PIP for Long Covid
In 2023, there were 5,224 PIP claimants with Long Covid listed as their main disabling condition, making it the 94th most common condition to get an award of PIP out of over 500 conditions listed by the DWP. If Long Covid affects your daily living activities, such as cooking, washing, dressing, socializing, or getting around, you should definitely consider making a claim.
Success Rates and Award Rates for Long Covid
Success Rate: 47% of PIP claims for Long Covid are successful, which is lower than the overall average of 53%. Therefore, you have a slightly lower chance of success for Long Covid claims.
Award Rates:
23% of claimants with Long Covid get the enhanced rate for both the daily living and mobility components.
Daily Living Awards:
Enhanced Rate: 27%
Standard Rate: 62%
No Award: 11%
Mobility Awards:
Enhanced Rate: 43%
Standard Rate: 36%
No Award: 21%
89% of claimants with Long Covid who receive an award get the Daily Living component, compared to 79% who get 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 Long Covid impacts your daily living and mobility. Points are awarded based on the difficulty you experience with 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 Long Covid May Affect Your Daily Life
Long Covid can impact your ability to complete daily living and mobility tasks. Here are some examples of how Long Covid might affect your daily life:
Cooking: Due to brain fog, you may have difficulty following cooking instructions, meaning you might not prepare food to an acceptable standard.
Eating: You may experience stomach pain, bloating, or nausea, which leads to a lack of appetite, requiring prompting or supervision to eat or drink.
Dressing: Stiffness in your limbs may prevent you from pulling clothes over your head or reaching your feet to dress or undress, even with aids, meaning you may need assistance.
Journey Planning: Brain fog could make it hard to follow timetables or read maps, meaning you may take longer than someone without Long Covid to plan or follow a journey.
These examples are just some of the ways in which Long Covid can affect your ability to carry out daily activities. If you experience other challenges, these can also be considered when making your claim.
How PIP Ready Can Help You
If you have Long Covid and are considering applying for PIP, PIP Ready is here to assist you. Our expert team can guide you through the process, ensuring that your claim is complete and accurate, giving you the best chance of success.
