PIP Rates 2026/27: Daily Living & Mobility Components Explained
PIP rates for 2026/27: daily living £72.65 (standard) or £108.55 (enhanced); mobility £28.70 (standard) or £75.89 (enhanced). Full guide to eligibility, assessment and award.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the main disability benefit in England, Wales, and Scotland for people aged 16 to state pension age whose long-term physical or mental health condition affects their daily life or ability to get around. Unlike many benefits, PIP is not means-tested and not affected by income or employment -- but the assessment process is detailed and the points-based scoring system is complex. Understanding how the system works, what the 2026/27 rates are, and how to present your claim effectively can make a material difference to the outcome.
The Two Components: Daily Living and Mobility
PIP is made up of two separate components, each with two payment rates. Your award depends on the points scored across the relevant activities, and you can be awarded one or both components, each at either rate.
Daily Living component assesses how your condition affects your ability to carry out activities in everyday life. The standard rate (8 to 11 points) is £72.65 per week in 2026/27. The enhanced rate (12 or more points) is £108.55 per week.
Mobility component assesses how your condition affects your ability to get around. The standard rate (8 to 11 points) is £28.70 per week. The enhanced rate (12 or more points) is £75.89 per week.
An award of both components at the enhanced rate gives £108.55 + £75.89 = £184.44 per week -- £9,591 per year, entirely tax-free.
The Points-Based Assessment System
PIP operates on a points system. Each activity is divided into descriptors, each carrying a points value. You score the descriptor that best describes your ability on the majority of days (or on a bad day if that is more than half your days). Only the highest-scoring descriptor within each activity counts.
Daily Living activities and examples of descriptors:
Preparing food -- from "can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided" (0 points) to "cannot prepare and cook food at all" (8 points). Needing aids, needing prompting, or taking twice as long as normal all score intermediate points.
Washing and bathing -- from "unaided" (0 points) to "cannot wash or bathe any part of their body, hair or face" (8 points). Using aids, needing supervision, or assistance all score varying points.
Dressing and undressing -- from "unaided" (0 points) to "cannot dress or undress any part of their body" (8 points).
Engaging with other people -- assessed for social anxiety, autism, mental health conditions, and communication difficulties. Needing social support, or being unable to engage due to psychological distress, scores points.
Making financial decisions -- tests cognitive ability to manage money. Conditions affecting memory, processing, or impulse control can score here.
Mobility activities:
Planning and following journeys -- The descriptors include whether you can follow an unfamiliar route without another person, and whether overwhelming psychological distress prevents journey planning. This descriptor is important for conditions causing severe anxiety or agoraphobia, scoring up to 12 points (enhanced rate).
Moving around -- Physical ability to walk distances. Unable to walk more than 20 metres scores 12 points (enhanced). Between 20 and 50 metres scores 10 points (enhanced). Between 50 and 200 metres scores 4 points (standard). Over 200 metres scores 0.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for PIP you must:
Age: Be aged 16 or over and under state pension age when you claim. Those already receiving PIP when they reach state pension age can continue on PIP (they do not need to switch to Attendance Allowance).
Residence: Be habitually resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar. Immigration status may affect eligibility.
Duration test: Your condition must have affected you for at least 3 months before you claim, and you must expect it to continue for at least 9 months. This is the "prospective test" -- terminal illness is an exception (special rules for terminal illness remove the waiting period).
Condition: Any physical, mental, cognitive or sensory condition qualifies, provided it affects the specified activities. There is no list of qualifying conditions.
The Assessment Process
After you submit a claim (by calling the DWP PIP new claims number), you receive a "How your disability affects you" form (PIP2) to complete in detail. This is the most important document in your claim. Describe the worst of your difficulties, not your best days.
Your claim is then referred to a health assessment provider. The assessor will conduct an assessment -- this may be face-to-face (in a consultation centre or at home), by telephone, or a paper-based assessment if your condition is severe enough that attending or calling in would cause significant harm.
The assessor writes a report for DWP. A DWP decision maker (not the assessor) makes the final decision. The decision letter explains the points awarded in each activity.
How PIP Interacts With Other Benefits
PIP is a "passport" benefit -- receiving it can trigger entitlements to other support:
Universal Credit: Receiving the daily living component of PIP at either rate means you are exempt from the work capability assessment in Universal Credit. You receive the Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (LCWRA) element without needing a separate UC health assessment. This is worth £416.19 per month additional UC entitlement in 2026/27.
Carer's Allowance: A carer caring for someone receiving the enhanced daily living component of PIP can claim Carer's Allowance (£83.30/week in 2026/27).
Vehicle excise duty (road tax): Enhanced mobility component recipients qualify for a full VED exemption.
Motability scheme: Enhanced mobility component allows you to lease a car, scooter, or powered wheelchair through the Motability scheme using your mobility payment.
Blue Badge: Standard or enhanced mobility component (moving around activity) normally qualifies for a Blue Badge, subject to local authority assessment.
Sources
- gov.uk: Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- DWP: PIP assessment guide for professionals
- DWP: PIP statistics, April 2026
Frequently asked questions
What are the PIP rates for 2026/27?
Daily Living component: standard rate £72.65/week, enhanced rate £108.55/week. Mobility component: standard rate £28.70/week, enhanced rate £75.89/week. These rates apply from April 2026.
Who can claim PIP?
Adults aged 16 to state pension age who have a physical or mental health condition or disability that affects their ability to carry out daily living activities or mobility activities, and who have had those difficulties for at least 3 months and expect them to continue for at least 9 months.
Is PIP means-tested?
No. PIP is not means-tested -- it is not affected by income, savings, or employment status. You can claim PIP while working, while receiving other benefits, or at any income level.
What daily activities does PIP assess?
PIP assesses 10 daily living activities: preparing food, eating and drinking, managing treatments, washing and bathing, managing toilet needs, dressing and undressing, communicating verbally, reading and understanding, engaging with other people, and making financial decisions.
What mobility activities does PIP assess?
PIP assesses 2 mobility activities: planning and following journeys (which includes the impact of overwhelming psychological distress), and moving around (physical ability to walk distances).
How does the PIP assessment work?
DWP refers your claim to a Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS) assessor (usually Capita or Atos). The assessor conducts a face-to-face, telephone, or paper-based assessment and submits a report to DWP. A DWP decision maker then decides your award.
How long does PIP last?
PIP awards are usually given for a fixed period of 1 to 10 years, then reviewed. In some cases (where a condition is clearly permanent and severe), an ongoing award is made with a lighter-touch review.
Can I get PIP with a mental health condition?
Yes. PIP covers all conditions -- physical, mental, and cognitive. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, autism, and other mental health conditions can all support a PIP claim if they affect daily living or mobility activities.
What is the difference between PIP and DLA?
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) was the predecessor to PIP. Adults who claimed DLA have been migrated to PIP over time. DLA for children still exists (under 16). PIP uses a different, more detailed points-based assessment than DLA.
What if I disagree with my PIP decision?
First request a Mandatory Reconsideration from DWP (within 1 month of the decision letter). If this is unsuccessful, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber). Success rates at tribunal are significantly higher than at Mandatory Reconsideration.
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PIP Daily Living Component Explained: Rates and Qualifying Criteria for 2026/27
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