• Hernia

Congenital disorders of the GI tract

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

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 much will I get?

These are the current weekly PIP rates for 2023/24, though you should note that PIP is given monthly unless you are terminally ill, in which case you get it weekly.

Daily living component

Enhanced: £101.75 (from £92.40)

Standard: £68.10 (from £61.85)

Mobility component

Enhanced: £71.05 (from £64.50)

Standard: £26.95 (from £24.45)

Therefore, someone getting the standard daily and mobility component would receive £95.05 a week, or £380.20 a month. Someone receiving both enhanced rates would get £172.80 a week, or £691.20 a month.

How do I apply?

Would-be claimants are assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine how much help you need. Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments.

You won’t have any choice with this – it’s up to the health professional and DWP. You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here.