PIP payments of up to £737 each month for people with these 87 muscle or joint conditions
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 April
READ MORE: People making a new ADP claim this month could get backdated payments before February
The 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.