Personal independence payment (PIP) is a benefit for people who need help taking part in everyday life or who find it difficult to get around. It replaces disability living allowance for people between the ages of 16 and 64 inclusive.
You can claim PIP on the government website.
On this page you can download our guide to making a claim for free, as well as accessing links to other relevant information.
You can also purchase a hard copy of the guide from our online shop.
Contents
Personal independence payment and adult disability payment in hospital
What our PIP Guide contains
Disability Rights UK has produced this guide to help you through the claiming process. The guide covers information on:
- The PIP rules
- The scoring system
- The activities and descriptors
- Filling out the claim form
- Keeping a diary
- The face to face consultation with a healthcare professional
- What to do if you are not happy with your decision
- Further help and information
Download the guide from the bottom of this page.
PIP rates
The weekly rates for PIP are:
Daily living component
Standard rate - £58.70
Enhanced rate - £87.65
Mobility component
Standard rate - £23.20
Enhanced rate - £61.20
Personal independence payment and adult disability payment in hospital
Both the day you are admitted and the day you are discharged count as days out of hospital.
Personal independence payment (PIP) and adult disability payment (ADP) stop after a total of four weeks (either in one stay, or several stays, where the gaps between stays are no more than four weeks each time) if you are aged 18 or over on the date you are admitted to hospital.
This limit does not apply if you are aged under 18 on the date of admission; PIP and ADP can be paid for an indefinite period as long as the other qualifying conditions are met.
If you claim PIP or ADP when you are already in hospital, it cannot be paid until you leave.
Challenging PIP decisions
If you disagree with your benefit decision, you must normally first ask the DWP to look at the decision again - this is called a mandatory reconsideration. However, if you want to challenge a decision that you do not have a limited capability for work for employment and support allowance, in most cases you do not need to ask for a mandatory reconsideration and can appeal straight away.
If you disagree with the mandatory reconsideration, you can then appeal, where your case will be heard by an independent tribunal - the ‘First-tier Tribunal’.
For more detailed information on how to challenge a decision please read our appeals and mandatory reconsideration resource.
Tracking your PIP appeal
If you appeal a PIP decision online, you’ll be asked if you want to join the ‘track your appeal’ service.
This will send you regular email updates and reminders about your appeal. You’ll also get a login, so you can check the progress of your appeal at any time.
If you appealed by post you can contact the HM Courts and Tribunal Service and ask them to send you updates and reminders by text message.
HM Courts and Tribunal Service
Telephone: 0300 123 1142
Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm
Email: contactsscs@justice.gov.uk
Track your appeal can trigger an automated update to your phone or email account. Updates can include:
- reminding you to send in evidence
- confirming your evidence has been received by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- reminding you of your appeal hearing date
- any responses from the DWP
- notifications if your appeal is postponed, adjourned or withdrawn
Government guidance on PIP
Personal independence payment assessment guide for assessment providers
Guidance for health professionals carrying out PIP assessment activity and for those responsible for the quality of PIP assessments.
Personal independence payment handbook
Detailed guidance about Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – the benefit for people with a health condition or disability.
Find out more
Advice
Use advicelocal to get advice in your area.
See also our Getting Advice guide
Find out more
If you are an adviser see our Disability Rights Handbook
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