Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit introduced to help people who have been forced to pay extra costs due to a health condition or long term disability.
PIP is assigned to those who need help with everyday activities and is designed as a long-term replacement to the Disability Living Allowance - as Birmingham Live reports.
Around 3.7 million people in the UK currently claim PIP - and anyone who receives payments must be assessed to see what level of payment is awarded.
READ MORE: PIP, Universal Credit and ESA assessments set to change
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently announced that the frequency of the PIP assessments is set to be reduced as part of the government's new ' National Disability Strategy'.
According to the latest figures that go up to April 2021, a total of 5.9 million people have put in a claim since PIP was introduced in April 2013.
That includes 3.9 million new claims entering the DWP system - and a further 2 million being reassessed when they were moved across from the old Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
2.9 million of those were awarded PIP, 2.5 million cases were refused - and the remaining applications were withdrawn.
What are the most common illnesses and conditions that mean you qualify for PIP?
Figures show that 82 per cent of new claims and 88 per cent of DLA reassessment claims are recorded as having one of these five most common conditions:
- Psychiatric disorders (which includes mixed anxiety and depressive disorders)
- Musculoskeletal disease (general)
- Musculoskeletal disease (regional)
- Neurological disease
- Respiratory disease
The two most commonly recorded conditions in claims under normal rules are psychiatric disorders (37 per cent of claims), and musculoskeletal disease (general) (a further 20 per cent of claims).
Figures show that those with neurological disease and musculoskeletal diseases are most likely to be awarded PIP after an assessment has taken place.
Of those with psychiatric disorders, only around half (52 per cent) are awarded PIP after an assessment, the lowest number of the five categories above. The rest are told they won't get any PIP.
The DWP recently revealed a list of 21 health conditions that are most likely to be eligible for back pay of up to £12,000, after judges ruled assessments hadn't been carried out properly. Some claimants had been given lower PIP payments, while others were refused any PIP at all because their points weren't high enough to qualify.
The full list of 21 conditions can be viewed here.
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