More than one million people are receiving between £28.70 and £184.30 each week through PIP or Adult Disability Payment for musculoskeletal conditions.
04:30, 23 Nov 2024
The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that there are more than 1.1 million adults across Great Britain receiving support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for over 85 musculoskeletal conditions, including 64,202 living in Scotland. Musculoskeletal conditions are injuries and disorders that affect the human body’s movement or musculoskeletal system such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs and blood vessels.
Arthritis is a general term that refers to many of these different conditions, however, some common conditions include osteoarthritis, back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, gout, polymyalgia rheumatica, lupus and ankylosing spondylitis. If you are over 16 and under State Pension age, you may be able to claim PIP - or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) in Scotland - to help with a musculoskeletal condition, and if your ability to work is limited due to your symptoms you could be eligible for ‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
READ MORE: Full list of new PIP monthly payments as DWP confirms weekly rates starting in AprilREAD MORE: People making a new ADP claim this month could get backdated payments before FebruaryThe latest DWP figures also show that there are now 3.6m people in Scotland, England and Wales claiming PIP, including almost 126,300 living in Scotland.
However, as more existing PIP claimants living in Scotland are transferred to ADP, that figure will decrease. Even though new claims for PIP have been replaced in Scotland by ADP, it follows largely similar eligibility criteria, but takes a more ‘people-centric’ approach, according to Social Security Scotland.
A successful claim for PIP or ADP is worth between £28.70 and £184.30 each week in additional financial support and as the benefit is paid every four weeks, this amounts to between £114.80 and £737.20 every pay period.
The average processing time for new PIP claims is 15 weeks which means applications submitted before the end of this month could be processed - and back payments issued - by the end of February, 2025.
PIP claimants with musculoskeletal conditions
The latest data shows that at the end of April 2024, over one million people were receiving support through PIP for Musculoskeletal conditions.
- Scotland: 48,801 (does not include case transfer or new claims of Adult Disability Payment)
- England and Wales: 1,039,177
- Living abroad: 999
- Total: 1,089,079
Below is the list of 87 musculoskeletal conditions being supported through PIP to help with either daily living, mobility needs or a combination of both components. It is not definitive, so if your condition does not appear, don't be put off making a claim as an award for PIP or ADP is about how the condition affects you, not the condition itself.
Musculoskeletal Conditions - General
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of Hip
Osteoarthritis of Knee
Osteoarthritis of other single joint
Primary generalised Osteoarthritis
Chronic pain syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
Fibromyalgia
Pain syndromes - Chronic - Other / type not known
Inflammatory arthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis
Arthritis - Psoriatic
Arthritis - Reactive
Inflammatory arthritis - Other / type not known
Juvenile chronic arthritis (Still's disease)
Rheumatoid arthritis
Crystal deposition disorders
Crystal deposition disorders - Other / type not known
Gout
Pseudogout
Osteonecrosis and osteochondritis
Osteochondritis
Osteonecrosis
Metabolic and endocrine disorders
Osteomalacia
Osteoporosis
Other metabolic and endocrine disorders of musculoskeletal system
Paget's disease
Rickets
Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations
Achondroplasia
Epiphyseal dysplasia - multiple
Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations - Other / type not known
Hereditary multiple exostosis (diaphyseal aclasis)
Hypermobility syndrome
Marfan's syndrome
Osteogenesis imperfecta
Benign tumours of bone
Tumours of bone - benign
Fracture complications
Compartment syndrome (Volkmann's ischaemia)
Fracture complications - Other / type not known
Sudek's atrophy
Other generalised musculoskeletal conditions
Generalised musculoskeletal disease - Other / type not known
Musculoskeletal Conditions - Regional
Shoulder disorders
Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
Rotator cuff disorder
Shoulder disorders - Other / type not known
Shoulder instability
Elbow disorders
Elbow disorders - Other / type not known
Golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis)
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
Wrist and hand disorders
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Dupuytren's contracture
Tendon lesions
Tenosynovitis
Wrist and hand disorders - Other / type not known
Neck disorders
Cervical disc lesion
Cervical spondylosis
Neck disorders - Other / type not known
Whiplash injury
Non specific back pain
Back pain - Non specific (mechanical)
Specific back pain
Back pain - Specific - Other / type not known
Kyphosis
Lumbar disc lesion
Lumbar spondylosis (OA spine)
Schuermann's disease
Scoliosis
Spinal stenosis
Spondylolisthesis
Hip disorders
Dislocation of the hip - congenital
Hip disorders - Other / type not known
Perthes disease
Slipped upper femoral epiphysis
Knee disorders
Bursitis
Chondromalacia patellae
Knee disorders - Other / type not known
Ligamentous instability of knee
Meniscal lesions
Osgood schlatters disease
Osteochondritis dissecans
Patellar dislocation - Recurrent
Ankle and foot disorders
Ankle and foot disorders - Other / type not known
Club foot (talipes)
Fore foot pain (Metatarsalgia)
Hallux valgus /rigidus
Amputations
Amputation - Lower limb(s)
Amputation - Upper limb(s)
Amputations - Upper & Lower limb/s
Injuries/fracture/Dislocation
Abdomen - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
Lower limb - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
Multiple - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation
Pelvis - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
Spine - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
Thorax - Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of
Upper limb - Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of
Other regional musculoskeletal disease
Musculoskeletal disease - Regional / Localised - Other / type not known
Even though new claims for PIP have been replaced in Scotland by ADP, it shares most of the same eligibility criteria. Full guidance on ADP can be found on the mygov.scot website here.
Who might be eligible for PIP or ADP?
To be eligible for PIP or ADP, you must have a health condition or disability where you:
- have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months
- expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months
You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply.
In addition to what we have outlined above if you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP or ADP.
- preparing, cooking or eating food
- managing your medication
- washing, bathing or using the toilet
- dressing and undressing
- engaging and communicating with other people
- reading and understanding written information
- making decisions about money
- planning a journey or following a route
- moving around
There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the GOV.UK website here.
DWP or Social Security Scotland will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they will look at:
- whether you can do it safely
- how long it takes you
- how often your condition affects this activity
- whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment
How are PIP and ADP paid?
PIP and ADP are usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. It will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account. ADP is paid at the same rates as PIP.
What are the PIP and ADP payment rates?
You will need an assessment to work out the level of financial help you will receive and your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support.
PIP is made up of two components:
- Daily living
- Mobility
Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you.
You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:
Daily living
- Standard rate: £72.65
- Enhanced rate: £108.55
Mobility
- Standard rate: £28.70
- Enhanced rate: £75.75
How you are assessed
You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need, for PIP.
Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments - it's important to be aware that the health professional and DWP determine which type of assessment is best suited for each claimant. You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here.
Adult Disability Payment assessments will not involve face-to-face assessments, unless this is preferred by the claimant - find out more about the changes here.
How do you make a claim for PIP?
You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the GOV.UK website here.
Before you call, you will need:
- your contact details
- your date of birth
- your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits
- your bank or building society account number and sort code
- your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
- dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital
How to apply for ADP
People can apply for ADP, over the phone, by post or in-person. To find out more or apply, visit the dedicated pages on mygov.scot here or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.