Find out more about PIP and what you might be able to get from it.
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.
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.
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:
- 4 points: You can stand and then move more than 50 meters but no more than 200 meters.
- E.g., you can walk around a supermarket but need to rest partway.
- 8 points: You can stand and then move more than 20 meters but no more than 50 meters.
- E.g., you can walk short distances but need frequent breaks or assistance.
- 10 points: You can stand and then move more than 1 meter but no more than 20 meters.
- E.g., You can walk to the bathroom but need a walking aid and experience severe pain.
- 12 points: You cannot stand or move more than 1 meter.
- E.g., : You are unable to walk at all and rely on a wheelchair for all movement.
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 £73.90 per week for daily living activities.
- This is £29.20 per week for mobility activities.
For enhanced rate you must get at least 12 points.
- This is £110.40 per week for daily living activities
- This is£77.05 per week for mobility activities.
For how long for?
- This will depend on what award you are given.
- It will also depend on the result of your reviews.
- If you get an 'indefinite award' you will usually get PIP for 10 years until review.
- The award is for 3 years if you are terminally ill.
- If you get a fixed award for more than 2 years your PIP will be reviewed before it ends.
What is a review?
- A review is when the DWP checks if you still need your PIP.
- This is to check if you're getting the right amount of benefit.
- You'll receive a review form to fill in.
- Tell them if your health has changed or not.
- Send any new medical evidence if you have it.
- You may be asked to have an assessment either on the phone or in person.
- The DWP will then send a decision letter to renew, increase or stop your PIP.
- You can challenge them if your decision is negative.
- See section below on legal rights to appeal.
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:
See our Benefits page for more information about other benefits that may be available to you.
If you are unhappy with your PIP decision
- You may want to appeal the decision made by PIP.
- This could be because you think you are owed more money or because they refused it entirely.
- Your rights to appeal a decision are protected under the Welfare Reform Act 2012.
- The appeal process can include up to two stages explained below.
Mandatory reconsideration
- This is the first stage of appeal.
- It means that someone else at the DWP will look at your claim again.
- You will have one month from the date on your decision letter to request this.
- If you are late requesting then you will need to explain the reason for this delay.
- You may be asked to provide evidence.
- It could be because you were looking for help with your appeal.
- You can ask by:
- Phone – Call the number on your decision letter
- Letter – Write to the address on the letter
- Form – Use form CRMR1 (you can find it online or get it from DWP)
- Citizens Advice can help you fill in a CRMR1.
- You will need to tell them why you think their decision is wrong.
- There could be more information about your health you need to tell them.
- Send them any new medical evidence, like a doctor's letter or hospital report.
- The DWP will the send a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice with their decision.
- This can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
- Call them after a couple of weeks to check they have received it.
Tribunal
- If you still don't agree with PIP's decision you can apply for a tribunal.
- It is not run by the DWP but by HM Courts and Tribunals Service.
- You will first to need to fill in an appeal form
- You will need to explain why you disagree with the decision in detail.
- Tell them if you would prefer a hearing in person, phone or video.
- Later you will receive a letter with a date for the hearing and information about your appeal.
- Read through all of the DWP information carefully.
- Think through everything that you disagree with and why.
- Write this down or ask a friend or representative to help you.
- Ask for evidence from GP or support workers if you can.
- You can ask for someone to come and support or represent you.
- It can be a friend, family member or representative but not usually a GP.
- The tribunal is made up of a
- A judge
- A doctor
- A disability expert.
- They will ask you questions about how your condition affects your daily life and moving around.
- You can explain things in your own words
- Or someone else can speak on your behalf
- It’s not a test – just tell the truth and be honest about your struggle.
- They may reach a decision on the day or within a few days
- If the decision is successful your PIP award will be changed.
- The DWP may send you any backpayment you could be owed.
- If the decision is negative you will be sent a statement of reason.
- There usually isn't further chance for appeal, unless there are legal errors.
- While it can take a long time, the success rate is high at tribunal stage.
- The PIP appeal overturn rate is 67% as of 24 March 2025.
If you are having difficulties, please contact the Friends, Families and Travellers helpline on 01273 234 777. We are open:
- Monday to Friday
- From 10.00am to 4.30pm
- Closed on Bank Holidays