Thousands of people with health conditions including asthma could be missing out on £156 a week – are you eligible?

THOUSANDS of people who suffer from common health conditions could be missing out on an extra £156 a week.

Anyone suffering with asthma, sleep apnea, pneumonia and more, could be eligible for the payout from the government.

If you have a condition such as severe asthma it counts as a disability. And if it’s making your daily life difficult, you may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

That means you're eligible to receive financial support from the DWP.

It's the same for those with Cystic Fibrosis, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory issues. And if the problems are a hindrance on your day to day life, you could be eligible for the cash.

Personal Independence, or PIP for short, is a benefit for those who struggle with any health condition or disability.

The payment can boost your income by thousands of pounds a year, and you can be eligible whether you are in work or not.

There are two elements to PIP: a daily living part if you need help with everyday tasks, and a mobility part if you need help with getting around.

There are two rates for each part - standard or enhanced - depending on the level of your needs.

The weekly rates are:

• Standard daily living component: £61.85
• Enhanced daily living component: £92.40
• Standard mobility component: £64.50
• Enhanced mobility component: £24.45

That means you could could receive up to £156.90 if you get the higher weekly rate for both parts.

But recent figures from the DWP show that while there's been an increase in the number of people now receiving support for the 24 types of respiratory condition, thousands more could still be missing out.

These include:

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

As many as 2.9million Brits are claiming the support, according to the latest from the DWP.