Benefits advice and support

What is PIP? 

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit which was introduced in 2013 to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA). The benefit is paid to you if you have a disability or health condition which affects you with your daily activities on a daily basis.  

Please note that this benefit only affects people aged 16-66 and you fall into this category, you can still make claims for DLA and Attendance Allowance respectively.  

There are two different components to this benefit, the daily living part which assesses your ability to complete a range of daily tasks (listed below) and the mobility component which assesses your ability to move around outdoors.  

This is a benefit separate to Employment and Support Allowance and does not assess your ability to work.  

The benefit can be awarded at the following rates: 

Daily Living  

Standard Rate £73.90 

Enhanced Rate £110.40 

Mobility Rate  

Standard Rate £29.20 

Enhanced Rate £77.05 

How Do I Make a Claim? 

You will need to make an initial claim over the phone requesting that a claim form be sent to you. The number to make the claim is 0800 917 2222.  

Once you receive the form, you will need to complete this by the date stated on the front of the form, if you will return this late or need additional time, you can contact PIP on the above number to request an extension. 

Within the claim form, you will be given the opportunity to tell the decision maker how your disability or health condition affects your ability to complete the activity. The decision maker is looking as to whether you can complete the activity safely, to a reasonable standard, in a timely fashion and what assistance you may need to help such as aids. It is also important to mention that if you have side effects from any medication that impacts on your ability to complete these activities to mention this to, such as; tiredness and dizziness. 

The regulations state that if your health condition or disability affects your ability to complete this activity more than 50% of the time you should be awarded points for this – as described below. 

It is also important to submit any medical information you may have such as doctor’s letters, medical reports and prescriptions.    

What happens next? 

Once you have returned the form, you will be invited to a medical assessment with an independent assessor who will assess you against a set of criteria listed below. It is always a good idea to ask someone to come with you to the centre as it is perfectly normal to be scared or anxious. You should also take note of the medical professionals details and area of expertise as this may be needed should you decide to appeal/challenge the decision. You should also ask if the assessment could be recorded and this request cannot be unreasonably denied. 

It is extremely important to answer the questions honestly letting the medical professional know that you struggle with the activity rather than saying that don’t.  

The information from this assessment will be passed back to a decision maker at DWP and they will make a decision on your entitlement. 

You will then receive a letter with a breakdown of the assessment and your scores informing you whether you have an award or not. If you have been awarded PIP the letter will state how long the award is for. 

In order to get an award of PIP you need to get the following scores against the descriptors for both daily living and mobility. 

Enhanced Award 12 Points   

Standard Award 8 Points 

If I am awarded PIP, what other services are available? 

If you are awarded either rate of PIP daily living, this will entitle someone to claim Carers Allowance for looking after you if applicable, subject to the Carers Allowance rules (see Carers Allowance factsheet). If you are awarded the PIP mobility component and score a minimum of 8 points for the activity of moving around or activity 1e for planning journey, this will attract an automatic entitlement to a blue badge/bus pass. Any award of PIP mobility will also entitle you to a discount or full exemption from your road tax. 

An award of PIP could also increase your current benefits. 

What to do if I am not happy with the outcome? 

As with other DWP benefits, you can ask the decision maker to look at the decision again if you believe that something has been missed in making the decision, and have one month to do this called a ‘mandatory reconsideration’. If the decision is upheld you can apply to an independent tribunal to look at the original decision. Please refer to the challenges factsheet for more information.  

I am already claiming DLA what should I do? 

As mentioned, DLA has now been replaced with PIP, and now that the claims process has been completed the DWP are now in the process of migrating everyone on DLA (between the ages of 16-66) onto PIP. 

You will receive a letter from the DWP stating that you have been invited to claim PIP and you will need to call the number above and make a new claim over the phone and complete the new form when it arrives. You will need to do this within 1 month of receiving the letter otherwise your DLA claim will end on the date stated. If you respond in time, your DLA will be paid up until your PIP medical assessment. Therefore, you will not be financially worse off during this period. 

What if I notice a change in my circumstances? 

You are able to request a review of your PIP claim at anytime, with this resulting in a review form being issued to you for completion. The normal rules apply in that the change must have occurred within the last three months on the expectation that this will continue for the following nine months. 

Any review may require a reassessment medical appointment. 

Is it worth making a claim? 

PIP can be a difficult benefit to claim with many horror stories of people who do not want to claim or have not challenged any decision. It is always worth challenging these decisions due to the high success rate and we are happy to support you with this.  

The PIP scoring system is provided below. 

The PIP Medical Descriptors 

Daily Living Activities   

1. Preparing food:  
   a. Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided.  0 points. 
   b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal.  2 points.  
   c. Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but is able to do so using a microwave. points. 2 points  
   d. Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal.  2 points.  
   e. Needs supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal.  4 points.  
   f. Cannot prepare and cook food.  8 points.  

1. Taking nutrition: 
   a. Can take nutrition unaided.  0 points. 
   b. Needs –  
   (i) to use an aid or appliance to  be able to take nutrition; or  
   (ii) supervision to be able to take nutrition; or  
   (iii) assistance to be able to cut up food.  2 points.  
   c. Needs a therapeutic source to be able to take nutrition.  2 points.  
   d. Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition.  4 points.  
   e. Needs assistance to be able to manage a therapeutic source to take nutrition.  6 points.  
   f. Cannot convey food and drink to their mouth and needs another person to do so.  10 points.  

1. Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition:  
   a. Either – 
   (i) does not receive medication or therapy or need to monitor a health condition; or   
   (ii) can manage medication or therapy or monitor a health condition unaided.  0 points.  
   b. Needs either –  
   (i) to use an aid or appliance to  be able to manage medication; or   
   (ii) supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage medication or monitor   
   a health condition.  1 point.  
   c. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes no more than 3.5 hours a week.  2 points.  
   d. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 3.5 but no more than 7 hours a week.  4 points.  
   e. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 7 but no more than 14 hours a week.  6 points.  
   f. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 14 hours a week.  8 points.  

1. Washing and bathing: 
   a. Can wash and bathe unaided.  0 points. 
   b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe.  2 points.  
   c. Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe.  2 points.  
   d. Needs assistance to be able to wash either their hair or body below the waist.  2 points.  
   e. Needs assistance to be able to get in or out of a bath or shower.  3 points.  
   f. Needs assistance to be able to wash their body between the shoulders and waist.  4 points.  
   g. Cannot wash and bathe at all and needs another person to wash their entire body.  8 points.  

1. Managing toilet needs or incontinence: 
   a. Can manage toilet needs or  incontinence unaided.  0 points. 
   b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage toilet needs or incontinence.  2 points.  
   c. Needs supervision or prompting to be able to manage toilet needs.  2 points.  
   d. Needs assistance to be able to manage toilet needs.  4 points.  
   e. Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of either bladder or bowel.  6 points.  
   f. Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of both bladder and bowel.  8 points.  

1. Dressing and undressing:  
   a. Can dress and undress unaided.  0 points. 
   b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to dress or undress.  2 points.  
   c. Needs either –  
   (i) prompting to be able to dress, undress or determine appropriate circumstances for remaining clothed; or   
   (ii) prompting or assistance to be able to select appropriate clothing.  2 points.  
   d. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their lower body.  2 points.  
   e. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their upper body.  4 points.  
   f. Cannot dress or undress at  all.  8 points.  

1. Communicating verbally:  
   a. Can express and understand verbal information unaided.  0 points. 
   b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear.  2 points.  
   c. Needs communication support to be able to express or understand complex verbal information.  4 points.  
   d. Needs communication support to be able to express or understand basic verbal information.  8 points.  
   e. Cannot express or understand verbal information at all even with communication support.  12 points.  

1. Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words: 
   a. Can read and understand basic and complex written information either unaided or using spectacles or contact lenses.  0 points. 
   b. Needs to use an aid or appliance, other than spectacles or contact lenses, to be able to read or understand either basic or complex written information.  2 points.  
   c. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information.  2 points.  
   d. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand basic written information.  4 points.  
   e. Cannot read or understand signs, symbols or words at all.  8 points. 

1. Engaging with other people face to face: 
   a. Can engage with other people unaided.  0 points. 
   b. Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people.  2 points.  
   c. Needs social support to be able to engage with other people.  4 points.  
   d. Cannot engage with other people due to such engagement causing either –   
   (i) overwhelming  
   psychological distress to the claimant; or   
   (ii) the claimant to exhibit behaviour which would result in a substantial risk of harm to the claimant or another person. 8 points. 
     

1. Making budgeting decisions: 
   a. Can manage complex  budgeting decisions unaided.  0 points. 
   b. Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make complex budgeting decisions.  2 points.  
   c. Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make simple budgeting decisions.  4 points.  
   d. Cannot make any budgeting decisions at all.  6 points.  

Mobility Activities  

1. Planning and following journeys: 
   a. Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided.  0 points. 
   b. Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant.  4 points.  
   c. Cannot plan the route of a journey.  8 points.  
   d. Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid.  10 points.  
   e. Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant.  10 points.  
   f. Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid.  12 points.  

1. Moving Around: 
   a. Can stand and then move more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided.  0 points. 
   b. Can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided.  4 points.  
   c. Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres.  8 points.  
   d. Can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres.  10 points.  
   e. Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided.  12 points.  
   f. Cannot, either aided or unaided, –  
   (i) stand; or  
   (ii) move more than 1 metre.  12 points.  

Proposals have been laid in parliament to change the PIP system for the daily living component in that from November 2026, one would need to score at least 8 points to secure an award with at least 1 activity with 4 points. It is important to note that at this stage, these have not been enacted into law and the current system remains in force. 

  
*In Scotland parts of the Social Security system have been devolved to Social Security Scotland. Claims for Personal Independence Payment have been replaced by Adult Disability Payment (16 – State Pension Age). Although devolved, they are assessed in the same way. Claims can be started by contacting Social Security Scotland on the following numbers 

Adult Disability Payment – 0800 182 2222 or online at https://www.mygov.scot/adult-disability-payment/how-to-apply  

This advice is provided by our Benefits Advisor, Robert Mandelstam. The information provided above is up to date for the financial year ending 5th April 2026.