Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:
You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.
You can also read about PIP in Welsh (Cymraeg).
How PIP works
There are 2 parts to PIP:
- a daily living part - if you need help with everyday tasks
- a mobility part - if you need help with getting around
Whether you get one or both parts and how much you get depends on how difficult you find everyday tasks and getting around.
Daily living part
You might get the daily living part of PIP if you need help with:
- preparing food
- eating and drinking
- managing your medicines or treatments
- washing and bathing
- using the toilet
- dressing and undressing
- reading
- managing your money
- socialising and being around other people
- talking, listening and understanding
Mobility part
You might get the mobility part of PIP if you need help with:
- working out a route and following it
- physically moving around
- leaving your home
You do not have to have a physical disability to get the mobility part. You might also be eligible if you have difficulty getting around because of a cognitive or mental health condition, like anxiety.
How difficulty with tasks is assessed
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they’ll look at:
- whether you can do it safely
- how long it takes you
- how often your condition affects this activity
- whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment
Your carer could get Carer’s Allowance if you have substantial caring needs.
Help with PIP
If you need help understanding or applying for PIP you can:
If you live in Scotland
You need to apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) instead of PIP.
If you currently get PIP, you’ll be automatically moved to ADP by summer 2024.
When the move begins, you’ll get letters from DWP and Social Security Scotland. Read more about the moving process.
If you move from Scotland to England or Wales
If you get ADP and move from Scotland to England or Wales, you must make a new claim for PIP instead.
Your ADP will stop 13 weeks after you move – apply for PIP as soon as possible after moving or your payments could be affected.
If you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is being replaced by PIP for most adults. You’ll keep getting DLA if:
- you’re under 16
- you were born on or before 8 April 1948
If you were born after 8 April 1948, DWP will invite you to apply for PIP. You do not need to do anything until DWP writes to you about your DLA unless your circ*mstances change.
FAQs
Personal Independence Payment ( PIP ) can help with extra living costs if you have both: a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition.
What illness automatically qualifies for PIP? ›
There's no set list of medical conditions that make you eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in the UK.
How much is PIP per week? ›
There are two rates: Standard £28.70 per week. Enhanced £75.75 per week.
What free stuff can you get on PIP? ›
What PIP freebies are there?
- Blue badge.
- Capped water bills.
- Council Tax discounts.
- Disability premium.
- Disabled Facilities Grant.
- Discounted days out.
- Free prescriptions.
- Motability Scheme vehicle.
To qualify for PIP, you have to score enough points on the PIP test for daily living or mobility (or both). If you score between eight and 11 points for the daily living activities, you get the standard rate of the daily living component. If you score 12 or more points, or you are terminally ill.
What conditions are most likely to be awarded PIP? ›
With 37% of people receiving PIP having a psychiatric disorder, it is the most common condition people receiving PIP claim for. Psychiatric disorders are mental health conditions that can affect how a person thinks and feels about themselves and/or the world around them.
What is the 3 month rule for PIP? ›
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.
What is the most approved disability? ›
What Is the Most Approved Disability? Arthritis and other musculoskeletal system disabilities make up the most commonly approved conditions for social security disability benefits. This is because arthritis is so common. In the United States, over 58 million people suffer from arthritis.
What is the maximum back pay for PIP? ›
In the last month, Benefits and Work has heard from four members who have received a backdated payment of PIP because of errors relating to the “Engaging with other people face to face” activity. Payments have ranged from £5,000 to £12,000.
What age does PIP stop? ›
There are exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, the upper age for claiming PIP is the day you reach state pension age. Unless one of the exceptions explained below applies, the only disability benefit that you can claim after reaching 65 is attendance allowance (AA), which has many similarities to the old DLA.
It is certainly possible to be eligible to claim PIP (personal independence payment pip) if suffering from a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety but it very much depends on how the mental illness affects you.
How long can you claim PIP for? ›
If you don't get an indefinite award, you'll get PIP for a fixed amount of time – your decision letter will tell you for how long. If you're terminally ill the award will be for 3 years. If you're awarded PIP for a fixed time of more than 2 years, the DWP will usually review your award before it ends.
Can you work while on PIP? ›
Work doesn't affect personal independence payment (PIP) in so far as PIP is not means-tested and you can be paid PIP whether you are working full-time, part-time or not at all. So, you could work as a merchant banker earning millions and still be eligible for PIP.
Can I get money from PIP? ›
You can get Personal Independence Payment ( PIP ) if all of the following apply to you: you're 16 or over. you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. you have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around.
What other payments can you get with PIP? ›
If you get other benefits and PIP
You may get a top-up (called a disability premium) if you get: Income Support. income-based Jobseeker's Allowance ( JSA ) income-related Employment and Support Allowance ( ESA )
How does the PIP work? ›
Each PIP component is paid into your bank, building or post office account every four weeks at either a standard or an enhanced rate. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) use a points system at an assessment to see which components you are eligible for and at what rate.
How is PIP usually paid? ›
PIP is tax free and is paid every four weeks. The amount you get is not affected by your income or savings and you can get it whether you are in work or not. Tell the Department for Communities (DfC) straight away if there's a change in your personal circ*mstances or how your condition affects you.
Is PIP the same as disability? ›
PIP (Personal Independence Payment) is the benefit that's gradually replacing DLA (Disability Living Allowance) for people aged 16 or older. If you were born before 9 April 1948, you can't move to PIP - you can keep getting and renewing your DLA.
What benefits can I get with PIP? ›
If you get PIP you may be entitled to extra money on top of your existing benefits, a reduction in your council tax or road tax bills and discounts on travel.
