PIP questions, answered

There are three ways: ring 0800 917 2222, write to Freepost DWP PIP 1 asking to claim, or, in some parts of England, claim fully online. The PIP2 form comes on paper, or as a link to fill it in online after a phone claim. Send it back within 1 month.

Ring the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 before the deadline and ask.

A diagnosis alone isn't enough. PIP looks at how the condition affects daily living and getting around.

No. PIP isn't based on income, savings or a partner's earnings. It's paid because of the extra cost of a long-term health condition or disability, based on the help needed with daily living or getting around – unlike means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit.

Yes. PIP isn't affected by working or how much you earn. It's not an out-of-work benefit – it's based on the help you need because of a health condition or disability, whether you're employed, self-employed, or not working at all.

PIP itself isn't reduced by other benefits you get. Getting PIP can affect what you're entitled to elsewhere – some means-tested benefits, support for a carer, or a Blue Badge application – because they can use PIP as part of their own criteria. Check your award letter or an adviser for your own situation.

Yes. PIP isn't limited to physical conditions – mental health conditions, learning disabilities and cognitive conditions can all qualify, based on the same test: how much the condition affects your daily living and mobility, not the diagnosis itself. Read the full guide →

Claims can take several months from when you first contact DWP to a decision letter – it varies a lot depending on your circumstances and the assessment provider. If you're awarded PIP, payment is usually backdated to when you first contacted DWP to claim, not the date of the decision. Read the full guide →

Yes. A family member, friend or carer can help you fill it in, or fill it in for you if you tell them what to write – the answers should still reflect your own words and experience. If you're filling it in for someone, write it as them, using 'I'. It's their form. Someone with legal authority to act for you, such as an appointee, can complete and sign it on your behalf. Read the full guide →

You can continue on a separate sheet of paper if the boxes aren't big enough. Say clearly which question it answers, and include your name so it can be matched to your form. The helper writes each answer at the length it needs. Read the full guide →

No, you don't need evidence to claim, but it can help. Letters from a GP, specialist or care worker, or a list of medication, can support what you've written. Send copies, not originals. DWP may also contact your health professionals directly. Read the full guide →

Each part is scored separately. 8 points in a part is the standard rate, 12 or more is the enhanced rate. You can get one part, both or neither. Read the full guide → Try the points checker →

Many form questions ask about a "typical day" or how you manage on "most days". This means more than half the days in a period. If something is true for over half your days, it counts as if it applies generally – so bad days count, not just your best ones. Read the full guide →

No. PIP looks at how a condition affects what you can do, not its name. Two people with the same diagnosis can score very differently, and someone without a formal diagnosis can still score points if the effect on daily life or getting around is shown. Read the full guide →

Most people who claim PIP are asked to an assessment, usually by phone, video or in person. A small number of claims are decided on the form and evidence alone, without one, but you should plan to be asked to attend unless DWP tells you otherwise. Read the full guide →

Describe your bad days, not just your average or best ones. If something is true on more than half your days, it should be treated as if it applies generally. On the form and in the assessment, explain what a bad day actually looks like, and how often you have them. Read the full guide →

It depends on your case and what your assessment provider offers – it could be any of the three. DWP or the provider tells you in advance which one you've been given, and it's worth asking early if you have a reason to need a different format. Read the full guide →

Yes. You can bring a family member, friend or support worker to a face-to-face assessment, or have them with you on a phone or video call. They can offer support and their own observations if asked, though the assessor will usually want to hear your own answers directly. Read the full guide →

You can ask DWP to look at the decision again – a mandatory reconsideration, and usually the first step before any appeal. You usually need to ask within one month of the date on your decision letter. Later requests may be accepted if you have a good reason. DWP then writes back with a new decision. Read the full guide →

You usually need to ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date on your decision letter. Later requests may be accepted if you have a good reason. Keep a note of that date, since the month is counted from there, not from when you read it. Read the full guide →

It's when you ask DWP to look at your PIP decision again, before any appeal to a tribunal. You explain why you think the decision is wrong, ideally with extra evidence or examples DWP didn't have before. A different decision maker reviews the case and writes back with the outcome. Read the full guide →

Yes. If the decision is still wrong after a mandatory reconsideration, you can appeal to an independent tribunal, online or by post. There's a time limit counted from the date of DWP's mandatory reconsideration notice – check the notice itself for exactly how long you have, since it's separate from the one-month reconsideration window. Read the full guide →