The list comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to “get serious” about welfare spending. PIP is currently being examined through the Timms Review, which is assessing whether the benefit system is fair, effective and sustainable while considering the additional costs faced by disabled people.
DWP Identifies Dozens of Eye and Ear Conditions Linked to PIP Claims
According to the DWP, the current list includes 62 eye and ear-related conditions that may be considered within PIP assessments. The conditions cover a wide range of medical issues affecting vision, hearing and balance.
Among the eye conditions listed are glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and retinal detachment. Some of the highest recorded figures in the list include vision-related conditions such as cortical blindness, with 9,322 cases recorded, and other vision diseases affecting sight, with 13,255 cases.
The hearing-related section includes conditions such as congenital deafness, sensorineural hearing loss, mixed hearing loss, Ménière’s disease and other diseases affecting hearing and balance. According to the published DWP figures, congenital deafness accounts for 15,854 cases, while sensorineural hearing loss from other causes accounts for 7,534 cases.
The presence of a condition on the list does not automatically determine a PIP award. Assessments are based on how a person’s condition affects their daily living and mobility needs. PIP is made up of daily living and mobility components. The standard daily living rate is currently £76.55 per week, while the enhanced rate is £114.80. For mobility support, the lower rate is £30.20 and the higher rate is £80.10.
Timms Review Examines Future of Disability Benefit System
The publication of the conditions list comes while the government considers possible changes to PIP through the Timms Review. The review is co-chaired by Sir Stephen Timms MP, Sharon Brennan and Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE.
According to the July 2026 interim findings, the review found that PIP has “deep-rooted, systematic problems” and that the application process can be difficult for claimants. The final recommendations are expected to be delivered to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in autumn 2026.
No immediate changes to PIP payments or eligibility rules will be introduced before the review is completed. The government has said the process is intended to examine how the benefit can operate in a way that meets its aims.
The review has placed PIP at the centre of discussions about welfare reform, with attention focused on how disability benefits should support people with additional costs while remaining sustainable for the public finances. For people with visual or hearing conditions, the current DWP list provides an overview of medical issues connected with PIP claims. The outcome of the Timms Review will determine whether any changes are recommended to the way the benefit works in the future.
