PIP Points System Explained: Daily Living and Mobility

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a UK benefit for people aged 16 to State Pension age who have long-term health conditions or disabilities. It is designed to help with the extra costs caused by difficulties with daily living or mobility. PIP is assessed through two components: Daily Living and Mobility, each scored separately using a points system based on specific activities.

How the PIP Points System Works

For each component, you are assessed on a range of activities. Points are awarded depending on how much help or difficulty you have with each activity. The total points you score in each component determine your level of award.

Daily Living Component looks at how your condition affects everyday tasks such as preparing food, washing, dressing, managing medicines, and communicating.
Mobility Component assesses your ability to move around, including walking and planning or following journeys.

Each activity has several descriptors describing different levels of ability and need for assistance or aids. Points are assigned to these descriptors, typically 0, 2, 4, or 8 points per activity depending on the severity of difficulty.

Key Points About the Assessment

Consideration over 12 months: The assessment considers your ability over a 12-month period, including the 3 months before the assessment and the 9 months after. This accounts for fluctuating conditions.
More than 50% of days: To score points for a descriptor, it must apply on more than half the days in that 12-month period.
Reliability: You must be able to reliably complete (or not complete) the activity as described. Occasional ability does not necessarily mean you meet the descriptor if you cannot do it consistently.
Use of aids and help: The assessment considers whether you need aids (such as walking sticks or other appliances) or help from another person to complete activities.
Impact beyond physical ability: The assessment includes effects of mental, intellectual, cognitive, or sensory impairments on activities, such as lack of motivation, anxiety, or other symptoms affecting daily living tasks.

Examples of Daily Living Activities and Scoring

Preparing food: If you can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided, you score 0 points. If you need help or supervision, points are awarded depending on the level of assistance required.
Managing medicines: If you can manage medicines without help, you score 0 points. If you need prompting or supervision, you may score points.
Washing and bathing: Difficulty washing or bathing without help can lead to points being scored.

Examples of Mobility Activities and Scoring

Walking: Points depend on how far you can walk safely and unaided. For example, being unable to walk more than 20 metres without severe discomfort or needing help may score higher points.
Planning and following journeys: If your condition affects your ability to plan or follow journeys safely, points may be awarded.

Important Considerations

The fact that you can perform an activity on some days does not automatically mean you score no points. The assessment looks at the overall pattern of your ability. If your condition fluctuates, the descriptor applies if the difficulty occurs on more than half the days in the year.

Assessors do not just look at whether you complete the task, but also how you do it — considering safety, time taken, and whether you need aids or help.

Each activity is assessed independently, and points from all activities in a component are added to decide your award level. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) case managers use these points to decide your entitlement, but health professionals conducting assessments focus only on describing your ability accurately without considering the points or award outcomes directly.

Official reference: https://www.gov.uk/pip/how-to-claim. Topic-specific official guidance. Always check the latest official guidance. Related forms: Browse our form category.

Important: This article provides general information. Government rules, forms and procedures can change, and this article may not reflect the latest updates. Check current GOV.UK guidance or the relevant authority before relying on it. ITG & Co. is independent and is not affiliated with a government department.