Is PIP means-tested?
No. Personal Independence Payment is not means-tested. Your income, savings and a partner's earnings don't count, and you can get it whether you work or not. It isn't taxed. PIP depends only on how a long-term health condition or disability affects your daily living and getting around, not on money.
No. Income, savings, a partner's pay and working don't affect PIP. It's based on how your condition affects your day.
In this guide
In short
- Income, savings and a partner's earnings don't count.
- You can work and still get PIP.
- PIP is not taxed.
- What counts is how your condition affects daily living and getting around.
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What doesn't count
PIP is not a means-tested benefit. DWP doesn't ask about money when it decides a PIP claim. These don't change whether you get it, or how much:
- Income. Wages, a pension or other income.
- Savings. Money in the bank, investments or property.
- A partner's money. What a partner earns or has saved.
- National Insurance contributions. You don't need a work record to claim.
Can you work and get PIP?
Yes. PIP isn't an out-of-work benefit. You can claim it whether you work full time, part time, are self-employed or don't work at all.
Working isn't a reason to refuse PIP. But what you do at work can be part of the picture. If a job involves something the form asks about, such as planning a journey or talking to people, it helps to be clear about what support or adjustments make that possible.
What PIP is based on
PIP looks at how a long-term health condition or disability affects two things:
- Daily living. Things like preparing food, washing, dressing, managing treatments, talking to people and managing money.
- Mobility. Planning and following a journey, and moving around.
A diagnosis alone isn't enough. It's about the help you need, how often, and whether you can do each activity safely, to a good standard, again when needed, and in a reasonable time. The PIP descriptors guide explains how each activity is assessed.
Tax, and other benefits
PIP is not taxable, so it isn't counted as income for Income Tax.
Getting PIP doesn't reduce other benefits. It can sometimes open the door to extra help elsewhere, for example extra amounts in some means-tested benefits, Carer's Allowance for someone who cares for you, or a Blue Badge. Each of those has its own rules, so check them separately.
Who can claim
You can usually claim PIP if you're 16 or over and under State Pension age, and you have a long-term health condition or disability. You usually need to have had the difficulties for 3 months and expect them to last at least 9 more months. The rules are different if you're not expected to live more than 12 months: see PIP for terminal illness.
In Scotland, new claims are for Adult Disability Payment instead of PIP. Northern Ireland runs its own PIP service.
Common questions
Do savings affect PIP?
No. PIP isn't means-tested, so savings of any amount don't affect whether you get it or how much. It's based only on how your condition affects daily living and getting around.
Does my partner's income affect PIP?
No. A partner's earnings or savings aren't counted. PIP is paid to you, based on your own needs, whatever the household income.
Can I get PIP if I work full time?
Yes. Working doesn't stop you getting PIP. It isn't an out-of-work benefit. What matters is the help you need because of your condition, whether or not you work.
Is PIP taxable?
No. PIP is not taxable, and it isn't counted as income for Income Tax.
Does PIP affect Universal Credit?
PIP isn't counted as income for Universal Credit, so it doesn't reduce it. Getting PIP may sometimes mean extra help elsewhere. Check each benefit's own rules.
Claiming is free
You can apply to DWP directly, and Citizens Advice can help at no cost. We're here if you'd rather do it yourself, at your own pace, any time, with no appointment to wait for.
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Sources
- PIP: what you'll get - GOV.UK - checked 27 September 2026
- PIP: eligibility - GOV.UK - checked 27 September 2026
- Universal Credit: what counts as income - GOV.UK - checked 27 September 2026