Personal Independence Payment (PIP) provides financial support to people who face extra costs because of long-term health conditions or disabilities. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the current list of infectious diseases recorded among PIP claimants, offering insight into the conditions that may qualify for the benefit.
Eligibility for PIP is not based on a diagnosis alone. Instead, the assessment considers how a health condition affects a person’s ability to carry out everyday activities and move around. As of April 2026, more than 3.7 million people across England and Wales receive PIP.
PIP
Personal Independence Payment is a tax-free, non-means-tested benefit available to eligible people aged 16 or over who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability.
Unlike some benefits, PIP can be claimed whether you are working, studying, or have savings. The payment is designed to help cover the additional costs that may arise because of a health condition.
PIP consists of two separate parts:
- Daily Living component
- Mobility component
Depending on how their condition affects them, claimants may qualify for one component, both components, or neither following an assessment.
Rates
Following a 3.8% inflation-related increase, the DWP updated PIP payment rates for 2026.
The current weekly rates are:
| Component | Weekly Rate |
|---|---|
| Daily Living – Standard | £76.70 |
| Daily Living – Enhanced | £114.60 |
| Mobility – Standard | £30.30 |
| Mobility – Enhanced | £80.00 |
A claimant receiving both enhanced components could receive approximately £194.60 per week, which is equivalent to around £458 per month.
Eligibility
To qualify for Personal Independence Payment, applicants generally must meet all of the following conditions:
- Be aged 16 or over.
- Have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability.
- Experience difficulty with certain everyday tasks or mobility.
- Expect those difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they began.
The DWP assesses how a condition affects day-to-day life rather than awarding PIP solely because a person has a particular diagnosis.
Diseases
The DWP has confirmed the following infectious diseases currently recorded among PIP claimants.
| Infectious Disease | Current Claimants |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus (COVID-19) | 6,163 |
| HIV/AIDS | 5,627 |
| Viral diseases (excluding hepatitis and poliomyelitis) – Other/type not known | 975 |
| Bacterial diseases – Other/type not known | 824 |
| Tuberculosis | 640 |
| Infectious diseases – Other/type not known | 596 |
| Malaria | 9 |
| Protozoal diseases – Other/type not known | 6 |
These figures represent claimants whose primary recorded condition falls within these categories.
Assessment
Having one of the listed infectious diseases does not automatically mean a person will receive PIP.
The assessment focuses on whether the condition causes ongoing difficulties with activities such as:
- Preparing food
- Washing and bathing
- Dressing
- Managing medication
- Communicating
- Moving around
- Planning and following journeys
Each application is assessed individually using evidence provided by the claimant and, where appropriate, healthcare professionals.
Updates
The DWP also expanded the list of health conditions recorded within the PIP system in January 2026 by adding 92 new condition categories.
This administrative update improves how conditions are classified but does not change the core eligibility rules for receiving Personal Independence Payment.
Applicants must still meet the functional assessment criteria regardless of their medical diagnosis.
Support
PIP remains one of the UK’s main disability benefits, helping millions of people manage the additional costs associated with long-term health conditions. While the DWP has identified eight infectious diseases currently represented among claimants, eligibility depends on how a condition affects daily living and mobility rather than the diagnosis itself. Anyone who believes their health condition significantly impacts everyday life may wish to review the official eligibility criteria before submitting a claim.
FAQs
Can HIV qualify someone for PIP?
Yes, if it significantly affects daily living or mobility.
Is PIP affected by income or savings?
No. PIP is not means-tested.
What is the maximum weekly PIP rate in 2026?
Up to £194.60 per week for both enhanced components.
Does having an infectious disease guarantee PIP?
No. Eligibility depends on how the condition affects you.
