PIP reliability rules

What the reliability criteria mean

For each PIP activity, the assessment considers whether you can complete it:

• Safely — without risk of harm to yourself or others
• To an acceptable standard — adequately enough for the purpose
• Repeatedly — as many times as reasonably required
• In a reasonable time — no more than twice as long as someone without the condition

If you cannot meet all four criteria without help or an aid, this is taken into account when deciding which descriptor applies.

Why this matters

Someone might technically be able to complete a task on occasion but not reliably meet all four criteria. For example, they may be able to prepare a simple meal but not do so safely, or only once before needing to rest for an extended period.

The reliability criteria mean that the assessment is not based purely on whether you can do something at all — it considers the reality of how your condition affects you day to day.

Fluctuating conditions

For conditions that fluctuate, the assessment considers how you are on the majority of days. If you cannot reliably complete an activity on more than half of days, the descriptor reflecting that difficulty should apply.

Official source

For details on how PIP activities are assessed: GOV.UK — How you’re assessed for PIP