The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed the 12 health conditions most likely to secure long‑term Personal Independence Payment (PIP) awards lasting five years or more.
Visual disease tops the list, with 68 per cent of claimants receiving extended awards, while neurological conditions rank second at 55 per cent.
PIP provides financial support for people living with long‑term physical or mental health conditions, disabilities or learning difficulties, helping claimants manage additional living costs while maintaining independence.
DWP classes any award lasting five years or longer as a “long‑term” award.
Across the 12 conditions identified, 1,804,025 claimants currently hold long‑term awards out of 3,926,015 total recipients.
PIP is split into two components depending on how a claimant’s condition affects daily life and mobility:
- The daily living component pays £76.55 per week at the standard rate, rising to £114.80 at the enhanced rate.
- The mobility component pays £30.20 weekly at the standard rate, increasing to £80.10 for the enhanced level.
Claimants eligible for both enhanced components receive £187 per week, equivalent to £748 per month.
DWP reveals health conditions most likely to receive long-term PIP awards
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GETTYAward lengths vary, with the shortest lasting nine months and the longest lasting 10 years under a “light touch” review.
The PIP Handbook states: “The length of award will be based upon each claimant’s individual circumstances.”
Most claimants are subject to periodic reviews to ensure they continue receiving the correct level of support.
Some receive limited‑term awards lasting up to two years without a scheduled review where improvement is possible.
Visual disease and neurological conditions are among the claim categories most likely to receive awards
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GETTYThe 12 conditions most likely to receive long‑term PIP awards
- Visual disease — 68 per cent long‑term awards (40,809 of 60,360 claimants)
- Neurological disease — 55 per cent (273,628 of 494,817)
- Hearing disorders — 54 per cent
- General musculoskeletal disease — 54 per cent
- Respiratory disease — 51 per cent
- Regional musculoskeletal conditions — 47 per cent
- Skin disease — 45 per cent
- Endocrine disease — 44 per cent
- Cardiovascular disease — 42 per cent
- Psychiatric disorders — 41 per cent (largest claimant group: 1,523,811 recipients)
- Gastrointestinal disease — 34 per cent
- Malignant disease — 25 per cent (32,044 of 127,423 claimants)