People with common skin conditions including acne and eczema could be eligible for extra £400 per month
Amber Middleton
Content writerThis DWP benefit could help you out with £100 per week if you have any of these 25 skin conditions
People with skin conditions are being urged to make sure they're getting all the benefits they're entitled to.
Many could be eligible for Personal Independence Payments – money which comes from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), to help offer additional financial help to those with that affect their everyday life.
Thousands of people who suffer with common skin problems – including some types of eczema and acne – could be eligible for £100 per week, or £400 per month if they have one of 25 skin conditions.
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What are Personal Independence Payments?
Personal Independence Payments (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:
- a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition.
It is broken up into 2 parts: a daily living part and a mobility part and you can get money for 1 or both parts.
You will receive the daily living part if you need help with everyday tasks such as preparing food, eating and drinking or using the toilet. You can get money as part of the mobility part if you struggle with working out a route and following it, physically moving around and leaving your home.
To receive the mobility part, you don't have to have a physical disability, you may be awarded it if you have a mental health condition like anxiety too.
You can also get the benefit even if you are working, have savings or are getting other benefits.
The benefit includes many skin conditions
The cash is available for people who suffer from 1 or more of many skin conditions such as the following:
- Cellulitis
- Impetigo
- Infections - Other / type not known
- Acne vulgaris
- Eczema - varicose
- Eczema (dermatitis)
- Papulosquamous and inflammatory rashes - Other / type not known
- Psoriasis
- Rosacea
- Urticaria
- Bullous disease - Other / type not known
- Dermatitis herpetiformis
- Epidemolysis bullosa
- Pemphigoid
- Pemphigus vulgaris
- Blood vessels/lymphatics - Other diseases of / type not known
- Leg ulcers (arterial)
- Leg ulcers (venous)
- Lymphoedema
- Pressure sores
- Venous insufficiency - chronic
- Collagen and elastic tissue - Other diseases of / type not known
- Ehlers Danlos syndrome
If you suffer from other skin conditions, you may still be eligible for the benefit if they fall into categories: 'Burns' or 'Skin disease known as other / type not known' – but you can get help from Citizens Advice if you're unsure.
Depending on how bad your skin condition is, you can receive up to £101.75 a week as part of the daily living part of the benefit.
Am I eligible?
You can get PIP if the following apply:
- You're over 16
- You have a long-term health condition or disability
- You have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around
- You expect the difficulties to last for at least a year from when they started
This is not available if you live in Scotland – you must apply for the Adult Disability Payment instead.
The benefit is available for people with a whole host of conditions, not just skin conditions. Netmums previously reported that up to £172 was available for people with neurological conditions that range from different types of epilepsy to headaches and dizziness.
How much can I get?
How much you get depends on whether you receive money to help with 'daily living' and/or mobility, and how much you need help with each – each is split into the standard rate and the enhanced rate.
For the daily living part of the benefit you can get either £68.10 or £101.75 a week and for mobility, you'll get either £26.90 or £71, depending on whether you get the standard or enhanced rate.
If you receive the enhanced rate of both, you'll get almost £700 per month.
PIP is paid every four weeks, paid into your bank account. If you are terminally ill, you'll receive the money weekly.
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How do I apply?
Before applying, the government recommens checking if you're eligible on the gov.uk website.
You can then claim either:
By phone: call the PIP new claims phone line on 0800 917 2222. You'll be sent a form that asks about your condition which you must fill in and return. You may have an assessment if more information is needed.
If you need someone to help you, you can ask for them to be added to the call, or have someone to call on your behalf – you'll need to be there with them though.
By post: You can send a letter to ‘Personal Independence Payment New Claims’. You'll be sent a form to fill in which you must return.
The address to write to is as follows:
Personal Independence Payment New Claims
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV99 1AH
Apply online: You can apply online, but only in certain areas, so you'll have to check your postcode when you start your application.
Click here to begin your application.
What other benefits am I entitled to?
Make sure you're getting all the benefits you're entitled to with a free anonymous benefits calculator here.
All the latest DWP money news and other cost of living help
For more advice on money or benefits, take a look at our Cost of Living hub.
You will find lots of Government-based advice on cash you might be entitled to, plus all the dates when you can expect the latest Cost of Living payments and other allowances to land in your bank account.
There are also top tips from the Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, as well as brilliant ideas for saving money on everything from your weekly shop, to that well-deserved holiday.
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