DWP paying up to £749.80 every month to people with stomach issues
People suffering from gastrointestinal health conditions could be entitled to up to £749.80 every four weeks from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The latest DWP figures reveal that over 36,000 people across the UK are claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for such conditions.
You might be eligible for PIP if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. You can qualify even if you're working or receiving other benefits, with the amount you receive each week depending on how challenging you find everyday tasks and mobility. This comes after reports of ' DWP state pensioners are set to be given 'extra £352' completely free '.
Those who can claim the highest payments will receive between £29.20 and £187.45 each week - or £116.80 and £749.80 per month - with the payment period for PIP set at four weeks.
Many people may be put off from claiming PIP due to uncertainty about whether their condition qualifies. However, it's crucial to understand that it's how the condition impacts your daily life that determines the level of financial support you're awarded, reports reports Chronicle Live.
The DWP recognises the following gastrointestinal disabilities, which have been divided into sub-groups as qualifying conditions for PIP:
Diseases of the stomach, oesophagus and duodenum
Oesophageal varices
Oesophagus, stomach and duodenum
Hiatus hernia /gastroesophageal reflux disease /reflux oesophagitis
Peptic ulcer (gastric and duodenal)/gastritis
Diseases of the colon
Colon - Other diseases of / type not known
Constipation
Diverticular disease / diverticulitis
Diseases of the small bowel
Small bowel - Other diseases of / type not known
Coeliac disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Crohn's disease
Ulcerative colitis
Diseases of the rectum and anus
Anorectal abscess
Fistula in anus
Haemorrhoids
Rectal prolapse
Rectum/anus - Other diseases of / type not known
Congenital disorders of the GI tract
Cleft lip
Cleft lip with cleft palate
Hirschprung Disease
Tracheo-oesophageal fistula/atresia
Other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Attention to artificial opening colostomy/ileostomy/ stoma - no underlying diagnosis
Gastrointestinal tract - Other diseases of / type not known
Qualifying illnesses also include IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome), Abdominal hernias and Benign tumours of the gastrointestinal tract.
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Understanding PIP
PIP is divided into two components: the daily living and Mobility. You might be eligible for the daily living part of PIP if you require assistance with:
preparing food
eating and drinking
managing your medicines or treatments
talking, listening and understanding
washing and bathing
using the toilet
dressing and undressing
reading
managing your money
socialising and being around other people
You might qualify for the mobility part of PIP if you need help with:
physically moving around
working out a route and following it
leaving your home
It's not necessary to have a physical disability to receive the mobility component. You might also be eligible if you struggle with mobility due to cognitive or mental health conditions, such as anxiety.
Assessment of task difficulty
The DWP will evaluate how challenging you find daily living and mobility tasks. They'll consider each task based on:
whether you can do it safely
how long it takes you
whether you require assistance to do it, from either a person or extra equipment
how often your condition affects this activity
How to apply for PIP
You can initiate a new claim by contacting the DWP, all the information you need to apply can be found on GOV.UK.
If you need assistance understanding or applying for PIP you can: use easy read guides which explain PIP; get help from Citizens Advice; or watch PIP video guides with British Sign Language.
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