How to Apply for PIP (Personal Independence Payment)
PIP helps people aged 16 to State Pension age. It is for people whose long-term health condition or disability affects daily life. It has two parts: daily living and mobility. Each part is paid at a standard rate or an enhanced rate. The rate depends on the points you score in the assessment. You start by phone with the DWPDepartment for Work and Pensions — The UK department for benefits and pensions, including Universal Credit and State Pension.Click for official info ↗. Then you fill in the detailed PIP2 form. You usually have an assessment too. Most claims take several months.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Free
- Total time:
- 3–5 months typical
- Steps:
- 7 steps
- Where to apply:
- gov.uk
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked every 6 months · next review due April 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official UK sources(October 2026).
0 of 7 steps
- Before You Go 15 min
Check you meet the basic rules
You must be 16 or over and under State Pension age. Your condition must be expected to last at least 12 months. You must have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years. You must be living in England or Wales when you apply. In Scotland, new claims are for Adult Disability Payment, not PIP. PIP is not means-tested. Your savings and most other benefits do not block it.
Click to mark as done
- Fill / Prepare 20 min
Start the claim by phone
Call the DWP PIP new claims line on 0800 917 2222 to start. The call covers who you are, how to contact you, and your bank details. It takes about 20 minutes. DWP will then send you the PIP2 form. Its name is "how your disability affects you". This form is where claims are won or lost.
Click to mark as done
- Fill / Prepare several hours over days
Complete the PIP2 form with evidence
Use real examples. For each daily activity, explain how you manage on your worst days, not your best days. Attach medical letters and your symptom diary. Send the form back by the deadline on the letter. This is usually one month. If you need more time, contact the PIP enquiry line.
Click to mark as done
- Go 1 hour
Attend the assessment
Most people are asked to have an assessment. It can be by phone, by video, or face to face. A health professional carries it out. Take someone with you. Take your evidence. Answer for your worst days. The assessor scores you against set descriptors. For each part, 8 points earns the standard rate. 12 points earns the enhanced rate.
Click to mark as done
- Wait 3–5 months
Wait for the DWP decision
A DWP case manager looks at the assessment report and your form. They then send a decision letter. It shows your points and your award, or says no. Typical waits run 12–20 weeks from the first call.
Click to mark as done
- Follow Up 1–6 months
Challenge it if the award is wrong
About half of refusals are changed on appeal. First, ask for a mandatory reconsideration. Do this within one month of the decision. Send any new evidence. If that fails, appeal to the independent tribunal. Many people win there. So do not accept a decision that is wrong.
Click to mark as done
- Receive —
Get paid and report changes
PIP is paid every 4 weeks into your bank account. It is backdated to the date you claimed. Tell the DWP if things improve. Tell them about hospital stays over 28 days. Tell them if your address changes. If you do not report a change and you are overpaid, you must pay the money back.
Click to mark as done
Be Careful
Don't make these mistakes
Describing your best days on the PIP2 form. This form is where claims are won or lost. For each daily activity, explain how you manage on your worst days, not your best days, and use real examples. Attach medical letters and a diary of how your condition affects a typical week.
Missing the PIP2 deadline. Send the form back by the deadline on the letter, which is usually one month. If you need more time, contact the PIP enquiry line.
Going to the assessment unprepared. Take someone with you and take your evidence, and answer for your worst days. The assessor scores you against set descriptors, and for each part, 8 points earns the standard rate and 12 points earns the enhanced rate.
Accepting a wrong decision. About half of refusals are changed on appeal, so do not accept a decision that is wrong. First ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month of the decision, sending any new evidence. If that fails, appeal to the independent tribunal, where many people win.
Not reporting changes. Tell the DWP if things improve, about hospital stays over 28 days, and if your address changes. If you do not report a change and you are overpaid, you must pay the money back.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get PIP if I work?
Yes. PIP is not means-tested. There are no rules against working. It pays for the extra costs of disability. It is not about being unable to work. Many people who get PIP work full time.
What scores how many points?
Each activity has descriptors worth 0–12 points. Activities include preparing food, washing, and moving around. You need 8+ points for the standard rate. You need 12+ points for the enhanced rate. Daily living and mobility are scored separately. The DWP publishes the exact descriptors. Read them before you fill in the form.
How long is PIP awarded for?
Awards can last from 9 months to an ongoing award with a 10-year review in place. How long you get depends on whether your condition is expected to improve. Most awards last 2–5 years. You are assessed again near the end.
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