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.
Key terms
'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.
'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
'Prompting' This means you need someone to encourage you to do an activity
'Supervision' This means you need someone to be with you when you do an activity
'Assistance' This means you need someone to do part of an activity for you
Daily Living
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
Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but is able to do so using a microwave- 2 points
Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal- 2 points
Needs supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal- 4 points
Cannot prepare and cook food- 8 points
2. Taking nutrition
Can take nutrition- 0 points
Needs an aid or appliance or supervision to be able to take nutrition, or needs assistance to cut up food- 2 points
Needs a therapeutic source to be able to take nutrition- 2 points
Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition- 4 points
Needs assistance to be able to manage a therapeutic source to take nutrition- 6 points
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
Does not receive medication or therapy or can manage medication or therapy unaided- 0 points
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
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
Can wash and bathe unaided- 0 points
Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe- 2 points
Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe- 2 points
Needs assistance to be able to wash either their hair or body below the waist- 2 points
Needs assistance to be able to get in or out of a bath or shower- 3 points
Needs assistance to be able to wash their body between the shoulders and waist- 4 points
Cannot wash or bathe at all and needs another person to wash their entire body- 8 points
5. Managing toilet needs or incontinence
Can manage toilet needs or incontinence- 0 points
Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage toilet needs or incontinence- 2 points
Needs supervision or prompting to be able to manage toilet needs- 2 points
Needs assistance to be able to manage toilet needs- 4 points
Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of either bladder or bowel- 6 points
Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of both bladder and bowel- 8 points
6. Dressing and undressing
Can dress and undress unaided- 0 points
Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to dress or undress- 2 points
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
Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress the lower body- 2 points
Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress the upper body- 4 points
Cannot dress or undress at all- 8 points
7. Communicating verbally
Can express and understand verbal information unaided- 0 points
Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear- 2 points
Needs communication support to be able to express or understand complex verbal information- 4 points
Needs communication support to be able to express or understand basic verbal information- 8 points
Cannot express or understand verbal information at all even with communication support- 12 points
8. Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
Can read and understand basic and complex written information either unaided or using glasses or contact lenses- 0 points
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
Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information- 2 points
Needs prompting to be able to read or understand basic written information- 4 points
Cannot read or understand signs, symbols or works at all- 8 points
9. Engaging with other people face-to-face
Can engage with other people unaided- 0 points
Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people- 2 points
Needs social support to be able to engage with other people- 4 points
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
Can manage complex budgeting decisions unaided- 0 points
Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make complex budgeting decisions- 2 points
Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make simple budgeting decisions- 4 points
Cannot make any budgeting decisions at all- 6 points
Mobility
1. Planning and following a journey
Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided- 0 points
Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant- 4 points
Cannot plan the route of a journey- 8 points
Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid- 10 points
Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid- 12 points
2. Moving around
Can stand and then move more than 200 metres, either unaided or aided- 0 points
Can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres, either unaided or aided- 4 points
Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres- 8 points
Can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres- 10 points
Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided- 12 points
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.
Email: benefits@sheffieldmegroup.co.uk
Tel: +44 114 253 6700