Claim PIP for eczema and you could receive up to 608 every month from the DWP – Daily Record

Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is a non-contagious, inflammatory dry skin condition that can occur from early infancy to old age, with the most common form - atopic eczema - affecting one in five children and one in 10 adults across the UK.

The National Eczema Society explains how the skin can often be unbearably itchy, with the urge to scratch difficult to suppress and during a flare-up it may also be red, cracked, sore and raw.

However, many people across the UK living with any form of eczema may not be aware they could be eligible for financial support through the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Eczema is different for every person who lives with this debilitating long-term condition. The physical symptoms of eczema can be extremely difficult, including the torment of relentless itching and having to cope with raw, inflamed and bleeding skin.

But, the hidden cost of eczema is the profound impact it can have on peoples emotional wellbeing. Among other things, eczema can significantly affect relationships, social life, sleep, schooling and mental health.

As part of National Eczema Week, we are encouraging people with any of the 15 different types of eczema to check that they are not missing out on vital financial support to help them with the additional costs of living with the condition.

The latest figures from the DWP show that in July there were 2.8 million people across the UK claiming support through PIP and accessing a whole range of additional assistance including Council Tax Reductions, benefit top-ups and free or discounted public transport.

Of that total, 292,231 Scots are now receiving financial support between 23.70 and 152.15 every week PIP is paid every four weeks, so that amounts to between 94.80 and 608.60 each month - tax-free.

The statistics also show there are 889 people claiming PIP for some form of eczema.

This includes:

You do not need to have worked or paid National Insurance contributions to qualify for PIP, and it does not matter what your income is, if you have any savings or if youre in or out of work.

You must also have a health condition or disability where you:

The DWP will judge the eligibility of your PIP claim on a period of 12 months, looking back for three months and forward for nine months - they must consider if your illness changes over time.

You usually need to have lived in Scotland for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply.

If you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP:

preparing, cooking or eating food

managing your medication

washing, bathing or using the toilet

dressing and undressing

engaging and communicating with other people

reading and understanding written information

making decisions about money

planning a journey or following a route

moving around - outside the home

You are classified as needing help to do an activity if you need a person or a device to:

You may also be classified as needing help if you do an activity yourself but:

The PIP scoring criteria awards points for a statement which applies to you for each activity

The DWP will decide which statement best fits your situation most of the time. You will get a set amount of points ranging from 0 -12 for each activity.

The total number of points you get for each group of activities will decide whether you are entitled to PIP, and how much money you will receive.

To get the standard rate daily living component, you need to score between 8 to 11 points in total for the daily living activities. You need 12 points to get the enhanced rate.

To get the standard rate mobility component, you need to score between 8 to 11 points in total for the mobility activities. You need 12 points to get the enhanced rate.

PIP is usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid every week.

PIP will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account.

PIP is made up of two components - daily living and mobility.

Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you.

You could receive the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:

Daily living

Standard rate - 60.00

Enhanced rate - 89.60

Mobility

Standard rate - 23.70

Enhanced rate - 62.55

You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP work out the level of help you need.

Face-to-face assessments have now restarted and will be offered alongside telephone and video based assessments. All assessments will follow strict public health guidelines and put the safety of the claimant first - we have a full guide on how to prepare for assessments here.

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You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, youll find all the information you need to apply on the gov.uk website here.

Before you call, you will need:

your contact details, for example telephone number

your date of birth

your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits

your bank or building society account number and sort code

your doctor or health workers name, address and telephone number

dates and addresses for any time youve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital

Once you have contacted the DWP, they will send you a document to complete which consists of 14 questions and a section for any additional information.

The questions focus on how your condition affects you - put as much relevant detail in as you can to help the assessor understand your physical and mental health needs.

If you have difficulty filling in your form or understanding the questions, contact your local council and ask for help or Citizens Advice Scotland.

We have a breakdown of all 14 questions here and you can take an anonymous self-test online at Benefits and Work to see how many points you would be awarded for each response.

For more information about PIP, visit GOV.UK here.

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Claim PIP for eczema and you could receive up to 608 every month from the DWP - Daily Record