This is a sample. The answers below were invented for a fictional person, and the check was produced by the same system and the same checks a real order goes through.

A fictional sample, built from invented answers

PIP answer check

2 October 2026 · For you, not for the DWP

Before you start

Only add what is true for you.
Use your own words.
This check does not predict points or your award.
It was written by an AI system, not by a person.

Why these details matter

How long it takes: Within a reasonable time: did it take you more than twice as long as the longest it would normally take someone without your condition. Source
How often it is like this: The assessment looks at what is true on more than half of the days in the period it considers. Saying how often it is like this shows which days your answer describes. Source
What changes on worse days: The assessment looks across the days in the period, not only at one day. Saying what changes on worse days, and how often they come, shows the whole pattern. Source
Whether you can do it safely: Safely: could you do it in a way unlikely to cause harm to you or to anyone else, either while you do it or afterwards. Source
Whether the result is good enough: To an acceptable standard: was the result actually good enough: food edible and safely cooked, you actually clean, clothes appropriate, nothing needing redoing by someone else, and not at the cost of being unable to manage the rest of the day. Source
Whether you can do it again when you need to: Repeatedly: could you do it again, as often as it reasonably needs doing. Source
Aids and adaptations: The descriptor wording refers to aids and appliances. If you use or need something for this activity, the wording asks what it is. Source
Help from another person: The descriptor wording refers to prompting, supervision and assistance from another person. If someone reminds you, stays with you or helps you, the wording asks what they do. Source

Preparing food

In the assessment this is called: Preparing food

Your words relate to this descriptor wording

c. Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but is able to do so using a microwave

Your words: I can make a sandwich or heat something in the microwave

c. Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but is able to do so using a microwave

Your words: standing at the cooker for more than a few minutes makes my legs and back ache so badly that I have to sit down

d. Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal

Your words: I have burnt pans when I lost track of what I was doing

e. Needs supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal

Your words: My partner cooks most evening meals

Details the assessment looks for that your answer does not give yet

How long it takes
Your words: standing at the cooker for more than a few minutes makes my legs and back ache so badly that I have to sit down
How long does it usually take you to prepare and cook a simple meal, from start to finish?
How often it is like this
Your words: standing at the cooker for more than a few minutes makes my legs and back ache so badly that I have to sit down
On how many days in a typical week does standing at the cooker make you ache like this?
What changes on worse days
What is different about preparing food on your bad days?
Whether you can do it safely
Your words: I have burnt pans when I lost track of what I was doing
When you lose track of what you are doing at the cooker, what risks, if any, does that cause?
Whether the result is good enough
Your words: I have burnt pans when I lost track of what I was doing
When you cook something yourself, how does the food usually turn out?
Whether you can do it again when you need to
After preparing one meal, how do you manage when you need to prepare food again later that day?
Aids and adaptations
What equipment or adaptations, if any, do you use or need when preparing or cooking food?

Questions to ask yourself

What happens on the evenings when your partner does not cook?
When you have to sit down, what happens to the food you were cooking?
How do you get on with tasks such as peeling, chopping or opening packaging?

All the descriptor wording for this activity

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

What you wrote

I can make a sandwich or heat something in the microwave, but standing at the cooker for more than a few minutes makes my legs and back ache so badly that I have to sit down. I have burnt pans when I lost track of what I was doing. My partner cooks most evening meals.

Eating, drinking or being fed

In the assessment this is called: Taking nutrition

Your words relate to this descriptor wording

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

Your words: on bad days my hands are too stiff to cut up meat, so I leave it or my partner cuts it for me

d. Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition

Your words: I often forget to eat lunch when I am low

Details the assessment looks for that your answer does not give yet

How long it takes
Your words: I can feed myself
How long does it usually take you to eat a meal?
How often it is like this
Your words: on bad days my hands are too stiff to cut up meat
How often do you have days when your hands are too stiff to cut up meat?
Whether you can do it safely
What, if anything, makes eating or cutting up food unsafe for you?
Whether you can do it again when you need to
Your words: I can feed myself
How do you get on with feeding yourself at each meal through the day?
Aids and adaptations
Your words: my hands are too stiff to cut up meat
What, if anything, do you use or need to help you cut up food or eat?

Questions to ask yourself

Who, if anyone, reminds or encourages you to eat when you are low?
What decides whether you leave the meat or your partner cuts it for you?
How do you manage drinks when your hands are stiff?

All the descriptor wording for this activity

a. Can take nutrition unaided
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
c. Needs a therapeutic source to be able to take nutrition
d. Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition
e. Needs assistance to be able to manage a therapeutic source to take nutrition
f. Cannot convey food and drink to their mouth and needs another person to do so

What you wrote

I can feed myself, but on bad days my hands are too stiff to cut up meat, so I leave it or my partner cuts it for me. I often forget to eat lunch when I am low.

Managing treatments, therapies or monitoring a condition

In the assessment this is called: Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition

Your words relate to this descriptor wording

b. Needs any one or more of the following - (i) to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage medication; (ii) supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage medication. (iii) supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to monitor a health condition

Your words: I keep them in a weekly pill box because otherwise I lose track of whether I have taken them

Details the assessment looks for that your answer does not give yet

How long it takes
Your words: I am supposed to do physio exercises every day but I usually manage them about twice a week
How long do your physio exercises take each time you do them?
What changes on worse days
Your words: I usually manage them about twice a week
What, if anything, is different about managing your medication and physio exercises on worse days?
Whether you can do it safely
Your words: otherwise I lose track of whether I have taken them
What happens when you lose track of whether you have taken your medication?
Whether the result is good enough
Your words: I usually manage them about twice a week
When you do your physio exercises, how much of them are you able to finish?
Help from another person
What help, if any, does another person give you with taking your medication or doing your physio exercises?

Questions to ask yourself

What stops you doing your physio exercises on the other days?
How does your weekly pill box get filled?
Apart from medication, what, if anything, do you need to check or keep an eye on about your health?

All the descriptor wording for this activity

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
b. Needs any one or more of the following - (i) to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage medication; (ii) supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage medication. (iii) supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to monitor a health condition
c. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes no more than 3.5 hours a week
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
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
f. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 14 hours a week

What you wrote

I take pregabalin and an antidepressant. I keep them in a weekly pill box because otherwise I lose track of whether I have taken them. I am supposed to do physio exercises every day but I usually manage them about twice a week.

Washing and bathing

In the assessment this is called: Washing and bathing

Your words relate to this descriptor wording

b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe

Your words: I shower sitting on a shower seat

d. Needs assistance to be able to wash either their hair or body below the waist

Your words: Washing my hair makes my arms burn and I have to stop halfway

Details the assessment looks for that your answer does not give yet

How long it takes
Your words: Washing my hair makes my arms burn and I have to stop halfway
How long can you keep washing your hair before you have to stop?
How often it is like this
Your words: Some weeks I only shower twice because it leaves me exhausted for the rest of the day
How often do you have weeks when you only shower twice?
What changes on worse days
What is different about washing and showering on your worse days?
Whether you can do it safely
Your words: I shower sitting on a shower seat
How safe do you feel when you are washing or showering?
Whether the result is good enough
Your words: Washing my hair makes my arms burn and I have to stop halfway
When you have to stop halfway, how clean does your hair end up?
Help from another person
What help, reminders or supervision from another person, if any, do you get when washing or showering?

Questions to ask yourself

How do you get in and out of the shower?
How do you manage washing your lower body, including your legs and feet?
How do you manage washing your upper body, including your back?

All the descriptor wording for this activity

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

What you wrote

I shower sitting on a shower seat. Washing my hair makes my arms burn and I have to stop halfway. Some weeks I only shower twice because it leaves me exhausted for the rest of the day.

Toilet needs or continence

In the assessment this is called: Managing toilet needs or incontinence

Your words relate to this descriptor wording

b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage toilet needs or incontinence

Your words: Getting up from a low toilet is hard, so I push myself up on the sink

Details the assessment looks for that your answer does not give yet

How long it takes
Your words: Getting up from a low toilet is hard
How long does it usually take you to get up from the toilet?
How often it is like this
Your words: so I push myself up on the sink
How often do you push yourself up on the sink to get off the toilet?
What changes on worse days
Your words: most of the time
What, if anything, is different about using the toilet on your worse days?
Whether you can do it safely
Your words: so I push myself up on the sink
How safe do you feel when you push yourself up on the sink?
Whether the result is good enough
How well are you able to clean yourself after using the toilet?
Aids and adaptations
Your words: Getting up from a low toilet is hard
Apart from the sink, what else, if anything, do you use to help you get up from the toilet?
Help from another person
Your words: I can manage the toilet on my own most of the time
What help, if any, do you get from another person when you do not manage the toilet on your own?

Questions to ask yourself

What is it like for you to sit down on the toilet?
Which toilets are you thinking of when you say a low toilet?

All the descriptor wording for this activity

a. Can manage toilet needs or incontinence unaided
b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage toilet needs or incontinence
c. Needs supervision or prompting to be able to manage toilet needs
d. Needs assistance to be able to manage toilet needs
e. Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of either bladder or bowel
f. Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of both bladder and bowel

What you wrote

I can manage the toilet on my own most of the time. Getting up from a low toilet is hard, so I push myself up on the sink.

Dressing and undressing

In the assessment this is called: Dressing and undressing

Your words relate to this descriptor wording

d. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their lower body

Your words: Putting socks on makes my back flare up

Details the assessment looks for that your answer does not give yet

How often it is like this
Your words: it can take me 20 minutes to get dressed
On how many days in a typical week is getting dressed like this for you?
What changes on worse days
Your words: when my fingers are stiff in the morning
What is different about getting dressed or undressed on your worse days?
Whether you can do it safely
How safe do you feel while you are getting dressed and undressed?
Whether the result is good enough
Your words: Buttons and zips are difficult
When you have finished getting dressed, what, if anything, is not done up or not on properly?
Whether you can do it again when you need to
Your words: Putting socks on makes my back flare up
If you need to get dressed or changed again later the same day, what happens?
Aids and adaptations
Your words: Putting socks on makes my back flare up
What, if anything, do you use to help you put socks on?
Help from another person
What help, if any, do you get from another person with dressing or undressing?

Questions to ask yourself

What is undressing like for you compared with getting dressed?
How do you feel once you have finished getting dressed?

All the descriptor wording for this activity

a. Can dress and undress unaided
b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to dress or undress
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
d. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their lower body
e. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their upper body
f. Cannot dress or undress at all

What you wrote

Buttons and zips are difficult when my fingers are stiff in the morning, so I wear loose clothes and slip-on shoes. Putting socks on makes my back flare up and it can take me 20 minutes to get dressed.

Talking and understanding

In the assessment this is called: Communicating verbally

Your words relate to this descriptor wording

c. Needs communication support to be able to express or understand complex verbal information

Your words: I lose my words halfway through a sentence

Details the assessment looks for that your answer does not give yet

How long it takes
Your words: my concentration goes and I lose my words halfway through a sentence
When your pain is bad, how long can you keep a conversation going?
How often it is like this
Your words: when my pain is bad
How often does your pain get bad enough for your concentration to go?
Whether the result is good enough
Your words: I lose my words halfway through a sentence
When you lose your words partway through, how well do people understand what you are trying to say?
Aids and adaptations
What, if anything, do you use to help you speak or hear?
Help from another person
Your words: I lose my words halfway through a sentence
When you lose your words, what help, if any, do you get from another person?

Questions to ask yourself

When your pain is bad, what is it like trying to follow what other people are saying?
What kinds of conversations, if any, are harder for you to take part in?
What do you do if you lose your words halfway through a sentence?

All the descriptor wording for this activity

a. Can express and understand verbal information unaided
b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear
c. Needs communication support to be able to express or understand complex verbal information
d. Needs communication support to be able to express or understand basic verbal information
e. Cannot express or understand verbal information at all even with communication support

What you wrote

I can speak and understand people, but when my pain is bad my concentration goes and I lose my words halfway through a sentence.

Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

In the assessment this is called: Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

Your words relate to this descriptor wording

c. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information

Your words: long letters are hard to take in when I am exhausted

c. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information

Your words: I read official letters two or three times before they make sense

Details the assessment looks for that your answer does not give yet

How long it takes
Your words: I read official letters two or three times before they make sense
How long does it usually take you to make sense of an official letter?
How often it is like this
Your words: when I am exhausted
How often, or on how many days, do you find long letters hard to take in?
Whether the result is good enough
Your words: long letters are hard to take in when I am exhausted
When you are exhausted, how much of a long letter do you understand by the end?
Whether you can do it again when you need to
What happens if you need to read more than one letter on the same day?
Aids and adaptations
What, if anything, do you use to help you read or make sense of written information?
Help from another person
How, if at all, does another person help you read or understand written information?

Questions to ask yourself

What makes long letters hard to take in when you are exhausted?
What is it like reading shorter things, such as signs, when you are exhausted?

All the descriptor wording for this activity

a. Can read and understand basic and complex written information either unaided or using spectacles or contact lenses
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
c. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information
d. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand basic written information
e. Cannot read or understand signs, symbols or words at all

What you wrote

I can read, but long letters are hard to take in when I am exhausted. I read official letters two or three times before they make sense.

Mixing with other people

In the assessment this is called: Engaging with other people face to face

Your words relate to this descriptor wording

c. Needs social support to be able to engage with other people

Your words: my partner usually comes with me

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

Your words: I avoid seeing people because I feel anxious and worn out

Your words: If I have to meet someone new I get panicky

Details the assessment looks for that your answer does not give yet

How long it takes
How long can you spend with other people at a time?
How often it is like this
Your words: I avoid seeing people because I feel anxious and worn out
How often do you avoid seeing people because you feel anxious and worn out?
What changes on worse days
What is different about seeing or meeting people on your worse days?
Whether you can do it safely
Does anything happen when you are with other people that could put you or anyone else at risk of harm?
Whether the result is good enough
When you do meet people, how well are you able to join in?
Whether you can do it again when you need to
After seeing someone, what happens if you need to see people again soon afterwards?

Questions to ask yourself

When your partner comes with you to meet someone new, what do they do?
What happens on the occasions when your partner does not come with you?
What happens when you get panicky meeting someone new?

All the descriptor wording for this activity

a. Can engage with other people unaided
b. Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people
c. Needs social support to be able to engage with other people
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

What you wrote

I avoid seeing people because I feel anxious and worn out. If I have to meet someone new I get panicky and my partner usually comes with me.

Making decisions about money

In the assessment this is called: Making budgeting decisions

Your words relate to this descriptor wording

b. Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make complex budgeting decisions

Your words: I sometimes forget when they are due

Details the assessment looks for that your answer does not give yet

How often it is like this
Your words: I sometimes forget when they are due
When you say you sometimes forget when bills are due, how often does that happen?
What changes on worse days
Your words: I manage my own money and pay my bills
What, if anything, is different about managing money and bills on bad days?
Whether the result is good enough
Your words: I sometimes forget when they are due
When you forget a bill is due, what happens with paying it?
Help from another person
Your words: I manage my own money and pay my bills
What help, if any, does another person give you with bills or money?

Questions to ask yourself

How do you find working out a budget for your household and personal spending?
How do you find planning ahead for larger purchases?
How do you get on with working out prices and change when you buy things?

All the descriptor wording for this activity

a. Can manage complex budgeting decisions unaided
b. Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make complex budgeting decisions
c. Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make simple budgeting decisions
d. Cannot make any budgeting decisions at all

What you wrote

I manage my own money and pay my bills, though I sometimes forget when they are due.

Planning and following journeys

In the assessment this is called: Planning and following journeys

Your words relate to this descriptor wording

d. Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid

Your words: I do not go anywhere new on my own

b. Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant

Your words: I panic if things change, like a bus being cancelled

Details the assessment looks for that your answer does not give yet

How often it is like this
Your words: I can do the short trip to my local shop without help
How often are you able to do the short trip to your local shop without help?
What changes on worse days
What, if anything, is different about making journeys on your bad days?
Whether you can do it safely
Your words: I panic if things change, like a bus being cancelled
When you panic because things change, like a bus being cancelled, how safe are you?
Aids and adaptations
What, if anything, do you use to help you find your way on a journey?
Help from another person
Your words: I do not go anywhere new on my own
If you need to go somewhere new, what help, if any, do you get from another person?

Questions to ask yourself

What happens when you need to work out the route for a journey?
Apart from the short trip to your local shop, how do you get on with any other journeys you know well?
How do you feel before setting off on a journey?

All the descriptor wording for this activity

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

What you wrote

I do not go anywhere new on my own because I panic if things change, like a bus being cancelled. I can do the short trip to my local shop without help.

Moving around

In the assessment this is called: Moving around

Your words about this activity

I can walk to the end of my street, about 100 metres, before the pain in my hips and legs makes me stop

I use a walking stick outside

The descriptor wording for this activity is set by distance, so this check does not match your words to any one descriptor.

Details the assessment looks for that your answer does not give yet

How long it takes
Your words: I can walk to the end of my street, about 100 metres
How long does it usually take you to walk to the end of your street?
How often it is like this
Your words: I can walk to the end of my street, about 100 metres, before the pain in my hips and legs makes me stop
On how many days is your walking like you have described?
What changes on worse days
Your words: before the pain in my hips and legs makes me stop
What, if anything, is different about your walking on your worse days?
Whether you can do it safely
What, if anything, puts your safety at risk when you are walking?
Whether you can do it again when you need to
Your words: After that I need to rest for a while before I can walk back
What happens if you need to walk that distance again later the same day?
Help from another person
What help or support, if any, does another person give you when you are walking?

Questions to ask yourself

When you stop to rest, how long is it before you can walk back?
What is it like for you to stand up before you start walking?
What difference, if any, does your walking stick make to how far you can walk?

All the descriptor wording for this activity

a. Can stand and then move more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided
b. Can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided
c. Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres
d. Can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres
e. Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided
f. Cannot, either aided or unaided, - (i) stand; or (ii) move more than 1 metre

What you wrote

I can walk to the end of my street, about 100 metres, before the pain in my hips and legs makes me stop. I use a walking stick outside. After that I need to rest for a while before I can walk back.