PIP helps with the extra costs of disability or long-term health conditions. It is available to claim for those living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It’s a non means-tested benefit. So you can get it regardless of how much you earn, or whether you have savings or capital. You can use the money in the best way to help you manage your health or disability – it doesn’t have to be spent on care or mobility. 

To qualify for it you must: 

• be between 16 and State Pension age 
• have had these difficulties for three months and expect them to last for at least another nine months (unless you’re terminally ill). 

You can't claim ADP and PIP at the same time. For more information about ADP see our guide Adult Disability Payment – an introduction or check your eligibility for ADPOpens in a new window on mygov.scot.

If you need to make a new claim for ADPOpens in a new window, you can find out how to apply online or over the phone on mygov.scot.

To get PIP you must:

• Need help with everyday tasks or getting around, or both because of a physical or mental condition.
• Have needed this help for at least three months and expect to need it for at least another nine months. You can start your claim within the first three months of needing help but your PIP entitlement won’t begin until the three month period has finished.
• If you’re terminally ill with a probable life expectancy of 12 months or less, you qualify immediately.

If awarded before State Pension age, you keep PIP once you reach that age. You’ll no longer have your payment regularly reviewed when you reach State Pension age.

Instead, you’ll get a light touch review every ten years.

If you’re over State Pension age, and haven't claimed PIP, you won’t be able to make a new claim for it. Instead, you’ll have to claim Attendance Allowance or the Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland. Find out more about Attendance Allowance or the Scottish Pension Age Disability Payment in our guide Benefits if you’re sick, disabled or a carer. 

Find out more about Attendance Allowance on Turn2us.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you can make a claim for Disability Living Allowance for a child aged under 16 who has difficulty getting around or who needs more care than a child of the same age who doesn’t have a disability.

In Scotland you can apply for the Child Disability Payment instead for children aged between three months and 18 years. 

Personal Independence Payment is based on the level of help you need because of how your condition affects you and how able you are to do certain activities.

It is made up of two components:

The Mobility component might be paid if you need help getting about. This includes physically moving around as well as if you need help outside due to a learning or sensory disability or a mental health problem.

The Daily living component might be paid if you need help with carrying out everyday activities, such as:

• preparing and cooking food
• eating and drinking
• managing your treatments
• washing and bathing
• managing toilet needs or incontinence
• dressing and undressing
• communicating with other people
• reading and understanding written information
• mixing with others
• making decisions about money.

Each component can be paid at either a standard or an enhanced rate.

Depending on how your condition affects you, it’s possible to get one component or both, and either the standard or the enhanced rate.

This is worked out after a DWP assessment of your claim.

You can claim PIP by calling the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 0800 917 2222. For other ways to claim PIP visit GOV.UKOpens in a new window

If you’re in Northern Ireland, call 0800 012 1573 or go to the nidirect website to find out more and make a claimOpens in a new window

They’ll then check you qualify to claim. If you qualify, DWP will send you a form called ‘How your disability affects you’.

It’s important you fill in this form carefully and give as much detail as you can about your condition.

For help filling in your PIP claim form, visit Citizens AdviceOpens in a new window

When DWP gets your form, they’ll decide whether you need a medical assessment. Or they might decide to ask your health or social care worker for more information.Opens in a new window

You’ll receive a letter inviting you to your assessment. If you fail to attend your assessment your PIP claim may be ‘disallowed’. Some people are recognised by the DWP as needing ‘additional support’ because of their health and their claims should be handled more sympathetically.

If your claim is ‘disallowed’ you'll either need to follow the appeal process (see more on this below) or start a new claim. After your assessment, you’ll get a letter with a decision about whether you can get PIP and how much it will be.

If you get PIP, your award will be regularly reassessed to see if your condition has changed. You can also request a review yourself, but if you do, the DWP has the power to reduce or stop your award although this is fairly rare.

If your child is getting DLA for children (in England, Wales or Northern Ireland), then they will need to claim PIP when they reach the age of 16. It is not an automatic transfer.

If you’re unhappy about a decision on your PIP claim, you can challenge it – but it’s important to follow the correct process.