PIP claim, the complete UK guide

What PIP actually is

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a UK disability benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to working-age adults whose physical or mental health condition affects their daily life. It is non-means-tested, non-taxable, and paid on top of any wages or other benefits.

PIP replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults from 2013. It is governed by the Welfare Reform Act 2012, Part 4 and the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013.

Who qualifies

• You are aged 16 to State Pension age at the date of claim.
• You have had a physical or mental health condition or disability for at least 3 months, and expect it to continue for at least 9 more months.
• You meet the residence and presence conditions (broadly, lived in the UK for 2 of the last 3 years).
• The condition causes problems with daily living and/or moving around.

A formal diagnosis is helpful but not required. What matters is how your condition affects you against the 12 descriptor activities, on most days, safely, repeatedly, and to an acceptable standard.

Current rates (2025/26)

• Daily Living, standard. £72.65 per week (£290.60 every 4 weeks).
• Daily Living, enhanced. £108.55 per week (£434.20 every 4 weeks).
• Mobility, standard. £28.70 per week (£114.80 every 4 weeks).
• Mobility, enhanced. £75.75 per week (£303.00 every 4 weeks).

Maximum award is £184.30 per week (£737.20 every 4 weeks). Rates uprate every April with CPI.

How the points work

PIP is scored against 12 activities — 10 for Daily Living, 2 for Mobility. Each activity has descriptors A–F scoring 0–12 points. Add the points within each component:

• 0–7 points. No award.
• 8–11 points. Standard rate.
• 12+ points. Enhanced rate.

The key test is reliability under Regulation 4(2A): you only count as able to do something if you can do it safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time. If you can do it once but it leaves you in bed for two days, you cannot do it reliably.

How to claim, step by step

The six-step process is outlined above in the TLDR. The critical points where most claims succeed or fail:

• Registration date matters. Payment is backdated to the day you phone DWP, even if the decision takes 4 months. Phone first, before you start gathering evidence.
• The PIP2 form is the case. The assessor reads it, your GP record, and any evidence — and writes a recommendation. Treat it as the first hearing.
• Worst-day reasoning. Describe what happens on a typical bad day, not your average day. PIP descriptors are about whether you can do tasks reliably, not whether you can ever do them.
• Evidence beats opinion. A 4-page consultant letter outweighs a 40-page diary. Send copies of clinic letters, hospital discharge summaries, OT reports, prescriptions.

If you are refused

Around 45% of new PIP claims are refused at first decision. The route back is:

• Mandatory reconsideration (MR). Phone or write to DWP within 1 month. Reference the activities you disagree with and the descriptor language. MR overturns ~22% of decisions.
• Tribunal appeal. If MR fails, send form SSCS1 to HMCTS within 1 month. The hearing is in front of a judge, doctor and disability member — informal, no costs. ~70% of appellants win.

Free help from Citizens Advice, your local welfare rights service, or Benefits and Work guides. Do not give up at MR — the win rate at tribunal is where the real success is.

What else PIP unlocks

• Blue Badge — automatic if you score 8+ on the moving around activity.
• Motability scheme — if you receive enhanced rate mobility, you can lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair.
• Council tax reduction — many councils give a disability discount when PIP is in payment.
• Carer's Allowance — someone caring 35+ hours per week for a PIP claimant on either rate of Daily Living can claim £83.30 per week.
• Universal Credit / ESA top-ups — extra disability elements often follow.

Frequently asked questions