You can get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) if all of the following apply to you:
You must also be under State Pension age if you’ve not received PIP before.
If you’re over State Pension age, you can apply for Attendance Allowance instead. Or if you’ve received PIP before, you can still make a new claim if you were eligible for it in the year before you reached State Pension age.
If you get other benefits or income
You can get PIP at the same time as all other benefits, except Armed Forces Independence Payment.
If you get Constant Attendance Allowance you’ll get less of the daily living part of PIP.
If you get War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement you will not get the mobility part of PIP.
You can get PIP if you’re working or have savings.
If you’ve recently returned from living abroad
To apply for PIP, you usually need to:
- have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years
- be living in one of these countries when you apply
If you’ve recently returned from living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you might be able to get PIP sooner.
If you live abroad
You might still be able to get PIP if you either:
If you’re not a British citizen
You must:
- normally live in or show that you intend to settle in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands
- not be subject to immigration control (unless you’re a sponsored immigrant)
If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you and your family usually also need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get PIP. The deadline to apply to the scheme was 30 June 2021 for most people, but you might still be able to apply. Check if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
You might still be able to get PIP if you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection status.
FAQs
In summary these are our top tips for a successful PIP claim:
- Always be honest.
- Answer describing how you feel 'most of the time'.
- Add concise, unambiguous comments.
- Aim for consistency with your answers.
- Don't be afraid to get professional help.
Talking about how your condition affects you
- the kind of things you have difficulty with, or can't do at all - for example, walking up steps without help or remembering to go to appointments.
- how your condition affects you from day to day.
If you disagree with the decision that's been made about your PIP claim, you can challenge it. You can challenge the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) decision about PIP if: you didn't get it. you got a lower rate than you expected.
Is it hard to get PIP for depression and anxiety? ›
Success rates. The success rate for PIP claims for anxiety is 45%, compared to an overall average of 53%. So you have a less than average chance of getting an award for anxiety, but still a reasonable chance.
What conditions are most likely to be awarded PIP? ›
Psychiatric disorders
With 37% of people receiving PIP having a psychiatric disorder, it is the most common condition people receiving PIP claim for. Psychiatric disorders are mental health conditions that can affect how a person thinks and feels about themselves and/or the world around them.
How to make a successful PIP claim? ›
To qualify for PIP, you need to show that you need help with the activities on more than half the days in a year. Make it clear on the form how often you have problems with the activities. If your health changes, explain how often this happens and the effect it has on you. It may help to keep a diary.
What are the 8 points for PIP? ›
PIP Points Scores Daily Living Activities
- Preparing food. ...
- Taking nutrition. ...
- Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition. ...
- Washing and bathing. ...
- Managing toilet needs or incontinence. ...
- Dressing and undressing. ...
- Communicating verbally. ...
- Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words.
Try to explain how stress or anxiety:
- makes it difficult for you to speak or deal with people.
- can increase the risk of you getting lost.
- makes you feel - for example, you feel sick, faint, confused or disorientated.
- affects your ability to do any of the other tasks listed in the PIP claim form.
Acknowledge Receipt of the PIP and Ask Clarifying Questions.
Instead, ask clarifying questions, ask for specific examples, and take lots of notes. The more you can get your supervisor to talk and provide specific examples and clarifications, the better off you'll be. You'll submit a written response later.
Why is PIP rejected? ›
Possible reasons are; You failed to respond to a letter, failed to attend a medical or an interview. You were found fit for work, the term that the DWP use is 'found not to have limited capability for work'
In the last month, Benefits and Work has heard from four members who have received a backdated payment of PIP because of errors relating to the “Engaging with other people face to face” activity. Payments have ranged from £5,000 to £12,000.
How long does it take for PIP to make a decision? ›
After you have had your assessment, the healthcare professional will complete their report. They will then send it to a DWP case manager who will decide whether or not to award you PIP and, if it is awarded, at what rate and for how long. The average time for a PIP decision is 12 weeks from the date of the claim.
What are the chances of passing PIP assessment? ›
The overall average success rate for PIP claims is 52%, but this varies widely depending on your main disabling condition.
How much PIP will I get for autism? ›
If you can show to the DWP that autism affects either your daily living or your mobility, or both, you could receive up to the maximum PIP allowance amount of £184.30 a week, depending on the severity of your condition and how much it affects your life.
How can I increase my chances of getting PIP? ›
It's useful to include evidence from health professionals on how your condition affects you. It can give the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) a clearer picture of how your condition affects you and give you a better chance of being properly assessed.
How to score high on PIP? ›
PIP Points Scores Daily Living Activities
- Preparing food. ...
- Taking nutrition. ...
- Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition. ...
- Washing and bathing. ...
- Managing toilet needs or incontinence. ...
- Dressing and undressing. ...
- Communicating verbally. ...
- Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words.
Under PIP, if a condition or disability affects you more than half the time, it has to be treated as affecting you all the time. Equally, if a condition or disability does not affect you half the time, then it can be disregarded or ignored for PIP purposes. This is known as the 50% rule.
How do you answer a PIP question to move? ›
You should answer the question by describing how well you can stand and move without using it. Don't overestimate your ability. For example, if you can't regularly and repeatedly walk 50 metres then don't say you can. If pain and breathlessness affect how far you walk, take that into account.
