PIP for Mixed Anxiety & Depression

PIP Health Conditions
Written By Joe Collier

In 2024, there were 361,437 PIP claimants with mixed anxiety and depression listed as their main disabling condition. This makes it the most common condition to receive a PIP award, out of over 500 conditions listed by the DWP.

If you suffer from mixed anxiety and depression and it significantly affects your ability to perform daily activities like cooking, washing, dressing, interacting with others, or moving around, you should seriously consider making a PIP claim.

Success Rates and Award Rates for Mixed Anxiety and Depression

  • Success Rate: The success rate for PIP claims for mixed anxiety and depression is 50%, compared to an overall average of 53%. While the success rate is lower than the general average, the condition is still one of the most common causes for successful claims.

  • Award Rates:

    • 23% of claimants with mixed anxiety and depression receive the enhanced rate for both the daily living and mobility components.

  • Daily Living Awards:

    • Enhanced Rate: 51%

    • Standard Rate: 46%

    • No Award: 3%

  • Mobility Awards:

    • Enhanced Rate: 29%

    • Standard Rate: 35%

    • No Award: 36%

97% of claimants with mixed anxiety and depression who receive an award get the Daily Living component, compared to 64% who 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

An award of the enhanced rate for both components means you could receive an extra £184.30 per week. PIP is paid on top of most other benefits and may lead to an increase in some benefits or entitlement to additional support. The enhanced mobility rate also provides access to the Motability scheme.

How to Qualify for PIP

To be eligible for PIP, you must be at least 16 years old and not yet reach state pension age. The best way to determine your eligibility is by assessing how mixed anxiety and depression affect your daily living and mobility. You will be awarded points based on your ability to carry out specific activities, and a sufficient score may lead to an award.

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 if you can perform it:

  • To a reasonable standard

  • Safely

  • Repeatedly

  • Taking no more than twice the time it would take someone without a health condition

How Mixed Anxiety and Depression May Affect Your Life

Here are some examples of how mixed anxiety and depression can impact your ability to perform daily living and mobility tasks:

  • Concentration or Low Energy: You may struggle to heat food on the stove due to low energy, but may still be able to use a microwave.

  • Low Mood and Motivation: Due to low mood, you may lack the motivation to prepare meals, and may need someone to prompt and encourage you to do so.

  • Poor Appetite and Anxiety: Anxiety may cause a poor appetite, requiring prompts to begin or finish eating.

  • Medication Management: Difficulty with concentration may require you to use aids, like a dosette box or automatic pill dispenser, to ensure you take the right medication.

  • Washing and Bathing: Anxiety or intrusive thoughts may cause you to take longer than usual to wash yourself.

  • Dressing: Low mood or anxiety may lead to a lack of motivation to get dressed, and you may need assistance or prompts to do so.

  • Choosing Clothing: Anxiety about your body or appearance may make choosing clothes take considerably longer than it would for others.

  • Verbal Communication: Anxiety or depression may make it difficult for you to communicate verbally, especially without assistance.

  • Social Anxiety: Anxiety about social situations may lead you to avoid them unless prompted by someone else.

  • Journey Planning: Worrying about potential triggers or dangers during travel may prevent you from planning a journey within a reasonable time.

  • Mobility and Anxiety: You may feel reluctant to leave the house due to anxiety about possible dangers, but can still manage with prompting.

  • Traveling Alone: You may need someone with you to manage anxiety when traveling to unfamiliar places, even if you can follow familiar routes independently.

These examples illustrate how mixed anxiety and depression may affect your daily living and mobility. If you have additional conditions, they should also be considered in your PIP claim.

How PIP Ready Can Support You

If you’re living with mixed anxiety and depression, PIP Ready is here to assist you with your application. Our experts can guide you through the process and help ensure your claim is thorough, increasing your chances of a successful outcome.

Joe Collier
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