Personal Independence Payment: 2026 PIP rates and claim process
PIP helps with extra living costs caused by a long-term health condition or disability. It is not means-tested and can be paid whether or not the claimant works.
Key facts before you decide
- PIP has a daily living component and a mobility component, each paid at standard or enhanced rate.
- Income, savings and work do not normally prevent a claim.
- The condition must cause difficulty with specified activities and normally be expected to last at least 12 months from when it began.
- New claims in Scotland are made for Adult Disability Payment, not PIP.
Rules, amounts and dates can change. Confirm your situation through the official links before submitting documents.
What PIP is designed to cover
Personal Independence Payment helps with the extra costs of a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. The assessment looks at how the condition affects daily living and mobility activities, not only the diagnosis itself.
PIP is tax-free and not means-tested. A claimant can work, have savings or receive most other benefits. The award can include one or both components depending on the points scored in the assessment.
2026–27 weekly rates
From April 2026, the daily living component is £76.70 at the standard rate or £114.60 at the enhanced rate. The mobility component is £30.30 at the standard rate or £80.00 at the enhanced rate. Payments are normally made every four weeks.
A higher rate is not based on income or the seriousness of a diagnosis in general. It depends on how the official descriptors and points apply to the claimant’s ability to complete activities safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and within a reasonable time.
Basic eligibility rules
A new claimant generally needs to be 16 or over and below State Pension age, have a long-term health condition or disability, and have difficulty with everyday tasks or getting around. The difficulties normally need to have lasted for three months and be expected to continue so that the total period is at least 12 months.
Residence and presence rules also apply. People in Scotland claim Adult Disability Payment. Northern Ireland has a separate PIP administration route. Special rules can provide a faster process for people nearing the end of life.
Daily living activities
The daily living assessment can cover preparing food, eating and drinking, managing treatment, washing, using the toilet, dressing, communicating, reading, social interaction and managing money. Evidence should describe what happens in practice, including help, prompting, supervision or aids.
A claimant should explain variability. If an activity can be done only on good days, with pain, risk or excessive recovery time, that context can matter. A list of diagnoses without examples is usually less useful than a clear account of functional difficulties.
Mobility activities
The mobility component considers planning and following journeys and physically moving around. Mental-health, cognitive and sensory conditions can affect journey planning even where the person can walk. The moving-around activity considers distance and reliability, not simply whether a person uses a wheelchair.
Supporting evidence might include treatment records, occupational therapy reports, care plans or statements from people who regularly assist. The evidence should relate to the period being assessed.
How to start a claim
A claimant normally starts by contacting the PIP claim line or using the available digital route where offered. DWP records identity, contact, bank and health-professional details and then sends a form asking how the condition affects the claimant.
Return the form by the stated deadline and keep a copy. If more time is needed, contact DWP before the deadline. Evidence can be sent with the form, but the claimant should not delay solely because a professional letter is not ready.
Assessment and decision
DWP may arrange a telephone, video or face-to-face assessment. The assessor asks about daily activities, treatment and variability. The decision maker uses the form, evidence and assessment report to decide points, components, rates and award length.
The decision letter explains the result. A claimant who disagrees can request mandatory reconsideration within the stated time and, if necessary, appeal to a tribunal. It is useful to challenge specific descriptors and provide examples rather than simply saying the award is too low.
Changes and reviews
PIP awards can be reviewed before their end date. Claimants must report changes that could affect entitlement, including improved or worsened needs, hospital or care-home stays, imprisonment and extended travel. A change of address or bank account should also be reported.
Starting work does not automatically end PIP, but a change in functional needs may. Keep copies of forms, evidence and decision letters for future reviews.
Preparation checklist
- Write examples for each activity that is difficult.
- Explain frequency, risk, pain, fatigue and recovery time.
- List aids, prompting or supervision needed.
- Gather relevant recent evidence.
- Keep copies and proof of posting or submission.
Grantalia cannot assess points or represent a claimant.
This guide was checked against the responsible agency’s pages. Use these links to verify the process and any later updates.
Read the official PIP guideCheck PIP eligibility
Review how to claim
Check current benefit rates