The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed the eight metabolic conditions currently recognised within Personal Independence Payment claims, with eligible claimants potentially receiving up to £114.80 per week through the enhanced daily living component.
Newly published DWP figures reveal that 6,005 people were claiming PIP for metabolic conditions as of January 2026, with obesity accounting for the vast majority of claims. PIP is a non-means-tested benefit designed to help people living with long-term physical or mental health conditions, disabilities, or learning difficulties.
Eligibility is determined by how a condition affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities and maintain independence, rather than by the diagnosis itself.
The benefit is split into two components: daily living and mobility. Claimants awarded the enhanced daily living rate receive £114.80 per week, while those qualifying for mobility support can receive additional payments. Combined awards can reach approximately £187 per week, equivalent to around £748 per month.
According to the latest DWP statistics, the following metabolic conditions are currently recorded among PIP claimants:
The figures show that obesity accounts for the majority of metabolic condition-related PIP claims, representing more than three-quarters of the total cases recorded by the DWP.
While these conditions appear in the latest statistics, the DWP stresses that a diagnosis alone does not guarantee a PIP award.
Instead, assessors consider how an individual’s symptoms affect their ability to manage daily tasks, such as preparing food, washing, dressing, communicating, managing medication and treatment, and moving around safely and independently.
The latest data offers an insight into the thousands of people across the UK receiving support through PIP for metabolic conditions, while highlighting the DWP’s continued focus on assessing the real-world impact of a condition rather than the diagnosis itself.
