The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published an extensive list of 178 medical conditions that could make individuals eligible for weekly financial support of up to £187.45. This support comes through the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a benefit designed to help people with long-term health conditions manage the extra costs associated with daily living and mobility.
What is Personal Independence Payment (PIP)?
Personal Independence Payment is a non-means-tested, tax-free benefit for people aged 16 to State Pension age who have a long-term physical or mental health condition, disability, or learning difficulty. Crucially, eligibility is not based on your National Insurance record, your income, savings, or whether you are working. The benefit is intended to provide financial assistance for the additional challenges faced in everyday life.
The payment is split into two components: a daily living part and a mobility part. You can be awarded one or both, each at either a standard or an enhanced rate. For the 2025/26 financial year, the weekly rates are:
- Daily living component: Standard rate £73.90 / Enhanced rate £110.40
- Mobility component: Standard rate £29.20 / Enhanced rate £77.05
This means that someone receiving the enhanced rate for both components would get £187.45 per week, which is paid as a single sum of £749.80 every four weeks. The DWP has confirmed that these payments will increase by 3.8% in April 2026, in line with other benefits.
The Full List of Qualifying Conditions
Data released by the DWP on 25 October 2025 provides a detailed breakdown of the 178 conditions that have qualified claimants for PIP, along with the number of cases for each. The list covers a vast range of health issues, demonstrating the wide scope of the benefit.
Among the most prevalent conditions are musculoskeletal issues. Osteoarthritis tops the list with 295,967 cases, followed by specific back pain (218,261) and inflammatory arthritis (189,688). Mental health conditions also represent a significant proportion of claims, with mixed anxiety and depressive disorders affecting 424,064 individuals and mood disorders impacting 151,318.
Neurodevelopmental conditions are also highly represented, with autistic spectrum disorders noted in 241,638 cases and global learning disabilities in 172,329. Other major categories include neurological conditions like cerebrovascular disease (88,032) and epilepsy (70,181), as well as respiratory illnesses such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (91,439).
How to Check Your Eligibility and Apply
If you have a health condition or disability that makes it harder to carry out everyday tasks or get around, you may be entitled to PIP. The assessment focuses on how your condition affects you, not the condition itself. You will need to complete a detailed form and may be asked to attend an assessment to discuss your needs.
It is important to provide thorough evidence, such as doctor's reports or care plans, to support your claim. The total number of assessments recorded in the latest DWP data stands at 3,882,571, highlighting the scale of the support system. With the upcoming 3.8% increase in April 2026, checking your eligibility could provide vital financial support to help manage the costs associated with long-term health challenges.
