Am I Eligible for PIP? Free Eligibility Checker & Full Guide (2026)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) provides financial support to people whose health condition or disability makes everyday tasks or getting around more difficult. It is paid on top of other benefits, is tax-free, and is not affected by whether you work or have savings.

Despite this, thousands of people who qualify for PIP never claim it. Some assume they are not disabled enough. Others believe they earn too much or have too many savings. Many are put off by the complexity of the process. The reality is that eligibility is broader than most people think — and the quickest way to find out is to check the basic criteria yourself.

Use our free eligibility screener below to check whether you meet the basic requirements for PIP. It takes less than 2 minutes and gives you a clear answer with your next steps.

What Is Personal Independence Payment?

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a welfare benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to help with the extra costs of living with a long-term health condition or disability. It was introduced in 2013 to replace the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for working-age adults.

PIP is split into two components:

• Daily Living — for people who need help with everyday tasks such as preparing food, washing, dressing, reading, communicating, managing medication and making decisions about money.
• Mobility — for people who have difficulty getting around, planning journeys, or leaving their home due to a physical, mental or cognitive condition.

You can be awarded one component, both, or neither depending on how your condition affects you. Each component is paid at either a standard rate or an enhanced rate, depending on the level of difficulty you experience.

The 5 PIP Eligibility Criteria Explained

To qualify for Personal Independence Payment, you must meet all five of the following criteria. The eligibility screener above checks these for you, but here is a detailed breakdown of each one.

1. Age — You must be aged 16 to State Pension age

PIP is available to people aged 16 or over who are under State Pension age when they first claim. If you are already receiving PIP when you reach State Pension age, your payments will continue — you do not need to reapply. However, if you have never claimed PIP and you have already reached State Pension age, you cannot usually make a new claim. You may be eligible for Attendance Allowance instead.

Children under 16 are not eligible for PIP. They may be able to claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA), and they will be invited to claim PIP when they turn 16.

2. Residency — You must live in England, Scotland or Wales

You must be living in England, Scotland or Wales to claim PIP. You must also have been present in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years before making your claim — this is known as the “past presence test”.

If you live in Scotland, the benefit has been replaced by Adult Disability Payment (ADP), which is administered by Social Security Scotland. If you live in Northern Ireland, PIP exists but is managed separately by the Department for Communities.

3. Health condition or disability

You must have a physical or mental health condition or a disability that affects your ability to carry out everyday tasks or get around. There is no fixed list of qualifying conditions. The DWP assesses how your condition affects you, not the diagnosis itself.

Conditions that commonly lead to PIP awards include anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD, arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, MS, diabetes, epilepsy, COPD, Crohn’s disease, and many others. Mental health conditions are assessed in exactly the same way as physical conditions.

4. Duration — 3 months past, 9 months future

Your condition must have affected you for at least 3 months before you claim and must be expected to continue for at least 9 months after your claim date. This is known as the “required period condition” and ensures PIP is for long-term or ongoing conditions rather than short-term illness.

If you have a terminal illness and your doctors believe you may have 12 months or less to live, you are exempt from this rule and can claim PIP immediately under the special rules for terminal illness.

5. Impact on daily life or mobility

This is the most important criterion. PIP is awarded based on how your condition affects your ability to do everyday tasks and get around, not on the condition itself. The DWP assesses you against 12 specific activities — 10 for daily living and 2 for mobility — and gives you points for each one based on the level of difficulty you experience.

You need 8 points in either daily living or mobility (or both) to qualify for the standard rate, and 12 points for the enhanced rate. The activities include preparing food, washing and bathing, dressing, communicating, managing medication, making budgeting decisions, planning journeys and moving around.

How Much Is PIP Worth in 2026?

PIP is paid at four different rates depending on which components you qualify for and at which level. From April 2026, the weekly rates increase by 3.8%. Here are the current and upcoming rates:

If you qualify for both components at the enhanced rate, you could receive up to £184.30 per week — that is £9,583 per year, completely tax-free. Even the standard daily living rate alone is worth £3,777 per year.

Why Choose PIPAppeal?

Who Cannot Claim PIP?

While PIP eligibility is broad, there are some situations where you will not be able to make a claim:

• Under 16 — you may be eligible for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) instead.
• Over State Pension age (new claims only) — you should apply for Attendance Allowance instead. If you already receive PIP when you reach State Pension age, it will continue.
• Living in Scotland — you need to apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP), not PIP.
• Subject to immigration control — you must have the right to claim public funds in the UK, unless you are a sponsored immigrant, refugee or have humanitarian protection status.
• Short-term conditions — if your condition has lasted less than 3 months or is expected to resolve within 9 months, you will not meet the required period condition (unless you are terminally ill).

How the PIP Assessment Works

Meeting the basic eligibility criteria is only the first step. Once you make a claim, the DWP will send you a form called “How your disability affects you” (the PIP2 form). This is where you describe how your condition affects your ability to carry out 12 specific activities.

The 12 activities are split into two groups:

Daily living activities (10 activities)

Mobility activities (2 activities)

After you return the form, you will usually be invited to a face-to-face or telephone assessment with a health professional. They will ask you questions about each activity and may carry out some basic physical observations. The assessor then sends a report to the DWP, and a decision maker uses it to decide your award.

Common PIP Eligibility Myths — Busted

Many people do not claim PIP because they believe myths about who qualifies. Here are the most common misconceptions:

“I work, so I can’t get PIP”

Wrong. PIP is not linked to your ability to work. You can work full-time, part-time, or be self-employed and still receive PIP. Your income and hours have no effect on your eligibility.

“I have savings, so I won’t qualify”

Wrong. PIP is not means-tested. It does not matter whether you have £10 or £100,000 in savings. Your financial circumstances are not considered.

“My condition isn’t serious enough”

Possibly wrong. PIP is not reserved for the most severe disabilities. Even moderate difficulties with everyday tasks can score enough points. If your condition affects you on more than 50% of days, you should be assessed on your worst days, not your best.

“I don’t have a diagnosis”

Still eligible. You do not need a formal diagnosis to claim PIP. The DWP assesses how your condition affects you, not what the condition is called. Medical evidence supporting the impact of your symptoms is what matters.

“I was turned down before, so I can’t try again”

Wrong. You can challenge a PIP decision through mandatory reconsideration and then a tribunal appeal. At tribunal, over 70% of decisions are overturned in the claimant’s favour. You can also make a new claim at any time if your condition has changed.

What to Do After Checking Your Eligibility

If our screener suggests you are likely eligible for PIP, here is what to do next:

• Gather medical evidence — GP letters, consultant reports, prescription lists, mental health records
• Start a symptom diary — record how your condition affects you day by day for at least 2 weeks
• Call 0800 917 2222 — this is the PIP new claims line (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm)
• Complete the PIP2 form thoroughly — describe your worst days, use the reliability test, give real examples
• Prepare for your assessment — know the 12 activities, bring supporting evidence, ask someone to come with you
• If refused — challenge it — request a mandatory reconsideration within one month, and escalate to tribunal if needed