People with gastrointestinal health issues may be eligible to receive up to £749.80 every four weeks from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). According to the latest statistics from the DWP, more than 36,000 individuals in the UK are currently receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for such conditions.
You could qualify for PIP if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, regardless of whether you are employed or receiving other benefits. The amount you receive weekly depends on the difficulty you face in performing daily tasks and moving around. The highest payments can range from £29.20 to £187.45 per week, or £116.80 to £749.80 per month, with payments issued every four weeks.
Despite concerns about eligibility, it is essential to note that the impact of your condition on your daily life determines the level of financial assistance you receive. The DWP recognizes various gastrointestinal disabilities as qualifying conditions for PIP, including diseases of the stomach, oesophagus, duodenum, colon, small bowel, inflammatory bowel disease, rectum, anus, congenital disorders of the GI tract, and other gastrointestinal illnesses.
Moreover, qualifying conditions encompass Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), abdominal hernias, and benign tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. PIP is divided into two components: daily living and mobility. You may be eligible for the mobility part of PIP even if you do not have a physical disability but struggle with mobility due to cognitive or mental health issues such as anxiety.
To initiate a new claim, contact the DWP, and detailed application instructions are available on GOV.UK. If you need assistance with understanding or applying for PIP, you can refer to easy read guides, seek help from Citizens Advice, or watch PIP video guides with British Sign Language.