Everyone with asthma urged to check if they're owed £128 each week

Anyone suffering with asthma or other respiratory conditions is being urged to check if they're owed money from the government. If you have respiratory problems that affect your everyday life, you could be eligible for £128 a week.

Recent figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that at the end of January this year, there were nearly 2.9 million people across the UK claiming support through Personal Independence Payments (PIP), with just over one in three claimants (35%) receiving the highest level of award.

Of that total, 305,279 people living in Scotland will now be receiving financial support of between £24.45 and £156.90 each week following the DWP's 3.1% benefits uprating. PIP is paid every four weeks so that amounts to between £97.80 and £627.60 every payment period.

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The new data also indicates an increase in the number of people now receiving support for 24 types of respiratory conditions including asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Sleep apnoea, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and pneumonia.

January saw the UK-wide total number of claimants for these types of conditions rise to 128,316, an increase of 1,661 from the end of October (126,655).

This is the list of 24 respiratory conditions being supported through PIP to help with either daily living, mobility needs or a combination of both components.

Assessment award rates vary by disabling condition and a PIP claimant’s main disabling condition is recorded during their assessment in over 99% of cases, reports the DWP.

Diseases of the upper respiratory tract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Bronchiectasis

Cystic Fibrosis

Asthma

Pulmonary fibrosis

Pneumoconiosis