The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has unveiled new statistics indicating that over 1.1 million adults across the UK are receiving assistance through the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for more than 85 musculoskeletal conditions. These conditions, which impact the body’s movement or musculoskeletal system, encompass muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs, and blood vessels.
It’s estimated that about a third of the population live with some form of muscle or joint problem and those most severely affected can qualify for PIP, which is worth up to £737 every month. Alongside arthritis, other common health issues include osteoarthritis, back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, gout, polymyalgia rheumatica, lupus, and ankylosing spondylitis.
If you’re over 16 and under State Pension age, you may be eligible to claim PIP to assist with a musculoskeletal condition. If your ability to work is limited due to your symptoms, you might qualify for ‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
The latest DWP data also shows that there are now 3.6m people in Scotland, England, and Wales claiming PIP. A successful claim for PIP can provide between £28.70 and £184.30 per week in additional financial support.
As the benefit is paid every four weeks, this equates to between £114.80 and £737.20 each pay period, reports the Express. Musculoskeletal conditions include General Osteoarthritis, Osteoarthritis of Hip, Osteoarthritis of Knee, and Osteoarthritis of other single joint, reports the Express.
Musculoskeletal conditions
General Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of Hip
Osteoarthritis of Knee
Osteoarthritis of other single joint
Primary generalised Osteoarthritis
Chronic pain syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
Fibromyalgia
Pain syndromes – Chronic – Other / type not known
Inflammatory arthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis
Arthritis – Psoriatic
Arthritis – Reactive
Inflammatory arthritis – Other / type not known
Juvenile chronic arthritis (Still’s disease)
Rheumatoid arthritis
Crystal deposition disorders
Crystal deposition disorders – Other / type not known
Gout
Pseudogout
Osteonecrosis and osteochondritis
Osteochondritis
Osteonecrosis
Metabolic and endocrine disorders
Osteomalacia
Osteoporosis
Other metabolic and endocrine disorders of musculoskeletal system
Paget’s disease
Rickets
Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations
Achondroplasia
Epiphyseal dysplasia – multiple
Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations – Other / type not known
Hereditary multiple exostosis (diaphyseal aclasis)
Hypermobility syndrome
Marfan’s syndrome
Osteogenesis imperfecta
Benign tumours of bone
Tumours of bone – benign
Fracture complications
Compartment syndrome (Volkmann’s ischaemia)
Fracture complications – Other / type not known
Sudek’s atrophy
Other generalised musculoskeletal conditions
Generalised musculoskeletal disease – Other / type not known
Musculoskeletal Conditions – Regional
Shoulder disorders
Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
Rotator cuff disorder
Shoulder disorders – Other / type not known
Shoulder instability
Elbow disorders
Elbow disorders – Other / type not known
Golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis)
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
Wrist and hand disorders
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Dupuytren’s contracture
Tendon lesions
Tenosynovitis
Wrist and hand disorders – Other / type not known
Neck disorders
Cervical disc lesion
Cervical spondylosis
Neck disorders – Other / type not known
Whiplash injury
Non-specific back pain
Back pain – Non-specific (mechanical)
Specific back pain
Back pain – Specific – Other / type not known
Kyphosis
Lumbar disc lesion
Lumbar spondylosis (OA spine)
Schuermann’s disease
Scoliosis
Spinal stenosis
Spondylolisthesis
Hip disorders
Dislocation of the hip – congenital
Hip disorders – Other / type not known
Perthes disease
Slipped upper femoral epiphysis
Knee disorders
Bursitis
Chondromalacia patellae
Knee disorders – Other / type not known
Ligamentous instability of knee
Meniscal lesions
Osgood schlatters disease
Osteochondritis dissecans
Patellar dislocation – Recurrent
Ankle and foot disorders
Ankle and foot disorders – Other / type not known
Club foot (talipes)
Fore foot pain (Metatarsalgia)
Hallux valgus /rigidus
Amputations
Amputation – Lower limb(s)
Amputation – Upper limb(s)
Amputations – Upper & Lower limb/s
Injuries/fracture/dislocation
Abdomen – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
Lower limb – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
Multiple – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation
Pelvis – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
Spine – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
Thorax – Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of
Upper limb – Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of
Other regional musculoskeletal disease
Musculoskeletal disease – Regional / Localised – Other / type not known
Who is eligible for PIP?
To be eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), you must have a health condition or disability that has caused difficulties with daily living or mobility (or both) for at least three months, and these difficulties are expected to continue for at least nine more months.
Generally, you need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the past three years and be in the country when you apply. If your condition necessitates or results in needing help with tasks such as preparing meals, managing medication, personal hygiene, dressing, social interaction, understanding written information, making financial decisions, planning journeys or moving around, you should consider applying for PIP.
There are different rules for those who are terminally ill, which can be found on the GOV.UK website.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will assess how challenging you find daily living and mobility tasks, considering factors like safety, time taken, frequency of difficulty due to your condition, and whether you require help from a person or additional equipment.
How is PIP paid?
PIP is typically deposited every four weeks directly into your bank, building society or credit union account. However, if you are terminally ill, it is paid weekly.
An assessment is necessary to determine the level of financial support you’ll receive. Your rate will be regularly reviewed to ensure you’re receiving the appropriate support.
What are the PIP payment rates?
PIP consists of two components: Daily living and Mobility. Whether you receive one or both, and the amount, depends on how severely your condition affects you.
The weekly payments vary based on your circumstances – daily living standard rate is £72.65, enhanced rate is £108.55. Mobility standard rate is £28.70, enhanced rate is £75.75.
How are you assessed for PIP?
An independent healthcare professional will assess you to help the DWP determine the level of financial support you need for PIP. Health-related benefits consultations are offered via face-to-face, video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments – the health professional and DWP decide which type of assessment is best suited for each case.
How to make a PIP claim
Adult Disability Payment assessments won’t involve face-to-face assessments unless preferred by the claimant. To make a claim for PIP, contact the DWP.
All the information needed to apply can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Before you call, have your contact details, date of birth, National Insurance number, and bank or building society account number and sort code ready.
The Daily Record has revealed that the average processing time for new PIP claims is 15 weeks. This suggests that applications submitted before the end of this month could be processed and back payments issued by the end of February 2025.
The most recent data shows that at the end of April 2024, over one million people were receiving support through PIP for Musculoskeletal conditions. Here is a list of 87 musculoskeletal conditions being supported through PIP to assist with either daily living, mobility needs or both.
It’s crucial to remember that this list is not exhaustive, so if your condition does not appear, don’t be deterred from making a claim as an award for PIP is about how the condition affects you, not the condition itself.