How to Apply for PIP - Step by Step Guide 2026

To apply for PIP, phone DWP on 0800 917 2222 to start your claim, then complete the PIP2 form you are sent within four weeks, attend an assessment (telephone, video or face to face) and wait for the decision letter. The full process takes about 20 weeks in 2026. PIP is worth up to £10,119 a year and is not means-tested. This guide walks you through every step.

Who Can Apply for PIP?

You can apply for PIP if you're aged 16 or over (and under State Pension age when you first claim), you live in England, Scotland or Wales and your health condition or disability has affected your daily life for at least 3 months and is expected to continue for at least 9 months. You don't need to have worked or paid National Insurance to claim PIP, and it doesn't matter what other benefits you receive.

PIP is based on how your condition affects you, not on your diagnosis. Two people with the same condition can receive very different amounts - it depends entirely on how you describe your daily difficulties.

Step 1: Call the DWP to Start Your Claim

GOV.UK lists two ways to start a claim: phone the PIP new claims line on 0800 917 2222 (Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 917 2222), open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, or write a letter saying you want to start a PIP claim to Freepost DWP PIP 1. The call is free. The form that follows, which asks how your condition affects you, can be filled in online or on paper.

During this call, the DWP will ask for your basic details: name, address, date of birth, National Insurance number, GP name and address and bank account details. They'll also ask what conditions you have and when they started.

After the call, the DWP will send you a form called "How your disability affects you" (also known as the PIP2 form). You'll usually receive it within 1-2 weeks.

Step 2: Fill in Your PIP2 Form

The PIP2 form is 50 pages long and asks about 12 daily living and mobility activities: preparing food, eating and drinking, managing treatments, washing, using the toilet, dressing, communicating, reading, mixing with people, managing money, planning journeys and moving around.

For each activity, you need to describe: what difficulties you have, how often they happen (good days and bad days), what help you need, what aids you use and what help you need but don't currently get.

You have 28 days to return the form. If you need more time, phone the PIP enquiry line and ask for an extension - they usually grant it if you have a good reason.

Step 3: Gather Supporting Evidence

Send copies (never originals) of any evidence that supports your claim. Useful evidence includes:

• GP letters describing how your condition affects daily life
• Consultant or specialist letters
• Hospital discharge summaries
• Prescription lists showing all medications
• Occupational therapy or physiotherapy reports
• Care plans or social services assessments
• Statements from family members or carers describing the help they provide

Evidence that describes functional impact (what you can't do) is far more valuable than evidence that just confirms your diagnosis.

Step 4: Attend Your PIP Assessment

After the DWP receives your form, you'll be invited to a PIP assessment. This is carried out by an independent health professional (not DWP staff). As of 2026, assessments are conducted by phone (most common), video call or face-to-face. The government has announced that face-to-face assessments will increase from 6% to 30% from April 2026.

GOV.UK says the assessment usually takes 1 hour. The health professional will ask you about each PIP activity and observe how you manage. They'll write a report with their recommendations, but the final decision is made by the DWP.

Step 5: Receive Your Decision

The DWP aims to make a decision within 12 weeks of your initial phone call, but it often takes longer. You'll receive a decision letter telling you how many points you scored for each activity and whether you've been awarded PIP.

To qualify for PIP, you need at least 8 points for either the daily living or mobility component:

• 8-11 points = standard rate
• 12+ points = enhanced rate

You can score points on both components separately. The maximum PIP award (enhanced daily living + enhanced mobility) is worth up to £10,119 per year.

What If You're Refused?

Don't give up. Many first-time PIP claims are refused or scored too low. But you can challenge the decision through mandatory reconsideration (asking the DWP to look again) and then appeal to tribunal (an independent panel reviews your case). In April to June 2026, 67% of PIP appeals decided at a tribunal hearing were won by the claimant (Source: Ministry of Justice Tribunal Statistics Quarterly).

You have one month from the date on your decision letter to ask for a mandatory reconsideration. If that's unsuccessful, you have a further month to appeal to tribunal.

PIP Application Timeline 2026

• Day 1: Phone call to DWP (claim date starts here)
• Weeks 1-2: PIP2 form arrives by post
• Weeks 2-6: You fill in the form and gather evidence (28-day deadline from when form was issued)
• Weeks 6-10: PIP assessment (phone, video or face-to-face)
• Weeks 10-16: DWP decision
• If refused: 1 month for mandatory reconsideration, then 1 month for tribunal appeal

Common Mistakes That Cost People Their PIP Award

After helping thousands of claimants, these are the mistakes we see most often:

• Describing good days instead of bad days. PIP is assessed on what you can do "on the majority of days" (more than 50%). If your bad days outnumber good days, your form should reflect that.
• Using vague language. "I struggle sometimes" scores zero. "I cannot reliably prepare a meal without supervision due to risk of falls from dizziness" maps directly to a descriptor.
• Missing activities. Many people focus on mobility and skip daily living activities where they could score points - like managing money, reading or engaging with others.
• Not mentioning medication side effects. Drowsiness, nausea, brain fog and dizziness from medication all count as part of your condition's impact.
• Not applying the reliability criteria. Even if you CAN technically do an activity, if you can't do it safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and in a reasonable time, you should score points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for PIP if I work?

Yes. PIP is not affected by employment or income. You can work full-time and still receive PIP if your condition affects your daily life and mobility.

Can I apply for PIP and Universal Credit at the same time?

Yes. They are separate benefits. Receiving PIP can actually increase your Universal Credit because it adds a disability element to your UC calculation.

How long does a PIP award last?

From April 2026, first PIP awards for claimants aged 25+ last a minimum of 3 years. On review, awards can be extended to 5 years or more. Some awards are made "ongoing" with no fixed end date.

Can I apply for PIP if I already receive DLA?

If you're under State Pension age and currently on DLA, you'll eventually be asked to claim PIP instead. You can also choose to apply for PIP voluntarily before that happens, but be aware that your DLA will stop once a PIP decision is made.