Medical evidence for PIP, what actually scores

What counts as PIP evidence

PIP evidence is anything that helps the assessor understand what you can and cannot do on most days. It is not a doctor's opinion on whether you should get PIP. DWP guidance for health professionals is explicit that a diagnosis alone does not score points; the functional consequences do.

Useful evidence in descending order of weight:

• A short letter (GP, consultant, CPN, specialist nurse) that names your conditions and describes the daily living or mobility limitations they cause, with concrete examples.
• Consultation notes from your GP record that describe functional impact ("reports leaves hob on", "not left the house alone in 6 weeks", "missed 3 appointments due to executive dysfunction").
• Clinic letters, care plans, discharge summaries and OT reports.
• Medication lists showing ongoing treatment and any side effects.
• A one or two page statement from a family member, partner, carer or support worker describing daily life.
• DIY evidence: a diary of a typical week, photographs of adaptations, screenshots of missed appointments or unpaid bills.

Weakest on its own: a diagnostic report that lists conditions without describing daily impact.

The four reliability criteria

Regulation 4(2A) of the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013 says an activity only counts as something you can do if you can do it against all four of:

• Safely. Without significant risk of harm to you or anyone else. Kitchen near-misses, falls, wandering into traffic, medication errors.
• To an acceptable standard. The task is actually completed properly. A meal is edible. Personal care is enough that you would meet a stranger without embarrassment.
• Repeatedly. You can do it as often as reasonably required. Being able to cook once at the weekend but not on any weekday counts as unable, not able.
• In a reasonable time. No more than about twice as long as someone without your condition would take.

Use quantified frequency, not vague adverbs. "5 days out of 7 I cannot prepare a hot meal" beats "sometimes I struggle to cook". Assessors and tribunals both respond to specifics.

The free GDPR records route

GPs are not contractually required to write PIP letters. Many charge £20 to £100 and some refuse outright. You do not need to pay: Article 15 of the UK GDPR gives you the right to a free copy of your medical records, and Section 45 of the Data Protection Act 2018 requires a response within one month.

How to use it:

• Email or write to your GP surgery. Head the request "Subject Access Request under UK GDPR". Ask for consultation notes, referral letters, and correspondence for the last 3 to 5 years (or all records if your condition is lifelong).
• You do not have to give a reason. The surgery cannot charge unless the request is manifestly unfounded or excessive.
• When the records arrive, highlight the entries that show functional impact. Photocopy or scan only those pages.
• Send the highlighted pages plus your one page cover note. Keep the full set.

Hospital records work the same way. Send the subject access request to the trust's information governance team.

When paid GP letters help (and when they do not)

A paid GP or consultant letter is worth it only if it describes functional impact. A generic "confirms diagnosis of X" letter is often refused by the assessor as adding nothing. Before paying, ask the practice to include:

• The conditions and their duration.
• The daily living activities affected, in descriptor language.
• The reliability picture: what you cannot do safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard, or in a reasonable time.
• Any risks (fires, falls, self-neglect, safeguarding referrals).

If they will not write to that brief, the free records route is a better use of your time.

The 5 to 10 page focused bundle

Assessors read PIP2 forms and evidence under time pressure. A tight bundle beats a fat one:

• Page 1: your one page cover note. List each document (A, B, C ...) and the descriptor it supports, in the order the PIP2 uses.
• Pages 2 to 3: the strongest single letter or summary. Usually a GP or specialist letter describing functional impact.
• Pages 4 to 7: 2 or 3 highlighted consultation notes or clinic letters.
• Pages 8 to 10: a family or carer statement, or a week-in-the-life diary.

Do not attach evidence for conditions you are not claiming under. Do not send full record dumps unless specifically asked. Do not send originals — DWP does not return them reliably.

The proposed November 2026 four point rule

The Government has proposed that, for new PIP claims made on or after 3 November 2026, the Daily Living component requires at least one descriptor scored at 4 points or higher, in addition to the usual 8 or 12 point totals. Existing awards continue under the current rules and are not affected at the time of writing.

What this means in practice for a new claim:

• Spreading 2 point descriptors across many activities may no longer be enough on its own. At least one activity needs to hit 4 points or higher.
• Evidence quality on your strongest 2 or 3 activities becomes more important than breadth.
• Lead with the activity where the reliability picture is worst, and make sure the evidence for it is unambiguous.

Rules can change before commencement. Confirm the position at the time of your claim with Disability Rights UK, Citizens Advice, or CPAG.

Sources and further reading

• Social Security (PIP) Regulations 2013, Regulation 4 — the reliability test.
• DWP PIP Assessment Guide for Assessment Providers — how the assessment is scored.
• ICO guidance on subject access requests — how to request your records under UK GDPR.
• Disability Rights UK: PIP resources.
• CPAG Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook.

Frequently asked questions