What PIP Is and Who It's For

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a monthly cash benefit paid by the UK government to working-age adults (16 to 64) who have a long-term physical or mental health condition that affects their ability to carry out daily tasks or move around. Unlike some other disability benefits, PIP is not based on your diagnosis alone — it focuses on how your condition limits what you can actually do.

PIP replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults in 2013. You can claim it whether or not you are working, and the money is yours to spend as you choose. The benefit has two separate parts: a mobility component (for getting around) and a daily living component (for personal care and household tasks). You may receive one, both, or neither, depending on your circumstances.

The amount you receive each month depends on which component you get and at what rate — standard or enhanced. As of 2024, the standard rate for daily living is £66.65 per week and the enhanced rate is £99.35 per week; mobility standard is £26.13 per week and enhanced is £69.36 per week. These amounts change each April.

Key Takeaways

  • PIP is a monthly cash benefit for people aged 16 to 64 with a long-term health condition that affects daily tasks or movement, and you do not have to be working to claim it.
  • The benefit has two parts — daily living and mobility — and you can receive one, both, or neither depending on how your condition affects you.
  • You must have had your condition for at least three months and expect it to last at least nine more months before you can make a claim.
  • The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will ask you to complete a detailed form and may arrange a face-to-face assessment to understand how your condition affects you in practice.
  • If you disagree with a decision, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month, and then appeal to an independent tribunal if needed.

The Daily Living and Mobility Components Explained

The daily living component covers help with personal care tasks and household activities. This includes washing, dressing, eating, preparing food, taking medication, managing your toilet needs, and managing your finances or paperwork. You do not need to actually receive care — the question is whether you need help or supervision to do these things safely.

The mobility component covers help with getting around. This includes walking, planning journeys, and using transport. You do not need to be unable to walk — you might be able to walk but only a very short distance, or only with severe pain, or only with someone with you. The component can also cover the cost of transport if you cannot use public transport independently.

Each component has two rates: standard and enhanced. Standard rate means you need help or supervision for most of the time, or you cannot do the activity safely without help. Enhanced rate means you need help or supervision all or most of the time, or you cannot do the activity at all, or you are at risk of serious harm if you try to do it alone.

Who Can Claim PIP

You can claim PIP if you are aged 16 to 64 and you have a physical or mental health condition (or both) that has lasted at least three months and is expected to last at least nine more months. The condition does not have to be permanent — it just needs to meet the time requirement. You must also be in Great Britain (not Northern Ireland, which has a different system called PIP for Northern Ireland).

You can claim PIP whether you are working, unemployed, studying, or retired early. You can claim it while receiving other benefits or while receiving statutory sick pay from your employer. However, you cannot claim PIP if you are in hospital as an inpatient for more than 28 days in a row, though the rules are different if you are detained under mental health legislation.

There is no upper age limit for receiving PIP once you have been awarded it — you can continue to receive it after you turn 65 — but you cannot make a new claim after your 65th birthday. If you were receiving DLA before age 16, you will be invited to claim PIP when you turn 16.

How to Make a Claim

To claim PIP, you must contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). You can call them on 0800 917 2222 (textphone 0800 917 7777) to request a claim form, or you can request one online through the GOV.UK website. You cannot claim online — the DWP will send you a paper form or a form to complete on their portal.

The form is called the PIP2 form and it is detailed. It asks about your condition, your symptoms, how you manage daily tasks, what help you need, and what you can and cannot do. Be specific and honest — describe a typical day, explain what happens when your condition is bad, and mention any aids or equipment you use. The DWP uses this form to decide whether to invite you for an assessment.

You have one month from the date you request the form to return it. If you need longer, you can ask for an extension. Once the DWP receives your form, they will review it and usually invite you for a consultation — a face-to-face or telephone assessment with a healthcare professional. This assessment is not a medical examination; it is a conversation about how your condition affects you in daily life. The assessment typically lasts 20 to 60 minutes.

The Assessment and Decision Process

After you return your form, the DWP will usually arrange an assessment within 4 to 12 weeks, though this can vary. You will be sent an appointment letter with the date, time, and location (or confirmation that it will be by telephone). You can ask for the assessment to be at home if you find it difficult to travel, and you can bring a support person with you.

The healthcare professional carrying out the assessment will ask you questions about your daily life and how your condition affects you. They may ask you to demonstrate certain movements or tasks, but only if you are willing and it is safe to do so. They are not there to judge you — they are gathering information to help the DWP understand your needs. After the assessment, the professional writes a report.

The DWP then makes a decision based on your form, the assessment report, and any medical evidence you have provided. They will send you a decision letter explaining what they have decided and at what rate. This usually arrives 2 to 8 weeks after your assessment, though it can take longer if they need more information. If you are awarded PIP, your first payment will arrive within a few weeks of the decision date.

What Happens If You Disagree With the Decision

If the DWP refuses your claim or awards you a lower rate than you expected, you can ask them to reconsider their decision. This is called a mandatory reconsideration and you must request it within one month of the decision letter. Write to the DWP explaining why you think the decision is wrong and provide any new evidence — for example, a letter from your doctor, a hospital report, or a statement from someone who knows how your condition affects you.

The DWP will review your case and send you a new decision letter. If they still refuse or you still disagree, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. You have one month from the mandatory reconsideration decision to appeal. You do not need a lawyer, but you can bring a support person or representative with you to the hearing. The tribunal will listen to your case and make a fresh decision based on the evidence.

While you are waiting for a reconsideration or appeal, your PIP payments continue at the current rate (or stop if you were refused). If you win on appeal, you will be paid any arrears from the date of the original decision.

How PIP Affects Other Benefits and Work

PIP does not affect most other benefits — you can receive it alongside Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, or Housing Benefit. However, it does affect Attendance Allowance (you cannot receive both), and it may affect means-tested benefits if you have savings above a certain threshold.

PIP does not affect how much you can earn from work. You can work part-time or full-time and still receive PIP. Some people use PIP to help them stay in work — for example, by paying for transport, equipment, or support. If you are in the Work Capability Group of Universal Credit, receiving PIP does not change your work-related requirements.

If your circumstances change — for example, your condition improves, gets worse, or you turn 65 — you should tell the DWP. They may review your claim. You do not have to wait for them to contact you; you can report a change at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a diagnosis to claim PIP?

No, you do not need a formal diagnosis, but you do need to describe your condition and its effects clearly. If you have seen a doctor, hospital specialist, or mental health professional, provide their reports or letters. If you have not been formally diagnosed, explain your symptoms and how they affect you, and the DWP may ask your GP for information.

What if my condition varies day to day?

Tell the DWP about this in your form and at your assessment. Describe your bad days, your good days, and what triggers your symptoms to get worse. PIP is based on how you are affected on a typical day, including your worst days — not your best days.

Can I claim PIP if I am already receiving another disability benefit?

You can claim PIP while receiving most other benefits, including Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance. However, you cannot receive both PIP and Attendance Allowance at the same time. If you are receiving DLA, you will eventually be invited to claim PIP instead.

How long does the whole process take?

From the date you request a form to the date you receive a decision usually takes 8 to 16 weeks, though it can be faster or slower depending on how quickly you return your form and how busy the DWP is. If you appeal a decision, the tribunal hearing may take place 2 to 6 months after you appeal.

What if I cannot attend my assessment appointment?

Tell the DWP as soon as possible. You can ask for a different date, a telephone assessment instead, or an assessment at home. If you do not attend without a good reason, the DWP may make a decision based on the information they already have, which could result in a refusal.