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  £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:
  • 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.

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 can do this online here
  • Or fill in a paper SSC1 form
  • You'll need your Mandatory Reconsideration decision letter to apply.
• 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.
  • The PIP appeal overturn rate is 67% as of 24 March 2025.
• 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.
  • You would need to make an appeal to the Upper Tribunal if there was.