Benefit claimants can get extra help from the Department for Work and Pensions when applying for Personal Independence Payment if they are from any of the five medical categories.

Personal Independence Payment(PIP ) helps with the extra costs of a long-term health issues or disability. It can be claimed on top of other benefits like Universal Credit and Employment & Support Allowance (ESA), and is not impacted by income or savings of a claimant.

PIP consists of costs for daily living or mobility, and claimants may get either or both. The maximum amount for daily living is £89.60 a week and £62.55 for the mobility. But some people claiming PIP can find the application process difficult.

The DWP has identified specific categories of claimants with mental, intellectual or cognitive issues who will need additional support with the PIP.

Any claimants who are unable to engage with the PIP claims process will be given support, with the elements of the process being adapted to help them.

The DWP said: “During the gathering of initial claim information, claimants who are identified as requiring additional support from DWP will have additional Support (AS) marker attached to their case on PIPCS.”

Official statistics reveal that most people who go on to get PIP have a psychiatric disorder or musculoskeletal disease.

The five health conditions that receive additional support by DWP for PIP

Mental health conditions

Any conditions that impact your mood, thinking and behavior are considered mental health conditions. Anyone with any of the below conditions are eligible for support :

• Severe depression (evidenced by previous hospitalisation for depression or intensive support from a psychiatrist)
• Bipolar disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Psychosis
• Schizophrenia
• Personality disorders

Behavioural conditions

Anyone with patterns of frequent inattention or disruptive behaviours will have behavioural conditions.

• Severe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD
• Conduct disorder

Learning disability

People with reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities are thought to have learning disabilities. This includes :

• Down syndrome

• Fragile X syndrome

Developmental disorder

These are group of conditions connected to impairments in physical, learning, language, or behaviour. Those with any of the following will be given extra support with their PIP process

Dementia or cognitive disorder resulting in cognitive decline

This category includes anyone with compromised social and/or occupational functioning, with conditions such as :

• Alzheimer’s

• Dementia with Lewy bodies

• Vascular dementia

• Dementia associated with other conditions such as Parkinson’s disease

• Severe brain injury resulting in cognitive decline

The DWP has stated that any of the above conditions may occur in addition to or be worsened by physical health impairments.