Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

What is PIP?

• It is for people who have a long-term illness, disability, or mental health condition.
• It is assessed based on your capacity to carry out everyday tasks and get around.
• You can use the money however you want.

Who can apply?

You can apply if you are:

• 16 years old or older.
• Below State Pension age.
• Have an illness, disability, or mental health condition.

How do I apply

• Call the PIP new claims line at 0800 917 2222 to ask for a form.
• Once you get the form you will need to fill it in and send it back.
• The form has questions which ask you how difficult it is for you to do certain tasks.
• These tasks are based on your ability to:
  • Do everyday activities.
  • Get around.
• They will score each activity from 0 to 12.
  • 12 is the most difficult.
  • This is in terms of how difficult it is for you to complete each task.
  • It also in terms of how much help you need.
• It takes into account both your physical and mental ability.
  • This would include physical disabilities as well as things like anxiety and ADHD.

How am I assessed for PIP?

• After you have sent your form PIP will arrange an assessment with you.
• You will be assessed by a health professional.
• This can take place in person, on the phone or by video call.
  • You will usually have a choice, but they may ask to see you in person.
  • If you have a reason why you can't do it in person they may allow this.
• They will ask you more questions:
  • This could be about the answers you put down.
  • Or about your health condition.
• They will decide a final score based on the form and their assessment.
• They will make a separate score for:
  • Daily living activities.
  • Mobility activities.
• A score of 8-11 points will get you the standard rate.
• A score of 12 points will get you the enhanced rate.

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Daily living activities

This includes tasks like: 

Preparing and cooking food

• Can you prepare and cook a simple meal?
• Do you need help, supervision, or aids like:
  • Perching stools or adapted utensils?

Eating and drinking

• Can you eat and drink without help?
• Do you need someone to help you, remind you, or supervise you?

Washing and bathing

• Can you wash and bathe yourself, including getting in and out of the bath or shower?
• Do you need help, supervision, or aids?

Other daily living activities

• Remembering and taking prescribed medication.
• Using the toilet by yourself.
• Communicating with and understanding others.
• Dressing and undressing without help.
• Managing money like paying bills.
• Reading and understanding information.

Examples of scores

• Needing aids or appliances might score 2 points.
• Needing physical help might score 4-8 points.
• Not being able to do the activity at all might score 12 points.

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Mobility activities

This means your capacity to get around which includes:

• Planning and following a journey.
  • Like a trip to the shop or the doctor's.
  • Using a vehicle or public transport safely.
  • Follow a route safely without help.
• Moving around.
  • Being able to walk or use walking aids.
  • Walk safely without severe discomfort, pain, or exhaustion.
  • Cope with changes or unexpected events during the journey.

Examples of scores

For planning and following a journey:

• 4 points: You need prompting to take any journey.
  • E.g., you need reassurance to leave the house due to anxiety.
• 8 points: You cannot plan the route of a journey.
  • E.g., because of a cognitive impairment or learning disability.
• 10 points: You cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without assistance.
  • E.g., You need someone to guide you because of a visual impairment.
• 12 points: You cannot take any journey.
  • E.g., Severe anxiety or PTSD makes leaving the house impossible, even with support.

For moving around:

How much do I get?

The amount of money you get depends on what rate you get.

For standard rate you must get at least 8 points

• This is £72.65 per week for daily living activities.
• This is £28.70 per week for mobility activities.

For enhanced rate  you must  get at least 12 points.

• This is £108.55 per week for daily living activities
• This is £75.75 per week for mobility activities.

Things to remember

• Give as much as medical evidence as you can when you send back form.
  • This can be a GP patient summary.
  • Diagnosis letter.
  • Evidence of medication.
• Try to describe your worst days.
  • This means those days that your health makes everyday activities most difficult.
  • If you describe a 'good day' you might not be given what you're owed.

More information

• You only have 1 month to fill in your PIP form once you get it.
  • You will need to ring them if you need more time:
  • 0800 121 4433.
• You can still work and get PIP. 
  • It is not based on your income and savings.
• For examples of the reasons for points you can get from certain activities see:
  • Citizen's Advice's Table of activities, descriptors and points.

See our Benefits page for more information about other benefits that may be available to you.