PIP provides up to £156 each week for thousands of people with these 24 respiratory conditions

The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that at the end of August, 2022 there were more than three million people across the UK claiming support through Personal Independence Payments (PIP), with just over one in three claimants (35%) receiving the highest level of award.

Of the overall total, 322,387 people living in Scotland are now receiving financial support of between £24.45 and £156.90 each week and as the benefit is paid every four weeks, this amounts to between £97.80 and £627.60 every payment period. People in Scotland making a new claim for PIP may be redirected to apply for the new devolved benefit - Adult Disability Payment - instead, find more about this here.

The new data also revealed that there are now more than 130,590 people receiving support for 24 types of respiratory conditions including Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and pneumonia. That's an increase of 2,275 in the number of successful claimants Since January.

UK breakdown of PIP claimants with respiratory conditions

These figures are from the figures released in April.

• Scotland: 16,776
• England: 105,139
• Wales: 8,672
• UK total: 130,591

This is the list of 24 respiratory conditions being supported through PIP to help with either daily living, mobility needs or a combination of both components.

Assessment award rates vary by disabling condition and a PIP claimant’s main disabling condition is recorded during their assessment in over 99% of cases, reports the DWP.

Diseases of the upper respiratory tract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema

Bronchiectasis

Cystic Fibrosis

Asthma

Pulmonary fibrosis

• Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
• Fibrosing alveolitis
• Pulmonary fibrosis - Other / type not known

Pneumoconiosis

• Asbestosis
• Pneumoconiosis - coalworkers
• Pneumoconiosis - Other / type not known
• Silicosis

Granulomatous lung disease and pulmonary infiltration

Disease of the pleura

• Empyema
• Pleura - Other diseases of / type not known
• Pleural effusion
• Pneumothorax

Lung transplantation

Heart and lung transplantation

Pulmonary embolus

Pneumonia

Lower respiratory tract - Other diseases of / type not known

If you are over 16 and under State Pension age, you may be able to claim PIP to help with a respiratory 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).

Even though PIP is being replaced in Scotland by the Adult Disability Payment, it will follow the same eligibility criteria, but take a more people-centred approach, according to Social Security Scotland.

Below is a simplified guide to the terminology used by the DWP with an explanation of the elements involved in a PIP claim including components, rates and how the application is scored, which in turn determines the level of award a person receives.

We also have a dedicated PIP section on the Daily Record website which offers help in understanding the process from start to finish and includes questions on the form, what happens during an assessment and a comprehensive breakdown of the questions you will need to answer - these and more can be found here.

What is PIP?

PIP is a benefit which is gradually replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

If you need extra help because of an illness, disability or mental health condition you could be eligible for PIP.

You will be assessed by a health professional to work out the level of help you can get and your rate will be reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support.

Who is eligible for PIP?

To be eligible for PIP, you must have a health condition or disability where you:

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 Adult Disability Payment, depending on where you live.

• 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.

The DWP 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 is PIP paid?

PIP is usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly.

PIP will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account.

Adult Disability Payment will be paid at the same rates as PIP.

What are the PIP 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:

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

Mobility

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.

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 there is no choice here, it's up to the health professional and DWP.

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.

You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments 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

Once you have contacted the DWP, they will send you a document to complete which consists of 14 questions. This includes space for any additional information you feel is relevant to your claim.

The questions focus on how your condition affects you, so put as much detail in as you can to help the assessor understand your physical or mental health needs.

If you have difficulty filling in your form or understanding the questions, contact your local council and ask for help or Citizens Advice Scotland.

We have a breakdown of all 14 questions here and you can take an anonymous self-test online at Benefits and Work to see how many points you would be awarded for each response.

There is also an online PIP toolkit with examples of all the questions to help you answer fully with the most relevant information, find out more about this here.

Even if you don't qualify for financial support, you could be eligible for a National Entitlement Travel Card, which offers free or reduced travel across Scotland on most public transport links.

For more information about PIP, visit GOV.UK here.

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