How much is PIP per week in 2026?

PIP has two components. The daily living component pays £77.35 (standard) or £115.45 (enhanced) per week. The mobility component pays £30.35 (standard) or £81.00 (enhanced) per week. You can receive one or both components at either rate, with maximum combined payment of £196.45 per week.

Who is eligible for PIP?

You may be eligible for PIP if you're aged 16 to State Pension age, have a long-term health condition or disability that affects your daily living or mobility, and have had difficulties for at least 3 months (expected to continue for 9+ months). PIP is not means-tested — your income and savings don't affect eligibility.

How long does a PIP claim take?

A PIP claim typically takes around 3-4 months from application to decision. This includes completing the form (up to 1 month), waiting for assessment (6-12 weeks), and receiving a decision letter. Special rules for terminal illness can fast-track claims to within days.

What happens at a PIP assessment?

A PIP assessment is a face-to-face, telephone, or video consultation with a healthcare professional. They'll ask about how your condition affects daily tasks like washing, dressing, cooking, and getting around. Bring evidence, be honest about your worst days, and explain what happens when you try activities — not just whether you can do them.

PIP Guide 2026 — Personal Independence Payment Eligibility & Rates | PocketWise

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) helps with extra costs of a long-term health condition or disability. Here’s everything you need to know about claiming.

Read more: See our Pip guide for a complete overview of this topic.

PIP Rates 2026-27

Weekly Rates

Component	Standard Rate	Enhanced Rate
Daily Living	£77.35	£115.45
Mobility	£30.35	£81.00

Combined Weekly Amounts

Combination	Weekly Amount	Annual Amount
Daily Living Standard only	£77.35	£4,022
Daily Living Enhanced only	£115.45	£6,003
Mobility Standard only	£30.35	£1,578
Mobility Enhanced only	£81.00	£4,212
Both Standard	£107.70	£5,600
Both Enhanced	£196.45	£10,215
DL Enhanced + Mobility Standard	£145.80	£7,582
DL Standard + Mobility Enhanced	£158.35	£8,234

Who Can Claim PIP?

Basic Eligibility

Requirement	Detail
Age	16 to State Pension age
Condition	Long-term health condition or disability
Duration	Difficulties for 3+ months, expected 9+ more
Residence	Living in England, Wales, or Scotland
Presence	In UK for 2 of last 3 years

What PIP Is NOT Based On

Factor	Effect on PIP
Your income	No effect — not means-tested
Your savings	No effect
Working status	Can work and claim
Specific condition	Based on effects, not diagnosis
NI contributions	Not required

Conditions That May Qualify

Category	Examples
Physical	Arthritis, MS, fibromyalgia
Mental health	Depression, anxiety, PTSD
Learning disability	Autism, ADHD
Sensory	Vision loss, hearing loss
Long-term illness	Diabetes, heart disease
Progressive conditions	Motor neurone disease, dementia

How PIP Is Assessed

Daily Living Activities (10 Activities)

Activity	What’s Assessed
1. Preparing food	Cooking a simple meal
2. Eating and drinking	Getting food/drink to mouth
3. Managing treatments	Taking medication, therapy
4. Washing and bathing	Cleaning yourself
5. Managing toilet needs	Using the toilet
6. Dressing and undressing	Putting on/taking off clothes
7. Communicating	Understanding/expressing
8. Reading and understanding	Signs, written information
9. Engaging with others	Face-to-face interaction
10. Managing money	Budgeting decisions

Mobility Activities (2 Activities)

Activity	What’s Assessed
11. Planning/following journeys	Mental function to travel
12. Moving around	Physical ability to walk

Point System

Points Needed	Award Level
8-11 points	Standard rate
12+ points	Enhanced rate

Daily living and mobility assessed separately — you can get different rates for each.

Understanding the Points

Example: Activity 4 - Washing and Bathing

Descriptor	Points
Can wash and bathe unaided	0
Needs aid or appliance	2
Needs supervision or prompting	2
Needs assistance to wash hair or body	2
Needs assistance to get in/out of bath	3
Cannot wash and bathe at all	8

Example: Activity 12 - Moving Around

Descriptor	Points
Can stand and move 200m unaided	0
Can stand and move 200m with aid	4
Can stand and move 50-200m	8
Can stand and move 20-50m	10
Can stand and move under 20m	12
Cannot stand or move at all	12

Key Assessment Principles

Principle	Meaning
Reliably	Can you do it to an acceptable standard?
Repeatedly	Can you do it as often as needed?
In reasonable time	Does it take much longer than normal?
Safely	Without risk of harm to yourself/others?

How to Apply

Step 1: Call to Start Claim

Contact	Detail
Phone	0800 917 2222
Textphone	0800 917 7777
Hours	Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
What happens	Basic details taken, form sent

Step 2: Complete PIP2 Form

Timing	Detail
Receive form	Within 2 weeks of call
Deadline	Return within 1 month
Extension	Call if need more time
Format	35+ pages

Step 3: Assessment

Type	When Used
Face-to-face	Most common
Telephone	Some cases
Video call	Increasingly common
Paper-based	Where evidence is clear

Step 4: Decision

Outcome	What Happens
Award made	Letter confirms rate and period
Refused	Can request Mandatory Reconsideration
Partial award	Consider challenging

Filling in the PIP2 Form

Tips for Each Section

Section	Guidance
About your health conditions	List all conditions, medications
Daily living activities	Describe worst days
Mobility activities	Give specific distances, times
Additional information	Any relevant details

What to Include

Evidence Type	Examples
Medical evidence	Letters from GP, consultants
Prescriptions	Current medication list
Care plans	Social services documents
Support letters	From carers, family
Assessments	OT reports, mental health

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	Better Approach
Only describing good days	Describe worst days
Saying “I can do it”	Explain how difficult it is
Not explaining variability	Describe good and bad days
Missing conditions	List mental AND physical
Empty boxes	Always explain, even briefly

The Assessment

What to Expect

Stage	What Happens
Arrival	Observed from waiting room
Introduction	Assessor introduces self
Questions	About daily activities
Physical examination	Sometimes, with consent
Duration	45-90 minutes typically

Example Questions

Activity	They Might Ask
Preparing food	“Can you describe making a meal?”
Washing	“Tell me about washing — what help do you need?”
Mobility	“How far can you walk before needing to stop?”
Social situations	“Do you go out alone? What happens?”

How to Answer

Approach	Example
Describe the difficulty	“I can do it, but it takes me 45 minutes and causes pain”
Mention aids	“I use a perching stool because I can’t stand”
Explain consequences	“If I cook, I’m exhausted and need to rest all afternoon”
Be specific	“I can walk about 30 metres before needing to stop”

After the Assessment

Timeline	Event
4-6 weeks	Receive decision letter
Award letter	Details rate and review date
Refusal or low award	Consider challenging

If Your Claim Is Refused

Mandatory Reconsideration (MR)

Step	Detail
Deadline	Within 1 month of decision
How to request	Phone, online, or in writing
Process	DWP reviews decision
Outcome	Can be changed or maintained

Appeal to Tribunal

If	Then
MR unsuccessful	Can appeal to tribunal
Deadline	Within 1 month of MR decision
Free	No cost to appeal
Success rate	~70% of appeals succeed

Appeal Process

Stage	What Happens
1. Submit appeal	Online or SSCS1 form
2. Hearing date	Usually 3-6 months later
3. Tribunal hearing	Panel of 3 people
4. Decision	Often on the day

Preparing for Appeal

Preparation	Action
Get assessment report	Request copy from DWP
Compare to your form	Identify inaccuracies
Gather new evidence	Updated medical info
Citizens Advice	Can help prepare
Understand descriptors	Know what points you need

PIP and Other Benefits

Benefits It Can Unlock

Benefit	How PIP Helps
Motability	Enhanced mobility gives car/scooter access
Carer’s Allowance	Your carer can claim
ESA	May qualify for support group
Universal Credit	Higher disabled element
Council Tax	May qualify for discount
Blue Badge	Enhanced mobility = automatic

Benefits It Doesn’t Affect

Benefit	Affected?
Universal Credit	UC topped up, not replaced
State Pension	Unaffected
Child Benefit	Unaffected
Tax credits	May increase them

Working and PIP

Situation	PIP Still Paid?
You work	Yes — no income test
Full-time employment	Yes
High earner	Yes
Self-employed	Yes

PIP Reviews

Why Reviews Happen

Reason	Detail
Award period ends	Typically 2-10 years
Condition changes	Report changes
DWP review	Random checks

Award Review Timeline

Award Type	Typical Duration
Ongoing award	10 years or indefinite
Light touch	10 years
Standard	2-5 years
Short award	1-2 years

What to Do at Review

Action	Detail
Complete AR1 form	Review form
Update evidence	New medical info
Describe current situation	May be different from before
Assessment possible	But not always

Special Rules for Terminal Illness

Fast-Track Process

Feature	Detail
Definition	Not expected to live beyond 12 months
Form	DS1500 from doctor
Assessment	Usually none needed
Processing	Days rather than months
Award	Usually enhanced daily living
Review	After 3 years

Getting Help with Your Claim

Free Support

Organization	What They Offer
Citizens Advice	Form help, appeals support
Disability Rights UK	Guides and factsheets
Scope	Helpline and support
Mind	Mental health specific
Local welfare rights	Council services

PIP Helpline

Detail	Information
Number	0800 121 4433
Textphone	0800 121 4493
Hours	Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Use for	Claim status, questions

Checklist: Applying for PIP

Before Calling

Prepare	Done?
National Insurance number
Bank/building society details
GP name and address
List of conditions
Current medications

Completing PIP2

Complete	Done?
Describe all conditions
Explain worst days
Detail how activities affected
Include all evidence
Keep photocopy
Return before deadline

For Assessment

Prepare	Done?
Know your form answers
Bring medications list
Bring mobility aids
Take someone with you
Note assessor’s name
Describe difficulties honestly

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