How to claim PIP if a health condition or disability makes everyday life harder
Key points
- PIP pays up to £194.60 a week and does not reduce your Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, or any other benefit you already get
- You do not need to have worked or paid National Insurance — income, savings, and whether you work make no difference to your eligibility
- Starting your claim takes one phone call to 0800 917 2222, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is money from the government to help with the extra costs of living with a health condition or disability. It is not means-tested, which means your income, savings, and working hours do not affect whether you get it.
If you claim Universal Credit (UC) or Housing Benefit, PIP is paid on top and does not reduce those payments.
Who can claim
You can claim PIP if you:
- are aged 16 to State Pension age
- have a physical or mental health condition or disability
- have found everyday tasks harder for at least 3 months, and expect those difficulties to last at least another 9 months
Your condition does not need a formal diagnosis. What matters is the effect it has on your daily life, not the name on your medical record.
How much PIP pays
PIP has two parts.
The daily living part covers tasks like preparing food, washing and dressing, managing medicines, and communicating. You get either £76.70 a week (standard rate) or £114.60 a week (enhanced rate), depending on how much support you need.
The mobility part covers difficulty getting around. You get either £30.30 a week (standard rate) or £80.00 a week (enhanced rate).
You can receive one part or both. The maximum is £194.60 a week.
How to start your claim
Call the DWP PIP new claims line on 0800 917 2222 — calls are free from mobiles and landlines. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. The call takes around 20 minutes. You can ask a friend, family member, or carer to call with you.
After the call, the DWP will send you a form called "How your disability affects you". When you fill it in, describe how your condition affects you on your worst days, not just your good ones. Include any letters from your GP, nurse, or other health professional — the more evidence you provide, the better placed the DWP is to make the right decision first time.
Search for your next property on DSSmove →What happens after you send the form
The DWP will arrange a health assessment, usually within a few weeks of receiving your form. An independent health professional will review your needs and send a report to the DWP, who then make the final decision.
It can take up to 6 months from your first phone call to your first payment. If you are awarded PIP, you are paid from the date of that first call — so any money owed to you arrives as a lump sum.
A useful thing to know right now
The government is reviewing PIP eligibility rules and plans to make changes from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. These changes would only affect new claims and reviews starting after that date. Nothing is changing right now.
If you think you might qualify, speaking to Citizens Advice first can help you understand what to describe and how to build your claim.
Frequently asked questions
What if the DWP refuses my PIP claim?
You can request a mandatory reconsideration within one month and, if still refused, appeal to a tribunal — Citizens Advice at citizensadvice.org.uk can help you through both steps.
Does PIP apply if I live in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
Scotland uses Adult Disability Payment (ADP) for new claimants — contact Social Security Scotland for details — and Northern Ireland has its own PIP scheme run by the Department for Communities NI.
Official source: https://www.gov.uk/pip