How depression maps to PIP
PIP is a functional assessment, it does not ask what your diagnosis is, it asks what you can and cannot do across 12 activities. Depression affects functioning in several distinct ways: motivational deficit (inability to initiate tasks), cognitive slowing (difficulty concentrating, reading, making decisions), social withdrawal (inability to engage with others), self-neglect (failure to wash, dress, eat), and crisis risk (suicidality, self-harm). Each of these maps to one or more PIP activities.
The activities most often relevant to depression are:
- Activity 9, Engaging with other people face to face: social withdrawal, inability to interact with unfamiliar people, overwhelming distress in social situations.
- Activity 4, Washing and bathing: self-neglect, inability to initiate personal care without prompting or assistance.
- Activity 1, Preparing food: motivational deficit, inability to concentrate on cooking safely, cognitive slowing making preparation take more than twice as long.
- Activity 2, Taking nutrition: loss of appetite, failure to eat without prompting.
- Activity 8, Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words: concentration impairment meaning the claimant cannot read or follow written instructions reliably.
- Activity 10, Making budgeting decisions: cognitive impairment preventing management of money or bills.
- Mobility Activity 1, Planning and following journeys: inability to leave the house alone due to depression, agoraphobic avoidance as a depressive symptom.
The majority-of-days test (Reg 7)
Regulation 7 of the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013 provides that where a claimant's ability varies, as it typically does in depression, they satisfy a descriptor if they meet it on more than 50% of days over the 12-month required period (3 months back and 9 months forward). This is the majority-of-days test, and it is the most important rule for episodic or fluctuating mental health conditions.
Depression is characteristically episodic. A person may function reasonably well for a fortnight, then spend ten consecutive days unable to leave bed, wash, or cook. Under Regulation 7, if the descriptor for the bad days is satisfied on more than half of the days, that is the descriptor that applies. For a person who is severely functionally impaired on four days out of seven, the descriptor that fits those four days is the one that applies.
In practice, DWP assessors sometimes assess on the basis of the claimant's presentation on the day or on reported "good days". This is legally incorrect. If a decision or assessment report appears to have applied a best-day rather than majority-of-days standard, cite Regulation 7 expressly in your Mandatory Reconsideration or appeal submission.
Daily Living descriptors for depression
Activity 1, Preparing food. Motivational deficit is the most misunderstood aspect of depression in PIP claims. An assessor may note that the claimant "is physically capable of cooking". But if severe depression means you cannot start the task unless someone prompts you, that is descriptor 1d, "Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal" (2 points). If cognitive slowing or dissociation means it is not safe for you to use a hob without someone there, that is descriptor 1e, "Needs supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal" (4 points). Describe specific incidents: "On three days last week I did not eat a cooked meal because I could not bring myself to cook. My partner had to prompt me."
Activity 2, Taking nutrition. Descriptor 2d, "Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition" (4 points), is about needing to be reminded or encouraged to eat, for example when severe depression takes away your appetite and you do not eat unless someone reminds you. Descriptor 2b (2 points) covers needing supervision to eat, an aid or appliance, or help to cut up food.
Activity 4, Washing and bathing. Self-neglect is a recognised symptom of severe depression. Descriptor 4c, "Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe" (2 points), is about needing someone to prompt or supervise you to wash. Descriptors 4d to 4g cover physical help with particular parts of washing, which is less often the issue with depression alone. Many people with severe depression do not wash for days at a time, describe this specifically, including frequency and what intervention (if any) prompts eventual washing.
Activity 8, Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words. Cognitive impairment in depression, often described as "brain fog" or "pseudo-dementia" in clinical literature, can prevent the claimant from reading and understanding written information reliably. Descriptor 8c, "Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information" (2 points), and descriptor 8d, the same for basic written information (4 points), are about needing someone to prompt or help you take written information in. If concentration is so impaired that you cannot reliably follow written instructions, such as medication leaflets or letters from the DWP, on most days, describe what happens when you try.
Activity 9, Engaging with other people face to face. Depression-driven withdrawal, being unable to start social contact, and overwhelming distress in social settings are all relevant here. Descriptor 9b (2 points) is about needing prompting to engage. Descriptor 9c, "Needs social support to be able to engage with other people" (4 points), is about needing support from someone experienced in helping you engage. Descriptor 9d (8 points) is about being unable to engage because it causes overwhelming psychological distress, or behaviour that would put you or someone else at substantial risk of harm. Many people with severe depression are effectively housebound and unable to interact with anyone outside their household on most days.
Mobility component
Mobility Activity 1, Planning and following journeys. Depression can prevent someone from leaving the house entirely on the majority of days. Descriptor 1b, "Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant" (4 points), and descriptor 1e, "Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant" (10 points), are the ones written for distress. Descriptors 1d (10 points) and 1f (12 points) are about needing another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid to follow an unfamiliar or a familiar route.
Even where the depression presents primarily as lethargy and withdrawal rather than anxiety, inability to leave the house alone on the majority of days is what the Mobility Activity 1 descriptors are about. A GP or CMHT letter confirming social isolation and inability to attend appointments independently is valuable evidence.
Example answers you could adapt
These are illustrations, written to show the kind of detail that helps a decision maker understand your day: what happens, how often, how long it takes, whether it is safe, and who helps. Describe your own experience in your own words. Never copy an example, or any part of one, that is not true for you.
Each activity is named as it appears in Schedule 1 to the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013, and the descriptor wording is quoted from there.
Example onlyDaily living activity 4: Washing and bathing
“Washing feels like far more than I can manage when I am low, which has been most of this year, and I can go five or six days without a shower even though I know I need one.
My daughter rings at eleven most mornings and stays on the phone while I run the water and get in, and that is usually the only reason it happens. Even then I tend to just stand under the water, and I often get out without having used soap or rinsed my hair properly. On the days she cannot ring I generally stay as I am.”
Why this detail matters: A daily phone call that gets you into the shower is prompting of the kind in 4c, "Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe". The gaps of several days without it, and getting out without using soap, show that without it washing does not reach an acceptable standard either.
Example onlyDaily living activity 1: Preparing food
“I used to cook for the family every night, but since this episode started I cannot get myself to begin, and I will open the fridge, stare into it and close it again.
If my husband talks me through each step and stays in the kitchen, I can make something simple like an omelette, though it takes me nearly an hour because my thinking is so slow. Without him I eat dry crackers or nothing, which is most weekdays while he is at work. On the rare better day I can make a pan of soup on my own and freeze some for later.”
Why this detail matters: Being talked through each step is what 1d describes, "Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal". Saying how long a meal takes even with that help, and what you live on when you are alone, shows the difficulty lies in motivation and slowed thinking rather than in your hands or the cooker.
Example onlyDaily living activity 2: Taking nutrition
“My appetite has gone, and on bad days I can reach the evening having had nothing but a cup of tea, not because I have decided not to eat but because I never feel hungry and cannot see why I should bother.
My flatmate leaves a plate in the fridge with a note on it and texts at lunchtime to ask whether I have eaten, and quite often I have not until she reminds me again. My GP has recorded that I have lost nearly two stone since the spring. On the odd day my mood lifts I eat a normal meal without anyone mentioning it.”
Why this detail matters: 2d reads "Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition". Food that sits untouched until someone reminds you, together with something measurable such as the weight loss your GP has recorded, makes the need for those reminders concrete rather than a general comment about appetite.
Example onlyDaily living activity 9: Engaging with other people face to face
“I have let almost every friendship drop since this episode began, and when people do visit I struggle to say more than a few words because there is nothing in my head to say.
With someone new, like a work coach or a locum doctor, my answers dry up and I often end up in tears, so my partner sits in with me and explains on my behalf. My partner and my mum are the only people I really talk to, and even then the conversations are short and they have to start them. After an appointment I feel flattened for a day or two and hardly leave the bedroom.”
Why this detail matters: Someone who sits in with you and explains on your behalf is the help 9c describes, "Needs social support to be able to engage with other people". If contact leaves you in tears and flattened for days even with that help, compare it with the wording in 9d, "overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant", and describe the aftermath honestly either way.
Example onlyDaily living activity 8: Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
“My concentration is so poor that I read the same paragraph over and over and still cannot tell you what it said a minute later.
When my antidepressant was changed I could not follow the written instructions for cutting down the old one, so my wife went through them with me and wrote the doses on the calendar. Letters from the hospital and the council sit on the side for weeks because I give up halfway down the first page. Short, familiar things, like a text from my sister or the date on a carton of milk, I can usually manage.”
Why this detail matters: 8c reads "Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information". The instructions your wife went through with you, set against the texts and dates you can still read, shows where the line falls between complex written information and the basic kind, which is the distinction this activity draws.
Example onlyMobility activity 1: Planning and following journeys
“Leaving the house at all is beyond me on most days, and the thought of even the walk to the shops fills me with dread and a heavy kind of tiredness.
When I have to go somewhere, like my therapy group, my neighbour knocks for me, keeps me company on the bus and makes sure I actually go in rather than turning round and going home. If she is not available I cancel, which has happened four times since June. When a better week comes, I can get to the newsagent and back on my own.”
Why this detail matters: Getting out of the door at all is the question in 1b, "Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant". The knock on the door and the company on the bus are that prompting in practice, and the trip to the newsagent on a better week keeps the account honest about what you can do.
Evidence to send
- CMHT letter or care plan: Document diagnosis, PHQ-9 scores (a score of 20+ indicates severe depression), care coordinator involvement, crisis plan, and medication. This is the most authoritative evidence available for a depression claim.
- GP letter: Should confirm: diagnosis and date of onset; full antidepressant history including dose escalations (for example sertraline escalated, then switched to venlafaxine, then mirtazapine augmentation); referrals to CMHT or IAPT; the GP's view of functional impact on daily living. Ask specifically for the letter to address how your depression affects your ability to wash, cook, leave the house, and interact with others.
- Prescription records: Treatment-resistant depression often involves multiple medication trials, lithium augmentation, antipsychotic augmentation (quetiapine, aripiprazole), or combination antidepressants. This history demonstrates severity far more effectively than a single drug on a low dose.
- Hospital admission, A&E or crisis team records: Any psychiatric inpatient admission, A&E attendance for self-harm or suicidal crisis, or crisis team involvement is powerful objective evidence that the condition is severe. Request these records under Subject Access Request from your NHS trust and attach copies to your PIP2.
- Suicide risk documentation: If your GP or CMHT has recorded suicide risk assessments, these are directly relevant to the safety limb of the Reg 4(2A) reliability test. A claimant with active suicidal ideation cannot perform activities safely, this should be made explicit in your submission.
- Carer or family statement: A written statement describing what a typical bad day looks like, what tasks the carer assists with, and how often, signed and dated, can be the deciding factor at tribunal when medical evidence is incomplete.
How to describe your worst days
The single most common reason depression PIP claims are under-scored is that claimants describe their best days, or use vague minimising language. On the PIP2 form and in any supporting statement, follow these principles:
- Be specific and concrete. "I find it hard to cook" is weak. "On most days I do not eat a cooked meal because I cannot motivate myself to prepare one. I eat cereal or nothing. This has been the case for at least the past three months" gives the decision maker something to match to a descriptor.
- Quantify frequency. "Most days", "at least four days out of seven", "every day during a low episode, which lasts on average two weeks per month", these all apply the Reg 7 majority-of-days standard to your own experience.
- Describe the consequence of not doing the activity. "I have not washed in four days. My partner eventually runs a bath for me and stays nearby because I have previously harmed myself in the bathroom." This describes Activity 4 and addresses the safety limb.
- Do not compare yourself to a worse case. "Other people have it worse" has no legal relevance. PIP is assessed against the descriptors, not against other claimants.
- Describe the impact of treatment too. Even on medication, if your PHQ-9 remains at 18 and you cannot function independently, the treatment is not resolving the functional limitation. Treatment does not disqualify a claim, DWP must assess residual limitation after treatment.
At the assessment
PIP assessments for depression carry well-documented risks. Assessors may record: "appeared well-kempt", "maintained eye contact", "conversed appropriately", and use these to infer the condition is not severe. These inferences are legally questionable: the DWP PIP Assessment Guide requires assessors to consider the majority of days, not solely the assessment day.
Counter-measures:
- Request the assessment report immediately after the appointment and before the decision. Submit corrections in writing to DWP.
- Bring a companion, a family member or support worker who can describe what they observe.
- Tell the assessor explicitly that you are having a better day than usual today, and that this is not representative of the majority of your days.
- If you cannot attend due to depression, contact DWP before the appointment. Ask for a different format and explain why. Home visits are only for exceptional cases, and whether a claim is decided on the papers is the health professional's decision.
If refused
Request Mandatory Reconsideration within one month. In your letter, cite Regulation 7 (majority of days), Regulation 4(2A) (reliability test), and the specific descriptors you believe should have been scored. Attach any new evidence, an updated PHQ-9, a crisis team letter, a more recent GP letter. If MR fails, appeal to the First-tier Tribunal within one month.
For the complete process from claim to tribunal, including how to find a welfare rights adviser, see our PIP: the complete claim guide. If depression is also preventing you from working, see our guide on LCWRA on Universal Credit, which is a separate entitlement that may run alongside PIP.
The four-point rule (scrapped)
You may have read about a four-point rule starting in November 2026. It was removed from the bill in July 2025 and never became law. PIP rules are unchanged while the Timms Review runs (expected to report around autumn 2026). Evidence in descriptor and reliability language remains what decides awards.
See also our medical evidence guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get PIP for depression?
Yes. Depression, including major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), bipolar depression and treatment-resistant depression, can attract points across multiple PIP activities. DWP must assess functional impact, not diagnosis. What matters is how depression limits your ability to carry out the 12 PIP activities safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and in a reasonable time on the majority of days.
What is the majority-of-days test for PIP?
Regulation 7 of the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013 provides that where a claimant's ability to carry out an activity varies, they satisfy a descriptor if they meet it on more than 50% of days in a 12-month period. This is critical for depression, which is often episodic: if you are severely limited on four days out of seven, even if you function better on the other three, you meet the majority-of-days threshold.
Which PIP activity matters most for depression?
It depends on your presentation, but Activity 9 (engaging with other people face to face) and Activity 4 (washing and bathing) are often the most relevant for depression. Withdrawal and social isolation are what the Activity 9 descriptors are about; self-neglect and not keeping up personal hygiene are what the Activity 4 descriptors are about. Activity 1 (preparing food) is also significant where motivational deficit and cognitive slowing make cooking unsafe or impossible on most days.
How do I describe my worst days without undermining my claim?
Describe the majority of your days, not your best day. Be specific and concrete: 'On most days I do not leave my bed until after 2pm. I do not wash because I lack the motivation and energy to do so. I have not cooked a proper meal in three weeks. I have needed my partner to remind me to take my antidepressants every day for the past six months.' Avoid minimising language: 'I struggle sometimes' is weaker than 'I cannot reliably do this on most days'.
Can suicidal ideation or self-harm history affect a PIP award?
It can strengthen the claim significantly. Active suicidal ideation is evidence of severe depression that directly affects safety (the Reg 4(2A) 'safely' limb). A&E attendances for self-harm, crisis team involvement, and psychiatric admission records are among the strongest evidence you can submit. They also make it harder for an assessor to claim the condition is mild or well-managed.
What evidence is most useful for a depression PIP claim?
In order of strength: (1) CMHT letter or care plan documenting diagnosis, PHQ-9 scores and care package; (2) GP letter confirming antidepressant history, dose changes and functional impact; (3) prescription records (e.g. venlafaxine, mirtazapine, lithium, antipsychotic augmentation); (4) hospital admission or A&E attendance records for crisis; (5) crisis team or Samaritans referral documentation; (6) carer or family statement about what daily life looks like.
If I'm refused, what are my options?
Request a Mandatory Reconsideration within one month of the decision letter, citing specific descriptors and the Reg 7 majority-of-days test. Add any new evidence, updated PHQ-9 scores, more recent GP letter, crisis records. If MR fails, appeal to the First-tier Tribunal within one month. Official tribunal statistics do not break PIP appeal outcomes down by condition; across all PIP appeals cleared at a hearing in April to June 2026, 67% were decided in the claimant's favour (Ministry of Justice, Tribunal Statistics Quarterly: April to June 2026). See our guides on PIP Mandatory Reconsideration and PIP tribunal for step-by-step instructions.
General information and document drafting, not benefits advice. Finally Seen is not affiliated with DWP or the NHS and does not guarantee any award. Check current guidance at gov.uk before sending.