Personal Independence Payment (PIP) provides financial support if you have a long-term health condition or disability that affects your daily life. If you’re applying for the first time, this guide explains how PIP works, how to fill in the form effectively, and what to expect at your assessment.
What is PIP?
PIP is a benefit that helps with the extra costs of living with a health condition or disability. It’s:
- Not means-tested — Your income and savings don’t matter
- Not contribution-based — You don’t need National Insurance contributions
- Tax-free — You keep the full amount
- Payable whether you work or not — Employment doesn’t affect it
Who Can Claim PIP?
You can claim if you:
- Are aged 16 to State Pension age
- Have a health condition or disability that affects daily life
- Have had difficulties for at least 3 months
- Expect difficulties to continue for at least 9 months
- Live in England, Wales, or Scotland (Northern Ireland has different rules)
No specific conditions list — PIP is based on how your condition affects you, not the diagnosis itself.
How Much is PIP Worth?
PIP has two components:
Daily Living Component
For help with everyday activities like cooking, washing, dressing, and communicating.
| Rate | Weekly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | £77.55 | £336 | £4,033 |
| Enhanced | £115.90 | £502 | £6,027 |
Mobility Component
For help with getting around.
| Rate | Weekly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | £30.65 | £133 | £1,594 |
| Enhanced | £81.10 | £352 | £4,217 |
Total Possible
| Combination | Weekly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Both enhanced | £197.00 | £10,244 |
| Enhanced daily + standard mobility | £146.55 | £7,621 |
| Enhanced daily + no mobility | £115.90 | £6,027 |
| Standard daily + enhanced mobility | £158.65 | £8,250 |
Extra Benefits from PIP
Getting PIP can also unlock:
- Blue Badge (enhanced mobility)
- Bus pass (enhanced mobility in most areas)
- Motability scheme (enhanced mobility)
- Higher Universal Credit rate
- Council Tax reduction
- Disabled facilities grants
- Carer’s Allowance for someone helping you
The PIP Activities
You’re assessed on 12 activities across two components:
Daily Living Activities
| Activity | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 1. Preparing food | Heating, cooking, serving |
| 2. Eating and drinking | Feeding yourself |
| 3. Managing treatments | Taking medication, therapy, monitoring |
| 4. Washing and bathing | Personal hygiene |
| 5. Managing toilet needs | Using the toilet, incontinence |
| 6. Dressing and undressing | Getting dressed |
| 7. Communicating | Speaking, writing, understanding |
| 8. Reading | Understanding written information |
| 9. Mixing with people | Social interaction and relationships |
| 10. Making decisions about money | Budgeting, paying bills |
Mobility Activities
| Activity | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 11. Planning and following journeys | Mental ability to navigate |
| 12. Moving around | Physical ability to walk |
Each activity has descriptors scored 0-12 points. You need:
- 8+ points for standard rate
- 12+ points for enhanced rate
How to Apply
Step 1: Start Your Claim
Call the PIP helpline: 0800 917 2222
You’ll answer basic questions:
- Name and contact details
- National Insurance number
- Doctor/GP details
- Bank details for payment
The call takes about 20-30 minutes.
Step 2: Receive and Complete the Form (PIP2)
You’ll receive the “How your disability affects you” form (PIP2) within 2 weeks. You have one month to return it (extensions possible if needed).
The form is crucial — it’s your main opportunity to explain how your conditions affect you.
Step 3: Gather Evidence
While completing the form, gather supporting evidence:
- GP records and letters
- Hospital letters and discharge summaries
- Mental health team reports
- Medication lists
- Social worker assessments
- Occupational therapy reports
- Specialist reports
You can request a Subject Access Request from your GP (may take 2-4 weeks).
Step 4: Submit Your Form
Return the form with your evidence. Keep copies of everything.
Step 5: Assessment
An independent healthcare professional will assess you (face-to-face, telephone, or video). This typically happens 4-12 weeks after submitting your form.
Step 6: Decision
You’ll receive a decision letter 2-6 weeks after assessment.
Filling In the PIP Form: Essential Tips
The Golden Rules
1. Describe Your Worst Days
The form asks how you manage activities “on most days.” This doesn’t mean your best days — it means typical difficult days.
Wrong: “I can usually manage to cook a simple meal” Right: “On bad days (3-4 times a week), I cannot stand long enough to prepare food. On better days, I can manage very simple meals but struggle with timing, concentration, and become exhausted. I often rely on ready meals or my partner cooking.”
2. Explain HOW Your Condition Affects You
Don’t just list conditions — explain the impact:
Wrong: “I have depression and anxiety” Right: “My depression means I often can’t motivate myself to wash or dress. On bad days, I stay in bed all day. My anxiety makes leaving the house terrifying — I have panic attacks in busy places and cannot use public transport alone.”
3. Include Everything
Consider:
- Time taken to complete tasks
- Pain or discomfort caused
- Fatigue and need to rest after
- Help needed from others
- Aids and adaptations used
- Variability between good and bad days
- Safety considerations (risk of falls, burns, etc.)
4. Use Specific Examples
Wrong: “I struggle with cooking” Right: “Last week I tried to cook pasta and burned myself on the boiling water because of my tremor. I’ve set off the smoke alarm three times this month because I forget food is cooking. My wife has had to take over most cooking because I left the gas on twice.”
5. Don’t Assume They Know
Assessors aren’t specialists in your condition. Explain everything, even things that seem obvious.
Activity-by-Activity Tips
Preparing Food
- Include reheating and microwave meals
- Mention burns, cuts, or forgotten food
- Note if someone prompts you to eat
- Include days when you don’t prepare anything
Eating and Drinking
- Choking risks
- Difficulty cutting food
- Tremors or grip problems
- Needing encouragement to eat
Managing Treatments
- ALL medications (including over-the-counter)
- Time spent managing condition
- Physio exercises
- Mental health coping strategies
- Monitoring (blood pressure, glucose, etc.)
Washing and Bathing
- Fear of falling in shower
- Difficulty reaching parts of body
- Needing someone present
- Days you don’t wash
Managing Toilet Needs
- Getting to the toilet in time
- Cleaning yourself
- Managing clothing
- Night-time issues
Dressing and Undressing
- Buttons, zips, laces
- Choosing appropriate clothes
- Needing encouragement to dress
- Getting dressed multiple times (incontinence)
Communicating
- Difficulty finding words
- Speech problems
- Understanding others
- Communication aids used
- Written communication
Reading
- Concentration problems
- Need for large print
- Understanding what you read
- Eye conditions
Mixing with People
- Anxiety in social situations
- Overwhelming emotions
- Need for support at appointments
- Isolation and avoidance
Making Decisions About Money
- Impulsive spending
- Forgetting to pay bills
- Unable to budget
- Someone managing finances for you
Planning and Following Journeys
- Getting lost in familiar places
- Anxiety about travel
- Need for someone to accompany you
- Unable to use public transport
Moving Around
- Distance you can walk RELIABLY
- Time taken
- Pain during and after
- Need to stop and rest
- Use of aids (stick, wheelchair)
The PIP Assessment
What to Expect
The assessment is usually:
- Face-to-face at an assessment centre (or sometimes home visit)
- Telephone or video (more common since COVID)
- Conducted by a healthcare professional (not a specialist in your condition)
- Lasting 45-90 minutes
What They’ll Ask
Expect questions like:
- “Describe a typical day for you”
- “What happens when you try to cook/wash/get dressed?”
- “How far can you walk?”
- “Can you tell me about your mental health?”
- “What help do you need from others?”
Important Assessment Tips
1. Describe Your Worst Days
If asked “Can you cook a meal?”, don’t just say yes or no: “On my worst days, no. On better days, I can manage something simple like toast, but it takes me much longer than normal and I need to rest afterwards.”
2. Don’t Downplay
Natural instinct is to seem capable. Resist this. Be honest about difficulties.
3. Bring Someone With You
A friend, family member, or support worker can:
- Provide moral support
- Give evidence about how you cope
- Take notes
- Remind you of things you forget
4. Bring Evidence
Take copies of any evidence you haven’t already submitted.
5. Be Specific
Don’t say “sometimes” — say “3-4 times a week” or “every day.”
6. Take Your Time
You don’t need to rush. Ask for breaks if needed.
7. Mental Health is Just as Valid
Mental health conditions qualify equally. Assessors should ask about psychological impacts of any condition.
What Assessors Observe
They may note:
- How you entered the room
- Your appearance and hygiene
- How you sit and move
- Your concentration and understanding
- Marks or signs related to your condition
If you’re having a good day: Tell them. “Today is one of my better days. On bad days…”
After the Assessment
The Decision
You’ll receive a letter explaining:
- Whether you qualify for PIP
- Which component(s) and rate(s)
- How long the award lasts (typically 2-10 years)
- Your right to request reconsideration
If You’re Awarded PIP
- Payments usually start from when you claimed
- Set up direct debit for council tax/bills
- Check what else you can claim (bus pass, blue badge, etc.)
- Note your review date
If You’re Refused or Awarded Less Than Expected
You have the right to challenge the decision:
| Stage | Timeframe | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory Reconsideration | Within 1 month | DWP reviews decision. Include new evidence. |
| Appeal to tribunal | Within 1 month of MR decision | Independent tribunal reviews your case |
Around 70% of PIP appeals succeed. Don’t give up if you believe the decision is wrong.
Getting Help With Your Claim
Free Support
| Organisation | Help provided |
|---|---|
| Citizens Advice | Form help, appeals, advice |
| Disability Rights UK | Guides and helpline |
| Scope | Helpline and advice |
| Mind | Mental health-specific support |
| Turn2us | Benefits calculator and advice |
| Local welfare rights | Council-provided advice services |
Welfare Rights Advisers
Your local council may have advisers who can:
- Help fill in the form
- Gather evidence
- Attend assessments with you
- Handle appeals
Search “[your council] welfare rights” to find local services.
Paying for Help
Some solicitors and advocates specialise in benefits appeals. Only consider paying for help with tribunal appeals, not initial claims.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Describing Your Good Days
If you can walk 100 metres on a good day but only 20 metres on a bad day, the 20 metres matters more. Assessors need to understand variability.
Mistake 2: Not Enough Detail
“I struggle with cooking” tells them nothing. Explain exactly what happens, how often, and what help you need.
Mistake 3: Missing Activities
You might not think to mention that you can’t manage money — but it’s one of the ten daily living activities. Go through every activity systematically.
Mistake 4: No Medical Evidence
The form alone isn’t enough. Gather supporting letters and reports. Your GP can provide a supporting letter (may charge a fee).
Mistake 5: Missing Deadlines
You have one month to return the form. You can request an extension if needed — call the helpline. Missing deadlines closes your claim.
Mistake 6: Giving Up After Refusal
70% of tribunal appeals succeed. Many people are refused initially but win on appeal.
Mistake 7: Not Asking for Help
This is a difficult process. Use free support services rather than struggling alone.
Key Takeaways
- PIP is based on impact, not diagnosis — any condition that affects daily life can qualify
- Describe your worst days, not your best
- Be specific and detailed — assume they know nothing about your condition
- Gather medical evidence before submitting the form
- Request help from Citizens Advice or local welfare rights
- Take someone to the assessment for support and evidence
- Challenge wrong decisions — 70% of appeals succeed
- Keep copies of everything you send
This guide provides general information about PIP claims in Great Britain. Northern Ireland has different rules. For personal advice, contact Citizens Advice or a welfare rights service. Rules and rates may change — check gov.uk for current information.