PIP for Raynaud's Disease - Can You Claim? Guide 2026

Raynaud's disease, particularly severe or secondary Raynaud's (associated with autoimmune conditions like scleroderma, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis), can significantly affect daily activities. The loss of blood flow to fingers and toes causes pain, numbness, colour changes and in severe cases, ulceration and tissue damage that makes basic tasks impossible.

Which Activities Does Raynaud's Affect?

Preparing Food (Activity 1) - Numbness and pain in fingers making it impossible to grip knives, open tins or handle cold food from the fridge. Temperature changes in the kitchen triggering attacks. Inability to feel hot surfaces creating burn risk.

Washing and Bathing (Activity 4) - Cold water triggering attacks. Temperature transition between hot shower and cold bathroom causing severe pain. Difficulty gripping soap, shampoo bottles due to numb fingers.

Dressing and Undressing (Activity 6) - Numb fingers making buttons, zips and laces impossible during attacks. Need for extra time to dress in warm layers. Difficulty putting on gloves (which you need constantly).

Managing Therapy (Activity 3) - Medication management (calcium channel blockers, vasodilators), warming routines and wound care for digital ulcers. Needing prompting or help with medication scores descriptor 3b (1 point) however long it takes; if another person has to help with daily wound care, it is the hours of that help each week that count under descriptors 3c to 3f. Appointments outside the home do not count under this activity.

Moving Around (Activity 12) - Cold weather limiting ability to go outside. Pain in feet affecting walking distance. Fear of attacks limiting willingness to leave the house in winter.

Severe vs Mild Raynaud's

Mild Raynaud's alone may not score enough PIP points. But severe Raynaud's with ulceration, tissue damage or secondary Raynaud's linked to autoimmune conditions can score significantly. List all co-existing conditions. If you have scleroderma, lupus or RA alongside Raynaud's, the combined impact is much greater.

What Evidence Helps?

• Rheumatologist letters
• Photos of attacks and ulcers (dated)
• Thermography results if available
• GP records showing medication and referrals
• Scleroderma & Raynaud's UK support

Secondary Raynaud's and PIP

Secondary Raynaud's (caused by an underlying condition like lupus, scleroderma or rheumatoid arthritis) is typically more severe than primary Raynaud's and scores better on PIP. If your Raynaud's is secondary, claim for the underlying condition AND Raynaud's together. The combined impact is greater.

Digital Ulcers

Severe Raynaud's can cause digital ulcers - painful, non-healing wounds on fingers and toes. These affect cooking (Activity 1 - can't grip, pain on contact), washing (Activity 4 - water triggers attacks), dressing (Activity 6 - buttons impossible with ulcerated fingers) and managing therapy (Activity 3 - wound care and medication). If you have ulcers, take dated photos as evidence.

Seasonal Variation

Raynaud's is typically worse in winter but can be triggered year-round by air conditioning, cold food handling (freezer) and cold water. For PIP, describe your worst season but also mention that you're affected throughout the year. "My Raynaud's is severe from October to April (7 months) but I also have attacks in summer from air conditioning and cold food handling. I experience attacks on the majority of days year-round."

Primary vs Secondary Raynaud's - The Critical Difference

• Primary Raynaud's (Raynaud's disease): No underlying cause. Onset usually young (15-30 years). Often milder. Affects 3-5% of the population. PIP-eligible only if severe.
• Secondary Raynaud's (Raynaud's phenomenon): Caused by underlying condition (scleroderma, lupus, RA, Sjogren's, mixed connective tissue disease, vibration white finger, beta-blockers). More severe. Higher PIP eligibility rate. Often qualifies on combined impact with underlying condition.

Identify which type you have. Secondary Raynaud's evidence (positive ANA, ENA antibodies, abnormal nailfold capillaroscopy, scleroderma diagnosis) significantly strengthens claims.

Treatment Pathway and Severity Indicators

Treatment escalation indicates severity:

• Lifestyle measures only: Mild. Less likely to qualify alone.
• Calcium channel blockers (nifedipine, amlodipine): Standard first-line. Moderate severity. Side effects (headache, ankle swelling) may add to functional impact.
• Other vasodilators (losartan, ACE inhibitors): Second-line.
• Sildenafil or other PDE5 inhibitors: Specialist treatment for severe Raynaud's with ulcers.
• IV iloprost infusions: Hospital day-case treatment for severe digital ischaemia. Strong severity indicator.
• Bosentan: Endothelin receptor antagonist for digital ulcer prevention. Specialist scleroderma treatment.
• Botulinum toxin injections: For severe localised cases.
• Sympathectomy or amputation: Last resort for severe ulceration. Permanent functional change.

If you are on iloprost, bosentan or specialist treatment, this is significant PIP evidence.

Digital Ulcer Severity

Digital ulcers in Raynaud's affect multiple activities and indicate severe disease. Document:

• Number of current ulcers and locations
• Recurrence history (any active or healed within past year)
• Dressings needed (frequency, duration of care)
• Pain rating from ulcers
• Functional impact (cannot type, write, button, grip)
• Infection history requiring antibiotics
• Amputations (digital pulp loss, partial finger amputation)

The Activity 6 Detail for Raynaud's

Dressing is significantly affected by Raynaud's because:

• Fingers numb during attacks - cannot fasten buttons, zips, hooks
• Cold cuffs, zippers, buttons trigger attacks
• Need to dress in multiple layers (extra time, extra effort)
• Cannot tolerate cold air during dressing - need to dress in heated rooms
• Putting on gloves requires already-warm fingers (catch-22)
• Tight clothing restricts circulation - cannot wear normal clothing

Many Raynaud's claimants need help with dressing or use elastic/Velcro adaptations, scoring descriptor b (2 points) or, if another person has to help, d (2 points, lower body) or e (4 points, upper body).

Cold Avoidance and Activity 11

Severe Raynaud's restricts when and where you can go:

• Cannot leave the house in cold weather (autumn-spring for many)
• Cannot enter cold environments (supermarket freezer aisles, shopping centres with air conditioning)
• Cannot use public transport in winter (cold platforms, draughty buses)
• Cannot travel to unfamiliar places where you cannot control temperature
• Cannot stand for long periods outdoors (causing foot Raynaud's and falls)

Activity 11 only scores for problems planning or following a route, or for overwhelming psychological distress, which the regulations define as distress related to an enduring mental health condition or a cognitive impairment, so cold avoidance on its own does not score under Activity 11. Foot pain that limits how far you can walk is scored under Activity 12 instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Raynaud's is "just cold hands." Will PIP take it seriously?

Only if you describe the severity properly. Don't say "my hands get cold." Say: "My fingers turn white and completely numb, then blue, then red and agonisingly painful as blood returns. During an attack I cannot use my hands at all - I cannot hold a cup, turn a key or fasten a button. Attacks last 20-45 minutes and occur 5-8 times daily in winter."

Will my PIP stop in summer when symptoms are better?

No. PIP looks at the majority of days over a 12-month period. If you have severe symptoms 7+ months of the year and reduced symptoms in summer, you still qualify. Many sufferers continue to have summer attacks from air conditioning, cold food and even emotional triggers.

I have vibration white finger from work - is that Raynaud's?

Yes. Vibration-induced Raynaud's (also called HAVS - hand-arm vibration syndrome) is a recognised occupational disease. The functional impact is similar to other secondary Raynaud's. You may also be entitled to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit separately from PIP.

What evidence does the DWP take most seriously?

Rheumatologist letters specifying primary vs secondary Raynaud's, nailfold capillaroscopy results showing abnormalities, thermography reports, dated photos of attacks/ulcers and treatment escalation history. Self-report alone is weaker than these objective measures.

I work in a cold environment - can I still claim?

If working makes your condition worse, this is evidence of severity, not against your claim. Document occupational impact. You may be entitled to workplace accommodations and possibly disability discrimination claims if your employer fails to adjust.

My GP says it's "nothing to worry about" - can I still claim?

GP opinion is not the test for PIP - functional impact is. Ask for rheumatology referral if your GP is dismissive. If your daily activities are significantly affected, you qualify regardless of how serious your GP thinks the condition is.

Can I get Motability for severe Raynaud's?

Only if you have enhanced mobility (12+ points on Activity 11 or 12). Most Raynaud's claimants score primarily on daily living rather than mobility, so Motability is less common. Cold avoidance on its own does not score under Activity 11, whose distress descriptors are limited to psychological distress from an enduring mental health condition or a cognitive impairment; foot pain that limits how far you can walk is scored under Activity 12.