Personal Independence Payment

What is Personal Independence Payment?

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people with a long-term health condition or disability. It is gradually replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged 16-64.

When will PIP affect me?

To see if PIP will affect you, and when, please click here.

If you are aged 16 or over, and you are getting DLA, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will write to you if you have to claim PIP instead.

If you are getting DLA, please seek advice before claiming PIP, unless you have a DWP letter telling you to claim it.

Who can get PIP?

Your income, savings and National Insurance contributions do not affect whether you can get PIP. It can be paid alongside most other benefits, including Employment and Support Allowance.

Whether you can get PIP, and what rate you will get, depends on how your disability or health condition affects you.

There are special rules on if you can get PIP if you are in hospital, residential care, or prison, or if you have come to the UK from abroad.

For more information, please see our Personal Independence Payment factsheet

How can I claim?

To claim, ring 0800 9172222.

After your phone call, most people will then be sent a PIP2 ‘How Your Disability Affects You’ form to complete and return. You may then be asked to attend a face-to-face assessment.

For more information on the assessments, and on how to complete the PIP2 form, please see our factsheet.

Challenging PIP decisions

If you are refused PIP, you usually only have 1 month to ask the DWP to look at their decision again. This is called ‘mandatory reconsideration’. If the DWP does not change their decision, you can then appeal.

For more information on ‘mandatory reconsiderations’ and appeals, please see our factsheet.

PIP and other benefits

You can use the Turn2Us benefit calculator to see if an award of PIP would increase your existing benefits, or entitle you to a benefit for the first time.

Depending on the rate of PIP you are awarded, you may be entitled to a Blue Badge, concessionary travel, the Motability scheme, or road tax exemption or reduction.