The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that individuals with five common mental health conditions may qualify for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) of up to £779 every four weeks. The conditions include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and stress. These conditions are often hidden disabilities, yet they are among the top conditions for successful PIP claims.
Payment Amounts and Eligibility
PIP provides additional financial support ranging from £30.30 to £194.60 per week, which equates to between £121.20 and £778.40 every four weeks. To be eligible for PIP (or its Scottish equivalent, Adult Disability Payment), you must have a health condition or disability that has caused difficulties with daily living or mobility (or both) for at least three months. You must also expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months.
Daily Living and Mobility Tasks
If you have trouble with tasks such as preparing, cooking, or eating food; managing medication; washing, bathing, or using the toilet; dressing and undressing; engaging and communicating with others; reading and understanding written information; making decisions about money; planning a journey or following a route; or moving around, you should consider applying.
PIP Scoring Criteria
The DWP uses a points-based system to determine eligibility and payment levels. For each activity, you receive points based on the statement that best fits your situation most of the time. Points range from 0 to 12 per activity.
- Standard rate daily living component: 8 to 11 points total for daily living activities.
- Enhanced rate daily living component: 12 points or more.
- Standard rate mobility component: 8 to 11 points total for mobility activities.
- Enhanced rate mobility component: 12 points or more.
Example Case
Mental Health and Money Advice provides an example: Karl has anxiety and depression. He rarely leaves the house alone and avoids answering the phone or door unless he knows the caller. He worries about panic attacks when speaking to people. However, he can talk to people when accompanied by his social worker, who helps calm him during panic attacks. The DWP may award Karl 4 points for the daily living activity 'Engaging with other people face to face' because he needs social support. Karl would need at least four more points from other daily living activities to qualify for the standard rate daily living component.
