Personal Independence Payment

Overview

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:

  • a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
  • difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.

How PIP works

There are 2 parts to PIP:

  • a daily living part – if you need help with everyday tasks
  • a mobility part – if you need help with getting around

Whether you get one or both parts and how much you get depends on how difficult you find everyday tasks and getting around.

Daily living part

You might get the daily living part of PIP if you need help with:

  • preparing food
  • eating and drinking
  • managing your medicines or treatments
  • washing and bathing
  • using the toilet
  • dressing and undressing
  • reading
  • managing your money
  • socialising and being around other people
  • talking, listening and understanding

Mobility part

You might get the mobility part of PIP if you need help with:

  • working out a route and following it
  • physically moving around
  • leaving your home

You do not have to have a physical disability to get the mobility part. You might also be eligible if you have difficulty getting around because of a cognitive or mental health condition, like anxiety.

Eligibility

You can get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) if all of the following apply to you:

  • you’re 16 or over
  • you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
  • you have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around
  • you expect the difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started

You must also be under State Pension age if you’ve not received PIP before.

How to claim

claim by phone

You need to:

  1. Call the ‘PIP new claims’ phone line on 0800 917 2222. You’ll then be sent a form that asks about your condition.
  2. Complete and return the form. The address is on the form.
  3. You might need to have an assessment, if more information is needed.

If you need someone to help you you can:

  • ask for them to be added to your call – you cannot do this if you use textphone
  • ask someone else to call on your behalf – you’ll need to be with them when they call

You’ll need:

  • your contact details, for example telephone number
  • your date of birth
  • your National Insurance number, if you have one (you can find this on letters about tax, pensions and benefits)
  • your bank or building society account number and sort code
  • your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
  • dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent in a care home or hospital
  • dates for any time you spent abroad for more than 4 weeks at a time, and the countries you visited

claim by post

You can start a claim by post instead, but it takes longer to get a decision.
Send a letter to this freepost address:

Freepost DWP PIP 1

Do not write anything except the freepost address on the envelope. You do not need a postcode or a stamp.
You’ll be sent a form asking for your personal information, such as your address and your age. Fill in and return the form.
You’ll then be sent a form which asks about your disability or condition.

If you apply by phone or post, you’ll usually get a form called ‘How your disability affects you’ within 2 weeks.

Fill in the form using the guidance that comes with it, and return it to the address on the form. Include supporting documents if you have them – for example, prescription lists, care plans, or information from your doctor or others involved in your care. You have 1 month to return it. Contact the PIP enquiry line if you need more time or have questions.

apply online

You can only apply for PIP online in some areas. You’ll need to check your postcode when you start your application.

To start your claim online you’ll need your:

  • National Insurance number
  • email address
  • mobile phone

Check if you can apply for PIP online

Help to complete the forms

Turn2us have a step by step guide to applying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

Ashford Borough Citizens Advice can help to complete PIP forms, please contact us to enquire about availability of appointments

Last Updated on June 10, 2026 by Ashford Advice