(Updated 03/04/2023)
What is Personal Independence Payment?
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is extra money to help you with everyday life if you’ve an illness, disability or mental health condition.
You can get it on top of Employment and Support Allowance or other benefits. Your income, savings, and whether you’re working or not don't affect your eligibility.
Am I eligible for claiming PIP?
You might be able to get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) if you need extra help because of an illness, disability or mental health condition. You can make a PIP claim whether or not you get help from anyone.
You don’t need to have worked or paid National Insurance to qualify for PIP, and it doesn’t matter what your income is, if you have any savings or you’re working.
To get PIP you must find it hard to do everyday tasks or get around because of a physical or mental condition. You must have found these things hard for 3 months and expect them to continue to be hard for another 9 months.
You must be living in England, Wales or Scotland when you apply - unless you or a close family member are in the armed forces.
You must be at least 16 years old to get PIP.
PIP is not based on the condition you have or the medication you take. It is based on the level of help you need because of how your condition affects you.
You’re assessed on the level of help you need with specific activities. It’s hard to say if the level of help you need will qualify you for PIP. But, if you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying:
- preparing and cooking food
- eating and drinking
- managing your treatments
- washing and bathing
- managing toilet needs or incontinence
- dressing and undressing
- communicating with other people
- reading and understanding written information
- mixing with others
- making decisions about money
- planning a journey or following a route
- moving around
The help you get may be from a person, an aid (such as a walking stick or guide dog) or an adaptation to your home or car.
How much will I get?
PIP is made up of 2 parts - called 'components'.
The ‘daily living component’ is for the extra help you need with everyday tasks. This can include preparing food, washing, getting dressed or communicating with other people.
The ‘mobility component’ is for the extra help you need getting around. This can include moving, planning a journey or following a route.
Each component can be paid at either a standard or enhanced rate. Find out how the DWP decides which rate of PIP you can get.
Daily living standard rate: £61.85 Enhanced Rate £92.40
Mobility standard rate £24.45 Enhanced rate £64.50
Payments above show the weekly rate.
You won’t be charged tax on the PIP you get.
If you or any dependants who live with you get PIP, you won’t be affected by the Benefit Cap.
You can check what other money and help PIP entitles you to.
How do I claim PIP?
There are 3 stages to claiming PIP:
- Contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and fill in the PIP1 form - they can do this for you over the phone
- Fill in the ‘How your disability affects you’ form - you can choose to get a paper form by post or get an email with a link to an online form
- Go to a medical assessment
It can take up to 6 months from when you first contact the DWP to when you get your first payment. If the DWP decide you can get PIP, they’ll pay you the money you should have got from the date you started your claim.
If you think you might be eligible for PIP, check how to start your claim.
If you’re having problems with the form, your local Citizens Advice might be able to help you or find somewhere that can - get help from an adviser.
