Understanding Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for Musculoskeletal Conditions
Individuals suffering from musculoskeletal conditions, such as arthritis, may be eligible for financial support through the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Recent data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) indicates that over 1.1 million adults in Great Britain are receiving assistance for more than 85 different musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.
What Are Musculoskeletal Conditions?
Musculoskeletal conditions refer to injuries and disorders that affect the body’s movement or musculoskeletal system, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs, and blood vessels. These conditions can significantly impact daily life and mobility. Arthritis is a broad term encompassing various types of these conditions, with common examples including:
- Osteoarthritis
- Back pain
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Osteoporosis
- Gout
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
- Lupus
- Ankylosing spondylitis
Eligibility for PIP
If you are over 16 and under the State Pension age, you may qualify for PIP to help with your condition. Successful claims typically provide between £29.20 and £187.45 per week in additional financial support. As this benefit is paid every four weeks, it equates to between £116.80 and £749.80 per pay period.
The average processing time for new PIP claims is 15 weeks, meaning applications submitted this month could be processed and back payments issued by the end of September.
PIP Claimants with Musculoskeletal Issues
As of the end of April, more than one million people were receiving support via PIP for musculoskeletal issues. The breakdown includes:
- England and Wales: 1,152,341
- Living abroad: 974
- Scotland: 756 (excluding case transfers or new Adult Disability Payment claims)
- Total: 1,154,878
This figure highlights the significant number of individuals relying on PIP to manage their daily living and mobility needs.
A Comprehensive List of Musculoskeletal Conditions Covered by PIP
Below is an extensive list of 87 musculoskeletal conditions supported through PIP. This list includes both general and regional conditions:
General Musculoskeletal Conditions
- 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
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis of the hip
- Osteoarthritis of the knee
- Osteoarthritis of other single-joint
- Primary generalised Osteoarthritis
- Crystal deposition disorders
- Gout
- Pseudogout
- Osteonecrosis and osteochondritis
- Osteochondritis
- Osteonecrosis
- Osteomalacia
- Osteoporosis
- Paget’s disease
- Rickets
- 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
- Fracture complications
- Sudek’s atrophy
- Generalised musculoskeletal disease – Other / type not known
Regional Musculoskeletal Conditions
- Elbow disorders – Other / type not known
- Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Tendon lesions
- Tenosynovitis
- Wrist and hand disorders – Other / type not known
- Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
- Rotator cuff disorder
- Shoulder disorders – Other / type not known
- Shoulder instability
- Cervical disc lesion
- Cervical spondylosis
- Neck disorders – Other / type not known
- Whiplash injury
- Non-specific back pain
- Specific back pain – Other / type not known
- Kyphosis
- Lumbar disc lesion
- Lumbar spondylosis (OA spine)
- Schuermann’s disease
- Scoliosis
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Dislocation of the hip – congenital
- Hip disorders – Other / type not known
- Perthes disease
- Slipped upper femoral epiphysis
- Bursitis
- Chondromalacia patellae
- Knee disorders – Other / type not known
- Ligamentous instability of the knee
- Meniscal lesions
- Osgood Schlatter Disease
- Osteochondritis dissecans
- Patellar dislocation – Recurrent
- Ankle and foot disorders – Other / type not known
- Club foot (talipes)
- Forefoot pain (Metatarsalgia)
- Hallux valgus / rigidus
- Amputation – Lower limb(s)
- Amputation – Upper limb(s)
- Amputations – Upper & Lower limb/s
- Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of abdomen
- Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of lower limb
- Multiple – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation
- Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of pelvis
- Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of spine
- Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of thorax
- Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of upper limb
- Musculoskeletal disease – Regional / Localised – Other / type not known
Who Can Apply for PIP?
To qualify for PIP, you must have a health condition or disability that meets specific criteria. You should expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months and have had challenges with daily living or mobility for three months. Additionally, you must have lived in the UK for at least two of the past three years and be present in the country when applying.
If you require assistance with any of the following due to your condition, consider applying for PIP:
- Dressing and undressing
- Engaging and communicating with others
- Reading and understanding written information
- Making decisions about money
- Planning a journey or following a route
- Moving around
- Preparing, cooking, or eating food
- Managing your medication
- Washing, bathing, or using the toilet
If you are terminally ill, different rules apply, which can be found on the GOV.UK website.
