PIP moving around: descriptors and example answers
The moving around activity asks how far you can stand and then walk, outdoors on a flat surface, with any aid you normally use. It looks at the furthest you can go reliably: safely, to a good standard, again when needed, and in a reasonable time. The key lines are 20 metres, 50 metres and 200 metres.
How far you can walk reliably, outdoors, on most days. The 20 m and 50 m lines matter most.
In this guide
In short
- It's about the furthest you can walk reliably, not the furthest you can manage once.
- 20 metres is about 2 bus lengths. 50 metres is about 5.
- Stopping to rest, pain, breathlessness and falls all count.
- Describe most days, and what a bad day looks like.
Pick how far you can walk, what stops you and what you use. The helper writes it up in plain words for question 14.
What the activity asks
Moving around is question 14 on the PIP2 form, and one of the two mobility activities. It's only about the physical act of standing and walking. Finding your way, or anxiety about going out, is covered by planning and following journeys.
It asks about walking outdoors, on a flat, normal surface like a pavement, using any aid you'd normally use, such as a stick or crutches. A wheelchair counts too: see below.
The 20 metre and 50 metre lines
The descriptors are set around three distances. To picture them:
- 20 metres is about the length of 2 buses, or a tennis court.
- 50 metres is about 5 bus lengths.
- 200 metres is about 2 football pitches end to end.
The question is where you have to stop. That means stop because of pain, breathlessness, tiredness, dizziness or another effect of your condition, not because you chose to. A short distance you can only manage slowly, or in a lot of pain, may not count as done reliably.
What 'reliably' means
For every activity, DWP should only count what you can do:
- safely, without real risk of harm, such as a fall;
- to an acceptable standard;
- repeatedly, as often as you'd reasonably need to;
- in a reasonable time, no more than twice as long as someone without your condition.
So if you can walk 60 metres once, but then need to rest for an hour, or you often fall, say so. That's part of how far you can walk reliably.
The descriptors
These are the official statements, from the least help to the most. DWP picks the one that fits you on more than half of days. The PIP descriptors guide shows how each one is scored.
- Can stand and then move more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided.
- Can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided.
- Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres.
- Can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres.
- Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided.
- Cannot, either aided or unaided, (i) stand; or (ii) move more than 1 metre.
Example answers
Invented examples, not real claims. Write your own in your own words, about your own day.
Weak: "I can't walk far because of my back."
This doesn't say how far, what happens, or how often.
Clearer: "On most days I can walk about 30 metres, roughly from my front door to the corner, before pain in my lower back and legs makes me stop. I use a stick. After stopping I need about 10 minutes before I can go on, and even then only a short way. On bad days, 3 or 4 a week, I can't get to the corner at all. Last month I fell on the pavement when my leg gave way."
This gives a distance you can picture, what stops you, the aid, how long you need to recover, how often bad days happen, and a real example.
Good days and bad days
DWP looks at what's true on more than half of days over a year. If your walking varies, say how far you can go on a typical day and on a bad day, and how many bad days you have in a normal week or month. A diary for a couple of weeks can help you work this out.
If you use a wheelchair
If you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, say so, and say whether you can stand and walk at all. The question is about standing and walking, so describe what happens when you try, and why you use the chair.
Evidence that helps
Useful evidence includes a letter from a GP, physiotherapist or consultant that mentions how far you can walk or your falls, a hospital or clinic report, or a note from someone who walks with you. Send copies, not originals. See what to send with your PIP form.
Common questions
What is the 20 metre rule for PIP?
20 metres is one of the distance lines in the moving around activity. If you can't reliably stand and walk more than 20 metres on most days, that's the highest level of need for this activity. It's about 2 bus lengths.
Does using a walking stick count?
Yes. PIP looks at how far you can walk using any aid you'd normally use. Say what you use, and how far you can walk even with it.
What if I can walk further on good days?
DWP looks at what's true on more than half of days. Describe a typical day and a bad day, and say how often bad days happen.
Does pain count if I can still walk?
Yes. If pain means you can only walk slowly, have to stop, or can't do it again soon after, that affects how far you can walk reliably. Say what the pain does, not just that it hurts.
Is moving around the same as planning a journey?
No. Moving around is about the physical act of walking. Planning and following a journey covers finding your way and going out, including anxiety or distress.
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
- The Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013, Schedule 1 - legislation.gov.uk - checked 27 September 2026
- PIP assessment guide part 2: the assessment criteria - GOV.UK - checked 27 September 2026