There are already more than 1.1m people receiving financial help from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for a wide range of conditions affecting joints and muscles. New DWP figures showed that there are now 3.5 million people in Scotland, England and Wales claiming PIP.
Included in this are people with one or more of 87 musculoskeletal problems which qualify for support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP). These are conditions which affect the way the body moves or musculoskeletal system.
They include muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs and blood vessels. Arthritis is a general term for many of these, with the most common ones being osteoarthritis, back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, gout, polymyalgia rheumatica, lupus and ankylosing spondylitis.
Those over 16 but not yet of State Pension age who has one of these conditions might be able to claim PIP to help with their daily living needs. If your health issue means it affects your ability to work, you might qualify for ‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
If someone makes a successful claim for PIP they can be given between £28.70 and £184.30 every week in additional financial support, reports the Daily Record. The benefit is paid every four weeks which will give people between £114.80 and £737.20 per pay period.
The latest data shows as of April 2024, over one million people were receiving support through PIP for Musculoskeletal conditions. This is a list of 87 musculoskeletal conditions supported through PIP to help with daily living, mobility needs or both.
However, there are other conditions which will qualify. If your condition doesn’t appear, don’t be discouraged from making a claim.
Musculoskeletal Conditions – General
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Osteoarthritis |
Osteoarthritis of Hip |
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Osteoarthritis of Knee |
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Osteoarthritis of other single joint |
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Primary generalised Osteoarthritis |
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Chronic pain syndrome |
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) |
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Fibromyalgia |
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Pain syndromes – Chronic – Other / type not known |
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Inflammatory arthritis |
Ankylosing spondylitis |
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Arthritis – Psoriatic |
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Arthritis – Reactive |
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Inflammatory arthritis – Other / type not known |
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Juvenile chronic arthritis (Still’s disease) |
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Rheumatoid arthritis |
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Crystal deposition disorders |
Crystal deposition disorders – Other / type not known |
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Gout |
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Pseudogout |
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Osteonecrosis and osteochondritis |
Osteochondritis |
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Osteonecrosis |
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Metabolic and endocrine disorders |
Osteomalacia |
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Osteoporosis |
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Other metabolic and endocrine disorders of musculoskeletal system |
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Paget’s disease |
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Rickets |
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Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations |
Achondroplasia |
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Epiphyseal dysplasia – multiple |
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Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations – Other / type not known |
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Hereditary multiple exostosis (diaphyseal aclasis) |
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Hypermobility syndrome |
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Marfan’s syndrome |
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Osteogenesis imperfecta |
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Benign tumours of bone |
Tumours of bone – benign |
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Fracture complications |
Compartment syndrome (Volkmann’s ischaemia) |
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Fracture complications – Other / type not known |
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Sudek’s atrophy |
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Other generalised musculoskeletal conditions |
Generalised musculoskeletal disease – Other / type not known |
Musculoskeletal Conditions – Regional
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Shoulder disorders |
Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) |
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Rotator cuff disorder |
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Shoulder disorders – Other / type not known |
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Shoulder instability |
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Elbow disorders |
Elbow disorders – Other / type not known |
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Golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis) |
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Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) |
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Wrist and hand disorders |
Carpal tunnel syndrome |
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Dupuytren’s contracture |
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Tendon lesions |
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Tenosynovitis |
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Wrist and hand disorders – Other / type not known |
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Neck disorders |
Cervical disc lesion |
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Cervical spondylosis |
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Neck disorders – Other / type not known |
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Whiplash injury |
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Non specific back pain |
Back pain – Non specific (mechanical) |
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Specific back pain |
Back pain – Specific – Other / type not known |
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Kyphosis |
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Lumbar disc lesion |
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Lumbar spondylosis (OA spine) |
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Schuermann’s disease |
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Scoliosis |
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Spinal stenosis |
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Spondylolisthesis |
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Hip disorders |
Dislocation of the hip – congenital |
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Hip disorders – Other / type not known |
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Perthes disease |
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Slipped upper femoral epiphysis |
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Knee disorders |
Bursitis |
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Chondromalacia patellae |
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Knee disorders – Other / type not known |
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Ligamentous instability of knee |
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Meniscal lesions |
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Osgood schlatters disease |
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Osteochondritis dissecans |
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Patellar dislocation – Recurrent |
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Ankle and foot disorders |
Ankle and foot disorders – Other / type not known |
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Club foot (talipes) |
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Fore foot pain (Metatarsalgia) |
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Hallux valgus /rigidus |
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Amputations |
Amputation – Lower limb(s) |
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Amputation – Upper limb(s) |
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Amputations – Upper & Lower limb/s |
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Injuries/fracture/Dislocation |
Abdomen – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of |
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Lower limb – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of |
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Multiple – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation |
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Pelvis – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of |
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Spine – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of |
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Thorax – Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of |
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Upper limb – Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of |
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Other regional musculoskeletal disease |
Musculoskeletal disease – Regional / Localised – Other / type not known |
The decision on whether you qualify for PIP will be made on how the condition affects you, not the condition itself. Some of the conditions include Osteoarthritis, Chronic pain syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Inflammatory arthritis, and Crystal deposition disorders.
Who might qualify for PIP?
To get PIP, you must have a health condition or disability that causes difficulties with daily living or mobility (or both) and has done so for three months. It must be expected that these difficulties will continue for at least nine months. You will usually need to have resided in the UK for at least two of the past three years and be in the country when you apply.
If your condition requires or results in needing help with any of the following, you should consider applying for PIP or ADP.
- 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
Different rules apply if you are terminally ill, which can be found on the government website.
The DWP will assess how challenging 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
How will you be paid?
PIP is usually paid four-weekly into your bank, building society or credit union account. If you are terminally ill you will be paid weekly. ADP is paid at the same rates as PIP.
You will be assessed to work out the level of financial help you will receive. This will be regularly reviewed to ensure you are getting the right support.
PIP consists of two components: Daily living and Mobility and a decision on whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you. The following amounts per week will be paid depending on your circumstances:
- Daily living Standard rate: £72.65
- Daily living Enhanced rate: £108.55.
- Mobility Standard rate: £28.70
- Mobility Enhanced rate is £75.75.
The level of money you receive for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is determined by an assessment carried out by an independent healthcare professional on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Health-related benefits consultations can be conducted face-to-face, via video calls, telephone or paper-based assessments, with the health professional and DWP deciding which type of assessment is most suitable for each claimant.
How to make a claim
To make a claim for PIP, contact the DWP and apply on the GOV.UK website here.
Before you call, you will need:
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your contact details
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your date of birth
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your National Insurance number – this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits
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your bank or building society account number and sort code
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your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
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dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital