The government can provide extra financial support if you have a disability or health condition that significantly impacts your daily life. This is known as Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Want to learn more about claiming PIP in the UK? Use our guide to find out what you need to know.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit designed to help people with disabilities, mental health conditions, or physical health conditions. PIP payments are split into two parts: Daily Living and Mobility. Some people receive just one part, while others are eligible for both.
According to the government’s PIP info page, you can claim PIP if you live in England or Wales and have both a “long-term physical or mental health condition or disability” and “difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition”.
For example, you might claim PIP if you have arthritis that makes it difficult to walk long distances or prepare meals independently. Or, you might claim PIP if you have severe anxiety that makes it hard to go out alone or manage everyday tasks without support.
PIP isn’t means-tested, so you can claim it while working or when receiving LCWRA as part of Universal Credit. You can find out more about LCWRA in our LCWRA Guide.
Did you know? In Great Britain, the number of disability benefit recipients has increased from 4.4 million in 2005 to 6.9 million in 2025. This is a rise from 7.4% to 10.8% of the population.
PIP is awarded using a points-based system. This means that rather than focusing on the diagnosis itself, a PIP assessment looks at how a person’s condition affects their ability to carry out everyday activities.
There are two parts to PIP:
Daily Living: This covers everyday tasks such as preparing food, washing, dressing, communicating, and managing money.
Mobility: This looks at a person’s ability to move around and travel independently.
Each activity has a number of descriptions (known as descriptors) which reflect different levels of difficulty. Every descriptor is worth a certain number of points.
For example, someone who uses an aid to get dressed and also struggles to walk long distances safely may score points in both areas.
Points are then added together separately for the Daily Living and Mobility components:
The assessment also considers whether someone can carry out activities safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard, and within a reasonable amount of time. This means that even if you can do something occasionally, you may still qualify if doing it causes pain or puts you at risk.
Useful to know: The government are currently in the process of reviewing PIP rules and are expected to set out the final changes by autumn 2026. This means that the criteria for claims may change after this period.
In 2026, PIP claimants receive the following:
Daily Living: £76.70 per week (standard) or £114.60 per week (enhanced rate)
Mobility: £30.30 per week (standard) or £80.00 per week (enhanced rate)
This money can be used to purchase things like:
If you’re successful in your PIP application, you may receive one or both components depending on how your condition affects your daily life and ability to get around.
There are a few different ways you can make a claim for PIP. You can either apply over the phone or send a letter in the post using the details on the government’s web page: how to claim. There’s also an option for some people to apply online; however, this is limited to certain postcodes. You can check if you might be eligible using their dedicated postcode checker.
When applying for PIP, you’ll need to explain how your condition affects your everyday life and mobility, rather than simply providing a diagnosis. You may be asked to complete a questionnaire about your symptoms and how they impact daily activities such as preparing food, washing, dressing, and getting around.
It’s best to provide supporting evidence to strengthen your claim. This might include medical records, letters from healthcare professionals, care plans, prescription information, or statements from family members or carers who understand how your condition affects you day to day.
Most claimants are asked to attend an assessment, either over the phone, by video call, in person or, in some cases, through a paper-based review. Following the assessment, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will review your application and decide whether you qualify for PIP and the rate you’ll receive.
During a PIP assessment, you’ll be asked to talk about how your condition or disability affects your daily life. This is an opportunity to discuss specific examples, like what you struggle with on a daily basis or what a “good” or “bad” day might look like. It’s always best to prepare a few ideas so you have a clear idea of what you want to talk about. You can also download an assessment help sheet from Citizens Advice to help you prepare beforehand.
Absolutely. PIP is open to anyone who can prove they need support with daily living or mobility. So, if you have a neurodivergent condition that affects your ability to carry out daily tasks or get around, you may be eligible to claim.
Yes. PIP isn’t means-tested, which means your income, savings or employment status don’t affect your eligibility. You can claim PIP whether you work full-time, part-time or are self-employed, as long as your health condition or disability affects your daily living or mobility.
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