More disabled people could be eligible for Personal Independence Payment [PIP] and receive up to £172.75 from April after changes to the disability benefit were announced by the Department for Work and Pensions [DWP] earlier this week.

In line with other DWP benefits claimants of PIP will see their pay out increase by 10.1% next month.

The new rates will be:

Daily living component

Standard weekly rate - £68.10

Enhanced weekly rate - £101.75

Mobility component

- Standard weekly rate - £26.90

- Enhanced weekly rate - £71

One in three people receive the highest level of benefit.

In last week's budget the Chancellor announced people on PIP will automatically be eligible for the new Universal Credit “health element” which replaces the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity [LCWRA].

Those on LCWRA currently receive £354.28, but this will rise to £390.06 from April 2023.

But the reforms won’t be introduced until 2026 at the very earliest. 

PIP is awarded to disabled people based on how their condition affects their everyday life and if they need help with daily tasks such as dressing, food shopping and handling money.

A PIP assessment sees the potential claimant scored on points, the more help you need the more points you score and if you score enough points you are eligible for the benefit. The overall success rate of claiming PIP is 52%.

The top 30 conditions among PIP claimants in England include:

Anxiety and depressive disorders (mixed) - 226,939

Primary generalised Osteoarthritis - 138,384

Learning disabilities - 127,533

Fibromyalgia - 105,063

Autism - 99,290

Back pain (specific) - 82,318

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) chronic bronchitis/emphysema - 73,670

Schizophrenia - 70,586

Rheumatoid arthritis - 61,347

Cerebrovascular accident (stroke) - 55,642

Inflammatory arthritis - 54,480

Depressive disorder - 50,141

Multiple sclerosis - 47,322

Bipolar affective disorder (Hypomania / Mania) - 42,893

Personality disorder - 39,162

ADHD / ADD - 38,668

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - 34,045

Back pain - Non specific (mechanical) - 33,379

Osteoarthritis of knee - 30,233

Lumbar disc lesion - 26,717

Asperger syndrome - 26,677

Seizures - 26,035

Specific learning disorder - 21,919

Psychotic disorders - 20,982

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) - 20,051

Downs syndrome - 19,209

Asthma - 18,067

Cerebral palsy - 17,498

Breast cancer - 16,435

Lumbar spondylosis - 15,103

To put in a PIP claim you must:

- Be aged 16 or over

- have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability

- have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around

- expect the difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started

To make a PIP claim phone 0800 917 2222 between Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm.

You will be asked to provide your contact number, date of birth, National Insurance number, and your bank or building society account number and sort code.

After applying for a claim you may be asked to attend a medical assessment which will involve answering a series of questions in person or via a video call.

[ It may take up to six months until you receive your first payment from when you are first contacted by the Department of Work and Pensions ]