The information below relates to applying for PIP Personal Independence Payment in England. For Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland please see the links further down.

PIP (Personal Independence Payment is a disability benefit payment) can help improve your quality of life and help ease the financial burden that comes with being disabled. This guide will tell you how to claim PIP disability benefit, the PIP claim process, how much your PIP payment might be and what to do if your claim is rejected.

Did you know that PIP is not means tested? You can work full time and earn a salary without it impacting your PIP disability benefit claim.

If you live in Scotland you will need to apply for Adult Disability Payment or Child Disability Payment. To find out how to apply for Scottish disability living payments for adults, please click here. To find out how to apply for Scottish disability living payments for your child, please click here.

If you live in Northern Ireland and wish to apply for PIP benefit, you will need to follow their process, to find out more information on how to apply for Personal Independence Payment in Northern Ireland click here.

What is PIP?

PIP (Personal Independence Payment) is a government benefit designed to support individuals who have long-term health conditions or disabilities. PIP benefit payments are there to help you cover the extra costs associated with managing these conditions. To qualify for PIP payments you must be:

• 16 years old or over
• have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
• have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around
• these difficulties are expected to last for at least 12 months from when they started
• be under State Pension age and not received PIP payments before.

PIP disability payments are given to help provide essential financial support that can make a big difference to an individual’s daily life.

PIP is divided into two parts: Daily Living Component and Mobility Component. The amount you receive depends on how much your condition affects your ability to perform everyday activities or move around.

How do I apply for Personal Independence Payment?

If you’re wondering how do I apply for PIP or how do I apply for PIP benefits, the process is straightforward but requires careful documentation of your health needs. Here’s our Purpl step-by-step guide to claim PIP benefit.

Before you start your PIP benefit payment claim make sure you have everything you require.

You will need the following information to apply for PIP:

• your contact details, e.g. telephone number / address
• your date of birth
• your National Insurance number, if you have one (you can find this on letters about tax, pensions and benefits)
• your bank or building society details: account number and sort code
• your doctor or consultant’s name, address and telephone number
• dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent in hospital or a care home
• dates for any time you spent abroad for more than 4 weeks at a time and the countries you visited

Step 1: How to start a claim for PIP (Personal Independence Payment)

• Phone the New PIP Claims Line:
  To start your PIP claim you will need to phone the ‘PIP new claims’ phone line and arrange to have the PIP Claims form sent to you, this form will ask you to provide information about your long-term health condition or disability.
  
  • You can ask someone else to phone the PIP claim line on your behalf but you will need to be there with them.
  • Call the PIP new claims telephone number on 0800 917 2222
    To claim for PIP by Textphone dial 0800 917 7777
  • If you cannot hear or speak on the phone then you can use Relay UK 18001 then 0800 917 2222 or if you can use the British Sign Language video relay service if you are on a computer.
  • To phone the PIP claim line from abroad please call: +44 191 218 7766
  • The PIP Claims phone line is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm – charges may apply. 
    
• Claim for PIP by Post – please note claiming for PIP by post will take longer to get a decision
  
  • Send a letter to the DWP Personal Independence Payment department using their Freepost address
    • Address your envelope with Freepost DWP PIP 1
    • Do not write anything else on the envelope and you do not need to add a postcode or a stamp.
      
  • You will then be sent a form asking for your personal information, such as your address and your age.
    • Complete and return the form
      
  • You will be sent a form which asks about your disability or condition.
    • Complete the form and return with your evidence

Step 2: How to start a claim for PIP (Personal Independence Payment)

1. The DWP will send you the initial PIP claim form called PIP2 – How your disability affects you. This form asks you to provide detailed information about how your condition or disability affects your daily life.
2. You will need to complete the form and provide as much information as you can for each question. These answers need to explain your health challenges and how they impact your daily life and routine. Be sure to include as much medical evidence as you can – such as letters from your doctor and consultants. By providing this evidence it can increase your chances of being approved
3. In most cases you will be invited for a PIP Assessment to discuss your condition in more detail. This assessment might be conducted in person, over the phone, or via a video call.
4. After your assessment you will receive a decision on your PIP claim. The DWP will assess your application and decide whether you qualify for PIP and how much you will receive.

It’s important to understand that the process for applying for PIP benefit requires patience. It is not a quick process and can take months. The good news is that you will be paid backdated to when your claims form was first received.

How Much Are the PIP Payments?

The amount you receive in PIP disability payments will depends on which components you qualify for and at what rate. PIP payments are divided as follows:

• Daily Living Component:
  • Standard Rate: £68.10 per week
  • Enhanced Rate: £101.75 per week
• Mobility Component:
  • Standard Rate: £26.90 per week
  • Enhanced Rate: £71.00 per week

Therefore, how much PIP benefit you will receive depends on your individual assessment, which determines if you are eligible for one or both components and at which rate. The payments can significantly help cover costs associated with your condition.

What happens if my PIP Claim is rejected?

Quite often, PIP claims are rejected in the first instance. If you disagree with the decision that has been made about your PIP claim, you can challenge it – this is called a ‘Mandatory Reconsideration’. 

To help prevent your claim from being rejected in the first place, it might be worth researching about your disability and how others in your community managed the process to get their advice. 

You can appeal against a PIP decision if you:

• Didn’t get awarded PIP
• Received a lower rate than you expected
• Think award period given to you isn’t long enough.

Please note that if you do challenge the decision given in regards to the amount or time the DWP might look into your whole case again and you could end up receiving nothing. The best thing to do is talk to someone who understands the process. You can speak to the Citizens Advice Bureau who can advise you on where to get the right help.

Can you appeal a PIP decision if it is rejected again?

Yes, if the decision was changed after requesting the ‘Mandatory Reconsideration’ you can appeal to an independent tribunal.

The tribunal will review the evidence from both sides and make a final decision. It is part of the court system, separate from the DWP, so an independent person will make the decision after considering everything.

You can appeal any PIP decision:

• You were denied PIP benefit payments
• You received a lower level of PIP than expected
• You believe that your PIP award should last longer

The tribunal will assess whether the decision was correct at the time it was made, not any worsening of your condition. If this applies to you, seek advice from Citizens Advice Bureau

How to Appeal a PIP Reconsideration Notice

To appeal, you will need the letter from the DWP titled ‘Mandatory Reconsideration Notice’ (you can request a replacement if you can’t find it)

You must submit your appeal within one month of the date on the Mandatory Reconsideration notice

It may take time to reach a hearing, depending on where you live. The process can be challenging, but more than half of PIP appeals succeed at tribunal so if you believe that the PIP decision was wrong, don’t be discouraged from appealing.

Once you have been awarded your PIP disability benefit you will receive a PIP Award Letter which will tell you how much PIP payment you will receive and the period of your award. You can use this letter to apply for other benefits including signing up to Purpl Disabled Discounts. For more information on benefits and freebies you can receive please read our article on PIP Discounts and Freebies