PIP & Disability Benefits Guide

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people with a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. It's not means-tested — it doesn't matter how much you earn or have in savings. Yet millions of eligible people never claim it.

PIP is not just for severe disabilities. It covers a wide range of conditions — arthritis, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, diabetes, MS, epilepsy, and many others. What matters is how your condition affects your daily life, not the diagnosis itself.

What PIP Pays (2025/26 rates)

PIP has two components — you can get one or both:

Component Standard rate Enhanced rate
Daily Living
Difficulty with eating, dressing, washing, communicating, managing medication, social engagement		 £73.90/week £110.40/week
Mobility
Difficulty with planning or following journeys, moving around		 £29.20/week £77.05/week

The maximum you can receive is £187.45/week (£9,747/year) — both enhanced components. PIP is paid every 4 weeks, is tax-free, and does not count as income for means-tested benefits. It can also unlock entitlement to other benefits including Carer's Allowance for someone who looks after you.

Who Can Claim

  • Aged 16 to State Pension age (if you're over State Pension age, you'd normally claim Attendance Allowance instead)
  • Have a physical or mental health condition or disability that causes difficulty with daily living or mobility activities
  • Have had those difficulties for at least 3 months and expect them to continue for at least 9 more months
  • Be a UK resident

You do not need to be unable to work, housebound, or receiving any other benefit to claim PIP.

How to Claim — Step by Step

1
Call the DWP to start your claim

Phone: 0800 917 2222 (free, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm). You'll give basic details and be sent a PIP2 form ("How your disability affects you"). If you can't use the phone, ask someone to call on your behalf or request an alternative.

2
Complete the PIP2 form carefully

This is the most important part. Describe your worst days, not your best. Explain how your condition affects you in detail — don't just tick boxes. Include the impact on your safety, reliability, and dignity. Ask Citizens Advice or a benefits adviser to help you fill it in.

3
Attend your assessment

A health professional (working for Capita or Atos) will assess you — either face to face, by phone, or by paper review. Again, focus on your worst days. You can take a friend or carer. Ask for a copy of the assessment report afterwards.

4
Receive your decision

DWP will write to you. If awarded, PIP is usually backdated to your initial phone call. Awards are given for a fixed period (1–10 years typically) and then reviewed.

If You're Refused or Underpaid

Don't accept the first decision without challenge — a large proportion of refused claims are overturned on appeal. The process:

  1. Mandatory reconsideration — ask DWP to look again within 1 month of the decision. Write a letter explaining why you disagree, with evidence from your GP or specialist if possible.
  2. Appeal to a tribunal — if mandatory reconsideration fails, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. Success rates at tribunal are high (around 70% of appeals succeed).
Get free help with your claim. Benefits advisers at Citizens Advice, disability charities, or local law centres can help you fill in forms and prepare for assessments — and it's free. Don't pay anyone to help you claim PIP.

Children: Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Children under 16 claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) rather than PIP. DLA has a care component and a mobility component. Children are not migrated to PIP until they turn 16.

Attendance Allowance

If you're over State Pension age and have a disability or health condition, you claim Attendance Allowance instead. Rates: £72.65/week (lower rate) or £108.55/week (higher rate) — 2024/25 figures.

Free help with PIP: