The PIP Points System
The DWP makes a decision about your PIP claim according to the following points system. PIP has two components, Daily Living and Mobility, and you can be awarded one, the other or both. Each component is paid at a standard and enhanced rate. To be awarded the standard rate Daily Living component, you need to score 8 points under the Daily Living activities and 12 points for the enhanced rate. To be awarded the standard rate Mobility component, you need to score 8 points under the Mobility activities and 12 points for the enhanced rate.
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Key terms
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'Simple meal' This means a hot meal for one using fresh ingredients using either an oven or microwave. You would probably be considered able to prepare food if you can cook a simple meal once per day.
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'Aid or appliance' This means anything you use to help you complete an activity. This could be something specifically designed to be used as an aid such as a walking stick, or a rail in your bathroom. It could also be something not specifically designed as an aid which you use to help you such as a stool to rest on while cooking or a bathroom unit which you use to help yourself get on and off the toilet
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'Prompting' This means you need someone to encourage you to do an activity
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'Supervision' This means you need someone to be with you when you do an activity
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'Assistance' This means you need someone to do part of an activity for you
Daily Living
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1. Preparing food
Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided- 0 points
Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to either prepare or cook a simple- 2 points
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Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but is able to do so using a microwave- 2 points
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Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal- 2 points
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Needs supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal- 4 points
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Cannot prepare and cook food- 8 points
2. Taking nutrition
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Can take nutrition- 0 points
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Needs an aid or appliance or supervision to be able to take nutrition, or needs assistance to cut up food- 2 points
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Needs a therapeutic source to be able to take nutrition- 2 points
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Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition- 4 points
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Needs assistance to be able to manage a therapeutic source to take nutrition- 6 points
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Cannot convey food and drink to their mouth and needs another person to do so- 10 points
3. Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
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Does not receive medication or therapy or can manage medication or therapy unaided- 0 points
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Needs one or more of the following-
To use an aid or appliance to be able to manage medication
Supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage medication
Supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to monitor a health condition- 1 point
Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy which takes no more than 3.5 hours per week- 2 points
Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy which takes between 3.5 and 7 hours per week- 4 points
Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy which takes between 7 and 14 hours per week- 6 points
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Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy which takes more than 14 hours per week- 8 points
4. Washing and bathing
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Can wash and bathe unaided- 0 points
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Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe- 2 points
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Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe- 2 points
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Needs assistance to be able to wash either their hair or body below the waist- 2 points
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Needs assistance to be able to get in or out of a bath or shower- 3 points
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Needs assistance to be able to wash their body between the shoulders and waist- 4 points
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Cannot wash or bathe at all and needs another person to wash their entire body- 8 points
5. Managing toilet needs or incontinence
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Can manage toilet needs or incontinence- 0 points
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Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage toilet needs or incontinence- 2 points
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Needs supervision or prompting to be able to manage toilet needs- 2 points
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Needs assistance to be able to manage toilet needs- 4 points
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Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of either bladder or bowel- 6 points
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Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of both bladder and bowel- 8 points
6. Dressing and undressing
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Can dress and undress unaided- 0 points
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Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to dress or undress- 2 points
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Needs either-
Prompting to be able to dress, undress or determine appropriate circumstances for remaining clothed, or
Prompting or assistance to be able to select appropriate clothing- 2 points
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Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress the lower body- 2 points
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Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress the upper body- 4 points
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Cannot dress or undress at all- 8 points
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7. Communicating verbally
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Can express and understand verbal information unaided- 0 points
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Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear- 2 points
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Needs communication support to be able to express or understand complex verbal information- 4 points
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Needs communication support to be able to express or understand basic verbal information- 8 points
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Cannot express or understand verbal information at all even with communication support- 12 points
8. Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
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Can read and understand basic and complex written information either unaided or using glasses or contact lenses- 0 points
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Needs to use an aid or appliance, other than glasses or contact lenses, to be able to read or understand basic or complex written information- 2 points
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Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information- 2 points
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Needs prompting to be able to read or understand basic written information- 4 points
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Cannot read or understand signs, symbols or works at all- 8 points
9. Engaging with other people face-to-face
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Can engage with other people unaided- 0 points
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Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people- 2 points
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Needs social support to be able to engage with other people- 4 points
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Cannot engage with other people because this would cause either-
Overwhelming psychological distress, or
The claimant would exhibit behaviour which would result in a substantial risk of harm to the claimant or another person- 8 points
10. Making budgeting decisions
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Can manage complex budgeting decisions unaided- 0 points
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Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make complex budgeting decisions- 2 points
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Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make simple budgeting decisions- 4 points
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Cannot make any budgeting decisions at all- 6 points
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Mobility
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1. Planning and following a journey
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Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided- 0 points
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Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant- 4 points
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Cannot plan the route of a journey- 8 points
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Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid- 10 points
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Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid- 12 points
2. Moving around
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Can stand and then move more than 200 metres, either unaided or aided- 0 points
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Can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres, either unaided or aided- 4 points
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Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres- 8 points
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Can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres- 10 points
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Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided- 12 points
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Cannot, either aided or unaided-
Stand, or
Move more than 1 metre- 12 points
For more information, or for help claiming benefits, please get in touch with our benefits team. We provide initial information and advice to everyone. We provide members of the Sheffield ME and Fibromyalgia Group with more detailed advice, casework and representation.
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Email: benefits@sheffieldmegroup.co.uk
Tel: +44 114 253 6700