PIP for Fibromyalgia
In 2023, 136,000 PIP claimants had fibromyalgia listed as their main disabling condition. This makes it the 4th most common condition for which PIP is awarded out of over 500 conditions listed by the DWP. If fibromyalgia affects your ability to carry out daily living tasks, such as cooking, washing, dressing, socializing, or moving around, you should definitely consider making a claim.
Success Rates and Award Rates for Fibromyalgia
Success Rate: 62% of PIP claims for fibromyalgia are successful, which is significantly higher than the overall average of 53%.
Award Rates:
26.5% of claimants with fibromyalgia are awarded the enhanced rate for both the daily living and mobility components.
Daily Living Awards:
Enhanced Rate: 34%
Standard Rate: 65%
No Award: 1%
Mobility Awards:
Enhanced Rate: 42%
Standard Rate: 33%
No Award: 25%
99% of claimants with fibromyalgia who receive an award get the Daily Living component, while 75% receive the Mobility component.
PIP Payment Rates (April 2024)
Daily Living Component:
Standard Rate: £72.65
Enhanced Rate: £108.55
Mobility Component:
Standard Rate: £28.70
Enhanced Rate: £75.75
Receiving the enhanced rate for both components means you could receive an additional £184.30 per week. PIP is paid on top of most other benefits and may increase your entitlement to additional support. The enhanced mobility rate also grants access to the Motability scheme.
How to Qualify for PIP
To qualify for PIP, you must be at least 16 years old and below state pension age. The best way to determine if you’re eligible is to assess how fibromyalgia impacts your daily living and mobility. Points are awarded based on how difficult it is for you to complete these activities, and a sufficient score can lead to an award of PIP.
Daily Living and Mobility Activities
There are 10 daily living activities and 2 mobility activities used to assess eligibility:
Daily Living Activities:
Preparing food
Taking nutrition
Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
Washing and bathing
Managing toilet needs or incontinence
Dressing and undressing
Communicating verbally
Reading and understanding signs, symbols, and words
Engaging with other people face-to-face
Making budgeting decisions
Mobility Activities:
Planning and following journeys
Moving around
For each activity, consider whether you can perform it:
To a reasonable standard
Safely
Repeatedly
In no more than twice the time it would take someone without a health condition
How Fibromyalgia Can Affect Your Daily Life
Fibromyalgia can impact many aspects of your life. Here are some examples of how it might affect your ability to carry out daily tasks:
Cooking: Fibromyalgia-related cognitive issues (fibro fog) may make it difficult to follow cooking instructions, resulting in food being prepared to an unacceptable standard.
Eating: You might lose your appetite due to stomach pain, bloating, or nausea, requiring prompting or supervision to eat and drink.
Dressing: Stiffness in your limbs may make it hard to pull clothes over your head or reach your feet to dress or undress, even with aids, meaning you might need assistance.
Journey Planning: Fibro fog may prevent you from following timetables or reading maps, causing you to take longer than others to plan or follow a journey.
These are just a few examples of how fibromyalgia can affect your daily living and mobility. If you experience any of these issues, they could influence your PIP claim.
How PIP Ready Can Support Your Application
If you have fibromyalgia and are considering applying for PIP, PIP Ready is here to help. Our expert team specializes in assisting people with fibromyalgia in completing PIP forms and navigating the application process. We ensure that your forms are filled out correctly, increasing your chances of a successful claim.
