Charlotte Fisher

The Department for Work and Pensions lists 18 blood disorders associated with successful Personal Independence Payment claims, while stressing that eligibility depends on how a condition affects daily living and mobility rather than diagnosis alone. Current PIP rates allow eligible claimants receiving enhanced daily living and mobility components to receive up to £187 weekly, or about £748 monthly. DWP figures show 9,729 successful claims linked to the listed conditions, with sickle-cell anaemia accounting for the largest identified group.

The Department for Education has announced that the RPI rate used for UK student loans will rise to 4.1% from September 1, 2026. Plan 1 loans will carry an interest rate of up to 4.1%, with the repayment threshold increasing to £28,005 from April 2027. Plan 2 and Plan 3 loans can nominally attract rates of up to 7.1%, but their maximum rate will be capped at 6%; Plan 5 loans will use the 4.1% RPI rate subject to prevailing-market-rate caps. Rates may change during the academic year, so borrowers are advised to monitor Department for Education updates.