Pillar Guide · Updated July 2026
Personal Independence Payment (PIP): A Complete Guide for 2026/27
PIP is the main working-age disability benefit in the UK, paid regardless of income or savings, based on the extra help you need with daily living and getting around. This guide explains the two components, the points-based assessment, and what to do if a claim is turned down.
Who Can Claim
PIP is for people aged 16 or over, below State Pension age, with a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability causing difficulty with daily living, getting around, or both. It is not means-tested — savings, income, and employment status do not affect eligibility or the amount you receive, which is instead based on the level of help and support you need in practice.
The Two Components
- Daily living component — for help with everyday tasks such as preparing food, washing and dressing, managing medication, and communicating
- Mobility component — for difficulties planning and following a journey, or physically moving around
Each component is paid at a standard or enhanced rate depending on points scored in the assessment, and you may qualify for one or both components depending on your individual needs.
The Assessment Process
DWP uses a points-based assessment across a defined set of daily living and mobility activities, typically informed by a health assessment carried out by an independent assessment provider — this can take place by phone, video, in person, or occasionally on paper alone. Points are awarded for each activity based on the level of difficulty and any aids or help needed, and the totals across each component determine whether you qualify for the standard rate, enhanced rate, or neither.
PIP vs Disability Living Allowance
PIP replaced Disability Living Allowance for working-age adults, with existing adult DLA claimants progressively reassessed and moved onto PIP over time. DLA continues for children under 16, who move onto PIP (subject to their own assessment) once they reach the qualifying age.
Award Length and Reviews
Award lengths vary: some are fixed-term (commonly 1 to 10 years) with a scheduled reassessment, while others — particularly where a condition is stable and unlikely to improve — can be indefinite with only light-touch reviews. Your award letter should state whether and when a review is expected.
Mandatory Reconsideration and Appeals
If your claim is refused or you disagree with the award, you can request a mandatory reconsideration, typically within one month of the decision date. If the outcome remains unfavourable, you can appeal to an independent tribunal — many successful PIP appeals are won at this stage rather than the initial decision, so a refusal is not necessarily the final word.
Effect on Other Benefits
PIP itself is not means-tested and does not usually reduce other benefits; receiving it can actually trigger or increase entitlement to other support, such as certain premiums in legacy means-tested benefits, Carer's Allowance for someone who cares for you, and elements within Universal Credit. Check the specific interaction with each benefit you receive, as rules and premiums vary.