The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the list of 14 mental health disorders that can qualify people for the weekly £114 Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The tax-free and not means-tested benefit is designed to help with the extra costs of long-term physical or mental health conditions.
Data shows that, as of last April, over 3.7 million people claimed PIP across England and Wales. The DWP previously revised its payment rates for this year and released data including the 177 conditions that people currently on PIP suffer from. Of these conditions, 14 are mental health-related, including anxiety disorders, stress reactions and eating disorders.
PIP is paid every four weeks and your exact amount depends on how your conditions impacts your daily living and mobility tasks. The rates are broken down into a “daily living” component and a “mobility” component, each with a standard and enhanced rate.
- Standard Rate: £30.30 per week
- Enhanced Rate: £80.00 per week
As you could be awarded either one or both components, you may be entitled to receive between £30.30 and £194.60 per week depending on your assesment. To be eligible, you must have had difficulties with daily living or mobility for at least 3 months and expect them to continue for at least another 9 months.
According to the DWP, there were 3,926,015 cases of entitlement for PIP across the country as of January 2026. Those eligible for the maximum support will receive £778.40 per four-week period while those qualifying for the standard rates across both components will receive £428.00 per four-week pay period.
In order to make a claim, call the DWP at 0800 917 2222. This initial contact date is vital for backdating claims should they prove successful. Applicants will subsequently receive the “PIP2” form, titled: ‘How your disability affects you’.
Providing thorough detail regarding specific limitations, along with supporting evidence — such as medical reports or GP letters — is crucial to the outcome of any application. The DWP will then arrange an assessment with a qualified health professional, which may be carried out via telephone, video call, or in person, depending on the individual applicant’s needs.
Further information and full application details can be found on the official Gov.uk website.