Brits who have Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) may be able to claim the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) if they meet certain eligibility criteria confirmed through an assessment, figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) suggest. OCD is a mental health condition “where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours”, the NHS website explains. The condition can affect men, women and children, it adds. “People can start having symptoms from as early as 6 years old, but it often begins around puberty and early adulthood,” the health service explains. “OCD can be distressing and significantly interfere with your life, but treatment can help you keep it under control.”
Depending on how severely its impacting your life, you may be able to claim support through PIP. PIP is a benefit that can help with extra living costs if you have both a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, and difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition, the GOV.UK website explains. You must also expect the difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started, it adds.
There are two parts you can apply for: daily living and mobility. The former is based on whether you’re able to do a range of household tasks, such as washing and cooking, and the latter is based on your mobility and travel requirements. It’s available to people 16 and over and under State Pension age.
You’ll continue getting it beyond that point if you have an approved claim, but you generally can’t make a new claim after reaching State Pension age. For the daily living part, the lower rate is £76.70 per week, while the enhanced rate is £114.60 per week.
For the mobility part, the lower rate is £30.30 per week, and the enhanced rate is £80. That would mean you’d get £194.60 per week in total if you meet the eligibility for the higher rate in both England and Wales. Northern Ireland has PIP, and though it’s a devolved matter, the rules largely run in parallel with those in the rest of the UK.
PIP has been replaced with the Adult Disability Payment (ADP) in Scotland, though it also has most of the same eligibility criteria. You could be approved for PIP due to the impact of a wide range of mental health conditions, including OCD.
According to DWP figures, there were 2,949 cases where OCD was listed as the primary disabling condition for people with PIP entitlement awarded both the daily living component and the mobility component at the enhanced rate as of July 31, 2026.
Hearing disorders that were identified as the primary disabling condition on successful PIP claims for enhanced mobility and daily living rate
- Chronic secretory otitis media
- Chronic suppurative otitis media
- Conductive hearing loss – Other causes of / type not known
- Conductive hearing loss due to Trauma
- Mastoiditis
- Otitis externa – chronic
- Otosclerosis
- Deafness – congenital
- Labyrinthitis
- Menieres disease
- Sensorineural hearing loss – Other causes of / type not known
- Sensorineural hearing loss due to Trauma
- Hearing loss – mixed
- Disease affecting hearing & balance – Other/ type not known
However, it’s important to note that a diagnosis does not automatically unlock support, and a successful claim will depend on establishing that the effect on your daily life and mobility makes you eligible.
This assessment is made by the DWP, informed by independent medical advice. If awarded the support, reviews may take place later on to assess your entitlement going forward.
You, therefore, shouldn’t be put off from making a claim if you haven’t heard of someone getting support due to the impacts of a certain condition.
