The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released a list of 177 medical conditions that qualify for a £114 weekly payment under Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This benefit consists of two components: a daily living component and a mobility component. Applicants may be eligible for one, both, or neither, depending on their assessment.
PIP Payment Rates
The daily living component is worth £114.60 at the enhanced rate and £76.70 for standard payments. The mobility component pays £30.30 for standard claimants and £80 at the enhanced rate. To receive the £114 weekly payment in May, after the recent April increase, claimants must meet specific criteria.
Common Condition: Glaucoma
Among the 177 qualifying conditions is glaucoma, a common eye ailment. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve connecting the eye to the brain. It is most prevalent in adults aged 50 and over and can lead to vision loss if not diagnosed and treated early. The NHS warns that glaucoma often has no symptoms and is typically detected during routine eye tests. It usually affects both eyes but may be worse in one eye.
Eligibility for Daily Living Component
You may qualify for the daily living part of PIP if you need help with preparing food, eating and drinking, managing medicines or treatments, washing and bathing, using the toilet, dressing and undressing, reading, managing money, socialising, or talking, listening, and understanding.
Eligibility for Mobility Component
You may qualify for the mobility part of PIP if you need help with working out and following a route, physically moving around, or leaving your home.
Over one million people in the UK are estimated to have glaucoma, a figure projected to exceed 1.6 million by 2060, according to a study led by UCL and Moorfields researchers.
