Paying the price: why PIP reform must work for people with arthritis

Living with a long-term condition is expensive. There are suddenly new costs for treatment and care, and regular costs increase as someone learns to live with their symptoms and adapts to manage their condition. On top of this, long-term health conditions can also make it more difficult to stay in work and maintain income levels, making the additional costs feel even more difficult to navigate.  

There are over 10 million adults, young people and children in the UK living with an arthritis condition, and this is the reality for many. Arthritis UK commissioned YouGov to run a weighted, representative survey of just over 4,000 people living with arthritis in the UK resulting in new research exploring the financial burden of arthritis, and the impact this has on the people living with the condition.  

Our research found that almost two thirds (64%) of people with arthritis have had additional recurring costs in the last year because of their condition. But some groups are significantly more impacted than others, and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help to alleviate some of the financial strain associated with their condition. PIP is a non-means-tested government benefit, available in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, that supports people with additional living costs if they have a long-term health condition or disability. PIP is not an out of work benefit, but as people are forced out of employment by their condition, it can become an essential source of income for those living with arthritis.  

At the time of publication, the UK Government is concluding the Timms Review of PIP, co-chaired by Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Social Security and Disability. The purpose of the review is to assess whether PIP is fair, accessible, and fit for disabled people and to recommend reform based on the outcome. Arthritis UK has engaged with Government throughout the review process and has been clear that reform must work for people living with arthritis and support them with the additional costs they face.  

The financial burden of arthritis

People with arthritis are being financially squeezed. Their condition brings both additional costs in its management and care, whilst also making it more difficult to stay in work – resulting in a precarious financial situation. Our new research found: 

  • Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) people with arthritis reported only just being able to afford their essential costs and often struggling to make ends meet. For those in receipt of PIP, this increases to over a third (35%).

  • When asked about the cost of living, more than half (53%) of people with arthritis reported needing to make cuts to their usual spending.

People with arthritis have additional, recurring costs due to their condition:

  • Nearly two thirds (64%) of people with arthritis have had additional recurring costs because of their condition in the last 12 months. For those in receipt of PIP, this increases to 86%. 

  • There are additional costs in many areas of life due to arthritis. People with arthritis reported additional costs in utility bills, transport and mobility, and in medication and equipment.  

  • These additional costs are forcing people to make difficult financial choices, and those in receipt of PIP were more likely to report these difficulties. Of those in receipt of PIP who had additional costs in heating and energy, 21% reported going without other daily living essentials, and 17% reported borrowing money on credit cards, overdrafts and personal loans to cover their increased bills.  

  • Arthritis conditions are responsible for these additional costs. Again, for those in receipt of PIP that had additional costs in heating and energy bills, 80% said this was because they need to heat their home for longer periods to manage their arthritis.

People with arthritis need more support, but cannot afford it:

People with arthritis were also asked if they needed additional support due to their arthritis but were unable to afford it. Those in receipt of PIP were more likely to report this being the case.  

  • 43% of people with arthritis in receipt of PIP reported needing additional support with at least one recurring cost but not being able to afford it in the last 12 months.  

  • For those in receipt of PIP that reported needing additional support in transport and mobility, almost 3 in 4 (73%) said that they leave the house less frequently than they otherwise would as a result, and 1 in 5 (20%) said they have missed healthcare appointments as they have not been able to afford to travel to them.  

Arthritis impacts the ability to work and to stay in work: 

  • Almost three quarters (74%) of people with arthritis in receipt of PIP have worked and reported arthritis affecting their ability to work.  

  • Of those, 58% have had to stop working permanently due to their arthritis condition.  

  • More than two thirds (69%) of those who said their arthritis had affected their work and are in receipt of PIP said their income from paid employment had decreased because of their condition. 

Personal Independence Payment

People with arthritis and MSK conditions make up almost a third (31%) of those currently receiving PIP, making it the second largest condition group claiming the benefit. People with these conditions are therefore particularly vulnerable to any potential reforms that may be made to PIP following the conclusion of the Timms Review in Autumn 2026. To understand who might be affected, Arthritis UK has analysed data available from the Department for Work and Pensions regarding those in receipt of PIP for arthritis and the types of awards they typically receive.  

How to apply for PIP

Personal Independence Payment, or PIP, can help with the extra costs of living with arthritis or a long-term condition.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Arthritis PIP claimant demographics: 

There are currently 504,040 people with arthritis receiving PIP across England and Wales. This means that around 5% of those with arthritis depend on PIP, but those who do account for 12% of all PIP claimants. 

  • Women—who are disproportionately affected by arthritis, experiencing higher prevalence rates and often greater pain intensity and physical limitations—make up 69% of PIP claimants with arthritis. 
  • Many older people with arthritis rely on PIP to cover disability-related expenses. 44% of PIP claimants with arthritis are aged 65+, while 21% are aged 60-64, 15% are aged 55-59, and 20% are aged 16-54. 
  • Osteoarthritis is the #2 reason for receiving PIP (among all disability subcategories) but ranks #1 for claimants aged 60+. 

PIP award types received by people with arthritis: 

Standard daily living and enhanced mobility awards are the most common award components for PIP claimants with arthritis, and the majority receive the maximum claim duration. 

  • 66% of claimants with arthritis receive standard daily living awards (vs. 32% enhanced), and 44% receive enhanced mobility awards (vs. 34% standard). 
  • Most PIP claimants with arthritis (57%) have claim durations of 5 years and over. Only 7% have claims lasting less than a year. 

Conclusion

People with arthritis are financially burdened by their condition. They have to spend more on daily expenses such as heating and transport and incur new costs in medication and equipment all to manage their arthritis - and many people are having to go without because they simply can’t afford to meet the additional costs. Alongside this, arthritis can make it difficult to stay in work with many reporting their income from paid employment decreasing because of their condition. It is therefore no surprise that people receiving PIP for an arthritis condition make up a significant portion of all PIP claimants. People with arthritis are clearly facing additional costs and require financial support to manage their condition and enable them to be as independent as possible.  

Related information

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