Who PIP is for and how to claim

PIP · England only

Who PIP is for and how to claim

PIP is a benefit for people with a long-term health condition or disability. This page explains the basic eligibility rules and how to start a claim.

We explain the system. We do not advise on individual cases.

Who can claim PIP

PIP is available to people in England aged 16 and over (up to State Pension age for new claims) who have a physical or mental health condition or disability that causes difficulties with daily living or getting around.

PIP is not means-tested — it does not depend on your income, savings or whether you are working.

The qualifying conditions

To qualify for PIP, your condition must have affected you for at least three months and be expected to continue for at least nine months. This is called the qualifying period.

There is a different rule for people who are terminally ill — see our page on end of life benefits for more information.

Diagnosis is not enough on its own

Having a diagnosed condition does not automatically mean you will receive PIP. PIP is awarded based on how your condition affects your ability to carry out daily living and mobility activities — not the condition itself.

Two people with the same diagnosis may receive different outcomes depending on how their condition affects their daily life.

How to start a claim

To start a PIP claim, you need to phone the DWP’s PIP claim line. The number is on GOV.UK. After the initial call, the DWP will send you a ‘How your disability affects you’ form to complete.

You can also ask someone to call on your behalf if you have difficulty using the phone.

The claim journey at a glance

  1. Start claim
  2. Get the form
  3. Send evidence
  4. Assessment
  5. Decision
  6. Challenge if needed

The full detail of each step is below. Timescales vary and not everyone has every step.

The PIP claim journey, step by step

Most PIP claims follow these stages. Timescales vary, and not everyone has every step.

  1. Step 1: Start your claim. Contact the DWP to begin a PIP claim. The phone number is on GOV.UK. You can ask someone to call on your behalf.
  2. Step 2: Get the form. The DWP sends a “How your disability affects you” form to fill in, describing how your condition affects everyday activities.
  3. Step 3: Send evidence. Return the form by the deadline, with any helpful evidence such as letters or a diary. See our evidence pages.
  4. Step 4: Assessment. Most people have an assessment (by phone, video or in person) with a health professional, who writes a report.
  5. Step 5: Decision. A DWP decision maker decides your award and writes to you with the result and any payment details.
  6. Step 6: If you disagree. You can ask for a mandatory reconsideration, and then appeal to an independent tribunal if needed.

This is a general outline of the process. It is not advice about an individual claim. For the official steps, see GOV.UK — how to claim PIP.

Official source

For current eligibility rules and how to claim: GOV.UK — PIP eligibility

Was this page helpful?

Last reviewed: June 2026. We review this website regularly. Benefit rules and amounts can change — for current forms, deadlines and rates, always check GOV.UK. See how we keep this up to date.