PIP (Personal Independence Payment) 2026/27: Complete Guide

What PIP Is and Who Can Claim

Personal Independence Payment replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for working-age adults from 2013 onwards, and is designed to help with the extra costs that come from living with a long-term health condition or disability, whether or not the claimant is in work. It is not an out-of-work benefit, and it is entirely separate from Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance, which deal with the effect of a health condition on someone's ability to work.

To qualify, a claimant generally needs to have had their condition, or the difficulties it causes, for at least three months already and expect it to continue for at least a further nine months, reflecting the focus on longer-term rather than short-term conditions. There is no upper age limit for continuing to receive PIP once awarded, but new claims cannot normally be made after reaching State Pension age.

Daily Living and Mobility Components

The daily living component covers activities such as preparing food, taking nutrition, managing treatments, washing and bathing, dressing and undressing, communicating, engaging with other people, and managing money. The mobility component covers planning and following journeys and moving around physically.

• Standard rate: Awarded where a claimant scores 8 to 11 points on the relevant component.
• Enhanced rate: Awarded where a claimant scores 12 or more points, reflecting greater difficulty or a greater need for aids, prompting or supervision.
• Both components together: A claimant can receive both the daily living and mobility components at the same time, at the same or different rates, if their condition affects both areas of life.

Rates are uprated annually in line with inflation each April, and current weekly rates are published on gov.uk and should always be checked before relying on a specific figure.

How the Points Assessment Works

Each activity within a component is broken down into descriptors describing different levels of difficulty, each carrying a points value from 0 up to 12. The assessor considers whether the claimant can carry out the activity safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time, taking into account any aids, appliances or support from another person that the claimant already uses or would reasonably be expected to use.

Points across all the activities within a component are added together to reach the total score for that component, which is then compared against the standard and enhanced thresholds. A claimant does not need to score highly on every activity — a combination of moderate scores across several activities is just as valid as a very high score on one or two activities.

Claiming and the Assessment Process

A PIP claim starts with a phone call or online form to the DWP, followed by a detailed “How your disability affects you” questionnaire in which the claimant describes, activity by activity, how their condition affects daily life. Supporting evidence from GPs, consultants, occupational therapists, or other professionals involved in the claimant's care can be submitted alongside the form and often makes a material difference to the outcome.

Most claims then proceed to a consultation, by telephone, video call or in person, with a health professional working for an independent assessment provider. The assessor produces a report with recommended points scores, but the final decision is made by a DWP decision maker who considers the assessment report alongside all the other evidence submitted.

How PIP Interacts with Other Support

Because PIP is not means-tested, it sits alongside rather than replacing income-related benefits. A PIP award can unlock additional elements or premiums within Universal Credit or legacy benefits, can exempt a household from the Benefit Cap in certain circumstances, and can support a Blue Badge application for parking. The enhanced mobility component in particular can be exchanged through the Motability Scheme for the lease of an adapted vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair.

A carer looking after someone who receives PIP daily living component at either rate may become eligible for Carer's Allowance in their own right, provided they meet the separate hours and earnings conditions for that benefit, which are assessed independently of the PIP claimant's own income.

Worked Example

Sanjay has a chronic condition that means he needs prompting to manage his medication, help preparing complex meals, and struggles to plan and follow unfamiliar journeys without support. On his daily living activities he scores a total of 10 points, placing him at the standard rate for daily living. On mobility, his difficulty planning and following journeys scores 12 points, placing him at the enhanced rate for mobility.

Sanjay is therefore awarded PIP daily living at the standard rate and PIP mobility at the enhanced rate, and because he receives the enhanced mobility component he is also eligible to apply for a vehicle through the Motability Scheme if he chooses to do so.

Common Pitfalls

• Under-describing difficulties on the form. Claimants often understate how hard, slow, or unsafe an activity is on a bad day, which can lead to an assessment that does not reflect real-world difficulty.
• Not submitting supporting medical evidence. Letters from GPs, specialists, or therapists carry real weight and are frequently the difference between a refusal and an award at reconsideration or appeal.
• Assuming being in work rules out a claim. PIP is available to people in full-time work provided they meet the disability tests; earnings are irrelevant to eligibility.
• Giving up after an initial refusal. A large share of PIP appeals succeed at tribunal, often because additional evidence is presented that was not before the original decision maker.
• Missing reassessment deadlines. Failing to return a renewal pack or attend a scheduled reassessment on time can result in payments being suspended or stopped.