2. Who is eligible

You qualify for personal independence payment (PIP) if you meet all the following conditions.

•You are aged 16 or over and, usually, under pension age.
•You satisfy certain rules on residence and presence in the UK, and are not a ’person subject to immigration control’. See CPAG’s Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook for details.
•You satisfy the disability conditions for the daily living component and/or the mobility component.
•You have satisfied the disability conditions for the last three months (unless you are terminally ill) and are likely to continue to do so for the next nine months.

Your ability to undertake various activities is assessed, usually at a medical examination. Depending on the type and level of help you need, you score points on different activities. If you score eight points, you get the standard rate of a component; if you score 12 points, you get the enhanced rate. For example, if you cannot dress or undress yourself, you score eight points.

See CPAG’s Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook for more information about the activities and the points awarded. See AskCPAG.org.uk for information about temporary changes to the assessment process due to coronavirus.

Daily living component

To get the standard rate of the daily living component, your ability to undertake certain specified day-to-day activities must be limited by your health or disability. To get the enhanced rate, your ability to undertake the activities must be severely limited.

You are assessed on your ability to carry out the following activities:

•preparing food. If you cannot prepare and cook a simple meal yourself, you can score points;
•taking nutrition;
•managing your therapy or monitoring your health condition;
•washing and bathing;
•managing your toilet needs or incontinence;
•dressing and undressing;
•communicating verbally. If you need to use an aid to help you speak or hear, you can score two points; if you need a British Sign Language interpreter to help you understand or express information, you can score four to eight points, depending on the help you need;
•reading and understanding signs, symbols and words. If you need help to read, or need to use an appliance or aid (other than glasses or contact lenses), you can score points;
•engaging face-to-face with other people;
•making budgeting decisions. You can score points if your disability means you need help with budgeting.

Mobility component

You get the standard rate of the mobility component if your ability to undertake certain mobility activities is limited by your health or disability. If your ability to undertake the activities is severely limited, you get the enhanced rate.

You are assessed on your ability to plan and follow journeys, and to move around. You can score points if you need help to follow an unfamiliar or familiar route, including if you can only do so with the help of a guide dog or orientation aid.

Students

If you are a part-time or full-time student, you can get PIP if you meet the qualifying conditions. Starting to study should not affect your award, provided you still have daily living and/or mobility needs.