Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Explained for Families

Topic cluster: Benefits & Financial Support | Reading time: 6 min

If your parent is under 65 and has a long-term health condition or disability — including dementia, Parkinson's disease, stroke, or other conditions affecting daily life — Personal Independence Payment (PIP) may be one of the most valuable benefits available to them. Unlike some benefits, PIP is not means tested and not affected by savings or income. This guide explains who qualifies, how to claim, and what to expect from the process.

What Is PIP?

Personal Independence Payment is a non-means-tested, non-taxable benefit for people aged 16–64 who have a long-term physical or mental health condition that affects their daily living and/or mobility. It replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for working-age adults from 2013.

PIP has two components, each paid at one of two rates:

A person can receive one or both components, at either rate — or both components at the enhanced rate, giving a maximum of £184.30 per week.

Who Can Claim PIP?

To be eligible, your parent must:

• Be aged 16–64 (once they reach State Pension age, Attendance Allowance applies instead)
• Have had health or disability-related difficulties for at least 3 months
• Expect those difficulties to continue for at least 9 months
• Normally live in England, Wales, or Scotland (Northern Ireland has a separate PIP system)

PIP can be claimed regardless of whether your parent is working, receiving other benefits, or has savings. It is not means tested.

What PIP Covers

PIP is assessed on the basis of how a person's condition affects their ability to carry out everyday activities — not on the diagnosis itself.

Daily Living activities assessed:

• Preparing food
• Eating and drinking
• Managing treatments (medications, dressings)
• Washing and bathing
• Managing toilet needs
• Dressing and undressing
• Communicating verbally
• Reading and understanding written information
• Engaging with others face to face
• Making budgeting decisions

Mobility activities assessed:

• Planning and following a journey
• Moving around (distance, pace, ability to stand)

Each activity is scored based on whether your parent can complete it reliably, safely, and in a reasonable time.

How to Claim PIP

1. Call the PIP claim line: 0800 917 2222 (or textphone 0800 917 7777)
2. Receive and complete the "How your disability affects you" form (PIP2)
3. Attend a functional assessment — conducted by a healthcare professional on behalf of the DWP (by phone, video, or in person)
4. Await the decision — a DWP case manager makes the final decision based on the assessment

The form and assessment are where claims are won or lost. Be specific and focus on worst days.

Tips for the PIP2 Form

The form is long and can be daunting, but the detail you provide directly affects the outcome.

Key principles:

• Describe how your parent manages on their worst days, not their best
• Include the time it takes to complete each activity and whether they need help
• Describe the impact of conditions — pain, fatigue, anxiety — not just the diagnosis
• Note if activities take "much longer than usual" or require "prompting, encouragement, or supervision"
• Include information about falls, accidents, or incidents

Common mistakes:

• Underestimating difficulties ("they can do it, just slowly")
• Describing what they can do in theory, not what they actually do
• Forgetting to mention mental health symptoms (confusion, anxiety, depression) alongside physical ones

Consider getting help from Citizens Advice, a carer centre, or a welfare benefits specialist to complete the form.

Mandatory Reconsideration and Appeal

If PIP is refused or awarded at a lower rate than expected:

1. Request a Mandatory Reconsideration within 1 month of the decision letter
2. If still unsuccessful, appeal to an independent tribunal — success rates at tribunal are high (approximately 65–70% of appeals are won)

Gather supporting evidence — GP letters, specialist reports, care assessments — and seek advice from Citizens Advice or a disability charity before appealing.

PIP and Dementia

People with dementia may qualify for PIP's Daily Living component on the basis of:

• Needing prompting or supervision to manage medication
• Difficulty preparing food safely
• Needing support to wash, dress, or manage toileting
• Communication difficulties (word-finding, following written information)
• Inability to manage financial decisions

The Mobility component may apply if your parent has difficulty planning journeys, becomes easily disoriented, or is anxious about travelling alone.

Once Your Parent Turns 65

When someone claiming PIP reaches State Pension age, they remain on PIP until their award is reviewed. New claims after State Pension age must go via Attendance Allowance instead.

Navigating benefits and care funding? homeformum.com helps families understand the financial landscape and find the right care options.

Related articles: Attendance Allowance in a Care Home | Benefits You Can Claim in a Care Home | Young Onset Dementia — What Families Need to Know | Care Home Funding Explained