PIP is for people aged 16 to State Pension age who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability that affects their daily living and/or mobility. You must normally have had the difficulties for 3 months and expect them to last at least 9 more. It's based on how your condition affects you, not the diagnosis itself — and your income, savings and work status don't matter. In Scotland, the equivalent is Adult Disability Payment, paid by Social Security Scotland.

How do PIP points work?

The PIP assessment scores you against everyday activities — things like preparing food, washing, dressing, communicating, managing money (daily living) and planning or making journeys and moving around (mobility). Each activity has descriptors worth points. You need 8 points across an area's activities for the standard rate, and 12 points for the enhanced rate. The points come from how you manage on your worse days, whether you can do things safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and in a reasonable time — not just whether you can do them once.

Start your claim by phoning the PIP new claims line on 0800 917 2222 (in Scotland, claim Adult Disability Payment via mygov.scot; in Northern Ireland, PIP is run by the Department for Communities — phone the PIP Centre on 0800 012 1573 and claim through nidirect, not GOV.UK). You'll then be sent the 'How your disability affects you' form (PIP2) — this form decides most claims, so take it seriously: describe your worse days, give real examples, and explain whether you can do each activity safely, repeatedly and in a reasonable time. Most people then have an assessment (phone, video or face-to-face). If you're refused or get a lower award than you should, ask for Mandatory Reconsideration within one month — and appeal if needed; a large share of PIP appeals succeed. Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848) can help free of charge.

PIP 2026/27 — rates, points, eligibility & what changed

Q: How much is PIP in 2026/27?

From 6 April 2026, the PIP daily living component is £76.70 a week at the standard rate and £114.60 at the enhanced rate. The mobility component is £30.30 a week at the standard rate and £80.00 at the enhanced rate. If you get the enhanced rate of both components, that's £194.60 a week — around £10,119 a year. PIP is tax-free, not means-tested, and paid on top of most other benefits whether you're working or not.

Q: What changed with PIP in 2026?

The headline: the proposed '4-point rule' — which would have required at least 4 points in a single daily living activity — was dropped from the legislation in July 2025 and never took effect for any claimant. Instead, an independent review of the PIP assessment (the Timms review) is under way, due to report in autumn 2026. From April 2026, around 700,000 people with severe, lifelong or terminal conditions are exempt from routine reassessments, and review intervals have been extended for many others. The eligibility rules, activities and descriptors are otherwise unchanged — rates simply rose with the April uprating.

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PIP rates 2026/27

PIP has two parts — you can get one or both, each at a standard or enhanced rate. Weekly amounts from 6 April 2026:

Component	Weekly rate
Daily living — standard	£76.70
Daily living — enhanced	£114.60
Mobility — standard	£30.30
Mobility — enhanced	£80.00

Enhanced on both = £194.60 a week — around £10,119 a year, tax-free. PIP is usually paid every 4 weeks and sits on top of most other benefits, wages or pensions.

PIP opens other doors A PIP award can unlock more: a Blue Badge (automatic with 8+ moving-around points or descriptor E), the Motability scheme (enhanced mobility), a disability premium in other benefits, vehicle tax reduction or exemption — and someone caring for you 35+ hours a week may qualify for Carer's Allowance.

Who can get it

Aged 16 to State Pension age when you first claim.
A physical or mental health condition or disability causing difficulty with daily living and/or mobility.
Difficulties for the past 3 months, expected to last at least 9 more.

It's about how your condition affects you, not the diagnosis. Mental health conditions, fatigue, pain and fluctuating conditions all count — what matters is the impact on the assessed activities. Your income, savings and job make no difference.

In Scotland, you claim Adult Disability Payment instead (same components and rates, run by Social Security Scotland via mygov.scot).

In Northern Ireland, PIP exists with the same rules and rates, but it is run by the Department for Communities, not the DWP — you claim through nidirect, not GOV.UK.

How the points work

The assessment scores you against everyday activities — preparing food, washing, dressing, communicating, reading, mixing with people, managing money (daily living); planning journeys and moving around (mobility). Each activity has descriptors worth points:

8 points across an area's activities → standard rate.
12 points → enhanced rate.

The rule most people miss You should only be counted as able to do an activity if you can do it safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and in a reasonable time — and the assessment should reflect your worse days, not your best. "I can cook sometimes, but on bad days I can't stand long enough and have skipped meals" scores very differently from "I can cook".

What changed in 2026 — and what didn't

The "4-point rule" was dropped. The proposal to require at least 4 points in a single daily living activity was removed from the legislation in July 2025 — it never took effect for anyone. If you've seen scare stories, this is the fact to hold on to.
The Timms review is under way. An independent review of the PIP assessment, co-produced with disabled people, is due to report in autumn 2026. No assessment changes from it have taken effect yet.
Fewer reassessments. From April 2026, around 700,000 people with severe, lifelong or terminal conditions are exempt from routine reassessments, and review intervals have been extended for many others.
Unchanged: eligibility rules, the activities and descriptors, and how points work. Rates simply rose with the April uprating.

How to claim — and do the form justice

Read this first if you live in Northern Ireland PIP in Northern Ireland is delivered by the Department for Communities, not the DWP. Do not use the GOV.UK claim or the DWP number below — phone the PIP Centre on 0800 012 1573 for new claims (existing claims and enquiries: 0800 587 0932, Monday to Friday 9am–4pm), or start at nidirect. The eligibility rules, the points and the form advice on this page all still apply — only the government you claim from is different. Free help with the form: Citizens Advice or Advice NI.

Start your claim now — free · phone is the route

📞 Call PIP new claims: 0800 917 2222 How claiming works — GOV.UK →

Have ready: your National Insurance number, bank details and your GP's name and address. In Scotland, apply for Adult Disability Payment at mygov.scot instead. In Northern Ireland, phone the PIP Centre on 0800 012 1573 (nidirect), not the DWP line. The phone call starts the claim — the form that follows decides it, and Sorted's PIP helper builds your answers with you.

Phone the PIP new claims line: 0800 917 2222 (Scotland: Adult Disability Payment via mygov.scot · Northern Ireland: PIP Centre 0800 012 1573 via nidirect). Have your National Insurance number, bank details and GP details ready.
Complete the "How your disability affects you" form (PIP2). This form decides most claims. Describe your worse days with real examples, and for every activity say whether you can do it safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and in a reasonable time.
Attend the assessment (phone, video or face-to-face). Answer for your worse days. You can bring someone, and you can ask for it to be recorded.
Keep copies of everything — the form, evidence, and any letters.

Sorted's PIP helper walks you through the claim and builds your answers activity by activity.

Refused or under-scored? Challenge it

Don't accept a wrong decision — the odds favour you Ask for Mandatory Reconsideration within one month of the decision letter (Sorted's PIP helper drafts it). If that fails, appeal to the tribunal — a large share of PIP appeals succeed, often because the tribunal actually listens to how your condition affects you. Free help: Citizens Advice 0800 144 8848.

Free UK support

GOV.UK PIP — official rates, eligibility and the claim process.
PIP new claims — 0800 917 2222. PIP enquiries — 0800 121 4433.
Northern Ireland — PIP Centre (Department for Communities) — new claims 0800 012 1573, existing claims 0800 587 0932. Claim through nidirect.
Citizens Advice — 0800 144 8848. Free help with claims, forms and appeals.
Scope — 0808 800 3333. Disability advice.
Turn2us — free benefits calculator for what else you may be missing.

Source verification

Primary sourceGOV.UK PIP + DWP Benefit and Pension Rates 2026/2027

Specific URLgov.uk/pip/what-youll-get

Last verified13 July 2026

ConfidenceHigh — daily living £76.70/£114.60 + mobility £30.30/£80.00 from DWP 2026/27 rates; max £194.60/wk cross-checked

2026 reforms4-point rule removed from the Bill (July 2025), never in force; Timms review reports autumn 2026; ~700k exempt from routine reassessment

ScopeGreat Britain (DWP) — Scotland = Adult Disability Payment (Social Security Scotland); Northern Ireland = PIP delivered by the Department for Communities, claimed via nidirect (PIP Centre 0800 012 1573), verified 13 Jul 2026 against communities-ni.gov.uk (page updated 15 Jun 2026); rates reviewed each April

PIP — common questions

How much is PIP in 2026/27?

Daily living: £76.70 standard / £114.60 enhanced per week. Mobility: £30.30 standard / £80.00 enhanced. Enhanced on both = £194.60/week, around £10,119/year — tax-free, not means-tested, paid on top of most other income.

Who can get PIP?

People aged 16 to State Pension age whose long-term condition affects daily living and/or mobility — difficulties for 3 months past and 9 months expected. It's based on impact, not diagnosis; income, savings and work don't matter. In Scotland, claim Adult Disability Payment instead.

How do the points work?

You're scored against daily-living and mobility activities. 8 points in an area = standard rate; 12 = enhanced. You only count as able to do something if you can do it safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and in a reasonable time — answer for your worse days.

What changed with PIP in 2026?

The proposed 4-point rule was dropped in July 2025 and never affected anyone. The independent Timms review of the assessment reports in autumn 2026. From April 2026, ~700,000 people with severe lifelong or terminal conditions are exempt from routine reassessments. Eligibility and descriptors are otherwise unchanged.

I live in Northern Ireland — do I claim PIP the same way?

No. PIP exists in Northern Ireland with the same rules and rates, but it is run by the Department for Communities, not the DWP. Claim through nidirect and phone the PIP Centre on 0800 012 1573 for new claims (existing claims: 0800 587 0932). The GOV.UK claim and the DWP number will not start a claim for you.

How do I claim — and what if I'm refused?

Phone 0800 917 2222 to start (Northern Ireland: PIP Centre 0800 012 1573), complete the PIP2 form describing your worse days, and attend the assessment. If refused or under-scored, request Mandatory Reconsideration within one month, then appeal — a large share of appeals succeed. Citizens Advice helps free: 0800 144 8848.

Related guides

Sources: PIP rates & how it works · GOV.UK. DWP Benefit and Pension Rates 2026/2027 (daily living £76.70 / £114.60; mobility £30.30 / £80.00 from 6 Apr 2026). PIP clauses removed from the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, July 2025 (4-point rule never in force); independent PIP assessment review (Timms) reporting autumn 2026; reassessment exemptions from April 2026 (House of Commons Library / DWP). Scotland: Adult Disability Payment via Social Security Scotland. Free help: PIP new claims 0800 917 2222 · PIP enquiries 0800 121 4433 · Citizens Advice 0800 144 8848 · Scope 0808 800 3333 · Turn2us. Not affiliated with DWP or GOV.UK. Last reviewed: 7 June 2026.

PIP — what it pays, how the points work, what changed.