The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published the full list of 26 respiratory conditions that qualify for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), with claimants able to receive up to £114.60 per week. The announcement comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham prepares to introduce stricter measures on youth sickness benefits, including requiring young people to engage in training or voluntary work to continue receiving support.
List of Qualifying Respiratory Conditions
The 26 conditions cover a wide range of respiratory diseases, from common ailments to rare disorders. The list includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis, and sleep apnoea. Also included are occupational lung diseases such as asbestosis, silicosis, and pneumoconiosis, as well as infectious diseases like pneumonia and pulmonary embolus.
Other conditions listed are: diseases of the upper respiratory tract, granulomatous lung disease, pulmonary infiltration, disease of the pleura, heart and lung transplantation, extrinsic allergic alveolitis, fibrosing alveolitis, empyema, pleural effusion, and pneumothorax. The DWP updated its list in January 2026, adding 92 new conditions overall, with these respiratory conditions forming part of the expansion.
PIP Payment Rates and Rising Caseload
PIP consists of two components: daily living and mobility. The enhanced rate for daily living is now £114.60 per week, while the enhanced mobility rate is £80. Claimants receiving the maximum for both components get £194.60 weekly, or £778.40 per four-week payment period. The rates were increased by 3.8% in line with inflation in January 2026.
The DWP's caseload has surged to approximately four million PIP claimants, a key driver of rising welfare costs. Critics argue that the ballooning bill is unsustainable, putting pressure on the government to find savings elsewhere, such as funding a new social care system estimated to cost £18 billion and increased military spending.
Government Reforms and Criticisms
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is awaiting the Timms Review into PIP and the Milburn Review into Universal Credit. Proposed reforms include stripping benefits from young people who refuse to undertake training or voluntary work. Burnham faces pressure from within his Labour government to cut welfare spending to accommodate other priorities.
The rising number of PIP claimants has been a focal point for critics, who question the long-term affordability of the system. The DWP's latest update aims to provide clarity on qualifying conditions while the government seeks to balance support with fiscal responsibility.
