Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if someone has both a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of their condition.

People who have respiratory conditions, such as severe asthma or sleep apnoea could be eligible for the benefit.

The benefit is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and is available to people who are 16 and over, but under state pension age (which is currently 66).

The payment can boost one’s income by thousands of pounds a year, and they can be eligible whether they are in work or not.

There are two parts to PIP – a daily living part – if one needs help with everyday tasks, and a a mobility part – if one needs help with getting around.

Whether someone gets one or both parts and how much they get depends on how difficult they find everyday tasks and getting around.

There are two rates for each part – standard or enhanced – depending on the level of one’s needs.

The weekly rates are:

• Standard daily living component: £68.10
• Enhanced daily living component: £107.75
• Standard mobility component: £26.90
• Enhanced mobility component: £71

This means claimants could get up to £748.58 a month if they get the higher weekly rates for both parts, or up to £8,983 a year. PIP is paid every four weeks.

As the cost-of-living crisis continues, Britons are urged to check what benefits they may be entitled to as it could take a huge financial burden off their lives.

Respiratory conditions can impact people in various ways, but it could make it difficult to get out and about.

The amount of PIP a person receives depends on the type of condition they have and how much the DWP thinks it impacts their ability to do things.

The DWP states that while there is no specific list of conditions that entitle people to PIP, the impact it has on one’s daily life could mean they are eligible.

There are a number of conditions that can qualify a person for PIP and according to Government statistics, respiratory diseases make up one of the five most commonly recorded disabling conditions that qualify for PIP.

From sleep apnoea and cystic fibrosis to severe asthma, the 24 respiratory conditions that people claim PIP for include:

• Sleep apnoea – obstructive
• Upper respiratory tract – other diseases of/type not known
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Chronic bronchitis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Emphysema
• Empyema
• Bronchiectasis
• Asthma
• Asbestosis
• Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
• Fibrosing alveolitis
• Sarcoidosis
• Silicosis
• Granulomatous lung disease and pulmonary infiltration
• Pulmonary fibrosis – other/type not known
• Pneumoconiosis
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Pleura
• Pleural effusion
• Pneumothorax
• Pulmonary embolus
• Pneumonia
• Lung transplantation
• Heart and lung transplantation.

Individuals can get PIP if all of the following apply:

• A person is 16 or over
• They have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
• They have difficulty doing certain tasks or getting around
• They expect the difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started.

People can make a new PIP claim by calling the DWP on 0800 917 2222.

There are also other ways to claim if one finds it difficult to use a telephone. For more information, Britons can visit the Government’s website here.