Britons with hidden health conditions, akin to depression, could possibly be missing out on a further £628 a month in Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The support comes because the Disabled Individuals Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) submitted an inventory of non-visible disabilities to the Government, after investigating the issue these could cause an individual on a day-to-day basis.
PIP is a profit distributed by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to assist individuals who need extra help with day by day tasks or getting around as a result of long-term illness, disabilities, or physical or mental health conditions.
People can apply for PIP in the event that they’re working, have savings, or are already receiving other advantages, nevertheless, the quantity the person receives is determined by the kind of condition they’ve and the way much the DWP thinks it impacts their ability to do things.
A wide range of conditions can deem an individual eligible to assert PIP, nevertheless, many who may qualify aren’t claiming it just because they’re unaware they’re in a position to. And that is most apparent with those that have non-visible conditions, akin to some psychiatric disorders.
In line with recent Government statistics, those with a psychiatric disorder make up the biggest proportion of claimants (37 percent). Those with musculoskeletal, neurological, and respiratory diseases make up the remainder of the highest five conditions people mostly claim PIP for.
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Psychiatric conditions can include depressive and mood disorders, anxiety, stress, OCD and cognitive disorders.
Speaking on hidden health conditions, the Disabled Individuals Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) provided Government guidance stating: “Disabilities occur in many various forms.
“Some people will experience a disability that’s outwardly visible to others, whilst others will experience a disability that has no, or little, outward visible signs. Many individuals will experience a mix of those.”
“There’s a wide selection of disabilities that are usually not necessarily ‘visible’ to other people. As you go searching there could also be equally as many, if no more, disabled people you can’t see. For instance, they might have autism, a disabling mental health condition, or be living with significant chronic pain.
“They’ve a non-visible disability. Having a non-visible disability might be just as life-affecting for an individual as a visual one.”
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Learn how to claim PIP
To qualify for PIP, the entire following must apply to the claimant:
- They’re 16 or over
- They’ve a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- They’ve difficulty doing certain on a regular basis tasks or getting around
- They expect the difficulties to last for at the very least 12 months from after they began
If this is applicable, the best approach to claim is to phone the PIP helpline. Claimants must then fill in a form, after which they’ll then undergo an assessment.
