People with epilepsy can qualify for PIP — and seizure frequency, post-ictal effects, and the safety risks created by epilepsy across daily activities are all assessed. The assessment focuses on how your epilepsy affects you day to day, not just whether seizures are controlled. Here is how PIP works for epilepsy in 2026/27.
PIP Rates 2026/27
| Component | Standard rate | Enhanced rate |
|---|---|---|
| Daily living | £72.65/week | £108.55/week |
| Mobility | £28.70/week | £75.75/week |
8 points needed for standard; 12 points for enhanced in each component.
How Epilepsy Maps to PIP Descriptors
The key concept for epilepsy in PIP is supervision — many activities require another person to be present to assist you if a seizure occurs, and DWP must account for this.
Daily Living Activities
| Activity | How epilepsy may affect it | Max points |
|---|---|---|
| Preparing food | Cannot safely use a cooker, knives, or hot liquids without supervision due to seizure risk | 8 |
| Managing therapy and medication | Needs prompting to take anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs); monitoring for seizures | 8 |
| Washing and bathing | Cannot bathe alone — drowning risk; may need to shower with supervision or special precautions | 8 |
| Dressing and undressing | Post-ictal confusion may require assistance after a seizure | 8 |
| Managing toilet needs | Post-ictal incontinence in some people | 8 |
| Communicating verbally | Post-ictal confusion or aphasia affects communication temporarily | 8 |
| Engaging with other people | Anxiety about having seizures in public limits social activities | 8 |
Mobility: Planning and Following Journeys
Activity 1 — Planning and following journeys is often the most significant PIP activity for epilepsy:
| Scenario | Score |
|---|---|
| Cannot follow any journey without another person present | 12 points (enhanced mobility) |
| Needs supervision for all but very familiar routes | 10 points (enhanced mobility) |
| Needs supervision for unfamiliar routes only | 4–8 points (standard or enhanced) |
If your epilepsy means you cannot travel on public transport, walk near roads, or go out alone due to seizure risk, you may qualify for enhanced mobility even without physical walking limitations.
Post-Ictal Effects: The Often-Overlooked Factor
The post-ictal period (after a seizure) can be as disabling as the seizure itself:
- Confusion and disorientation lasting minutes to hours
- Severe fatigue requiring bed rest for 24–48 hours
- Temporary memory loss, difficulty speaking (Todd’s paresis)
- Inability to carry out any activities independently
When describing your epilepsy on the PIP2 form, always include the post-ictal period and its effects on each activity.
Worked Example: Nadia, 32, Focal Onset Seizures
Nadia has focal onset impaired awareness seizures, averaging 3 per week. Each seizure lasts 1–2 minutes followed by 2 hours of confusion. She cannot travel alone, cannot use the cooker unsupervised, and cannot bathe without someone in the house.
Daily living (11 points):
- Preparing food: 4 points (cannot use cooker without supervision)
- Washing and bathing: 3 points (cannot bathe alone safely)
- Managing medication: 2 points (needs reminders for daily AEDs)
- Engaging with others: 2 points (anxiety about seizures in public)
- → Standard daily living: £72.65/week
Mobility (12 points):
- Planning and following journeys: 12 points (cannot travel alone)
- → Enhanced mobility: £75.75/week
Nadia’s total PIP: £148.40/week = £7,717/year
Evidence to Gather for an Epilepsy PIP Claim
- Neurologist’s letter — seizure type, frequency, diagnosis, medication
- Seizure diary — record of all seizures for 3–6 months (date, type, duration, recovery time)
- GP letter confirming diagnosis and functional impact
- Evidence of driving ban if applicable — DVLA bans driving for 1 year after a seizure; this supports mobility claims
Frequently Rejected but Valid Claims
DWP sometimes underestimates epilepsy claims where seizures appear “infrequent” but post-ictal effects are severe. Challenge any decision that ignores post-ictal impact. The Epilepsy Society provides free advice on PIP claims.
See our what happens if PIP is stopped guide, PIP for chronic pain, and Universal Credit guide.