Why claiming PIP is about the Impact of health conditions/disabilities meeting eligibility criteria, not Just a diagnosis

There is a plethora of social media adverts that list a range of health conditions suggesting that if you have at least one of them, you can claim PIP. The adverts may catch attention but often miss the point that PIP is not awarded on the basis of a diagnosis but the impact that health conditions and/or disabilities have on daily living and mobility.

The PIP criteria look at whether someone can do the activities stated on the application form safely, repeatedly, to and acceptable standard and in a timely manner.

It is important to understand that medical evidence, use of aids, adaptations, whether someone needs prompting, assistance or supervision also help to demonstrate the impact of health conditions and/or disabilities. This is covered in the health assessments which is carried out. Most claimants will have to attend health assessments. There are a small minority who will be eligible for PIP who are not assessed and a paper-based decision is made. Two people can have the same condition and the impact for each individual will be different. Just having a diagnosis is not enough, it is the impact of the diagnosis on individuals and whether this meets the PIP criteria. The impact needs to affect someone at least 51% of the time.

This misleading advertising seems to suggest that applying for PIP is easy and that someone will automatically have a successful award if they are diagnosed with certain conditions. Other people do not always recognise that the impact of their daily difficulties may make them eligible to apply and think that they are not entitled to PIP.

PIP is a non means tested benefit and people can claim whether they are working or not. The key issue is the impact of health conditions and/or disabilities over time. It is important that people get advice from appropriate services if health conditions and/or disabilities impact daily life and whether the PIP criteria apply to an individual’s own circumstances. 

It is important that people get the correct information and advice from reputable sources such as, Citizen’s Advice, advocacy organisations etc. where consideration can be given to whether the criteria apply to people’s own individual circumstances. People should not presume that these social media adverts automatically mean that they are entitled to PIP.