PIP Descriptors Explained - All 12 Activities with Points

PIP descriptors are the statements the DWP uses to score your claim. Each of the 12 PIP activities has several descriptors worth different points. Understanding these descriptors is essential - but knowing which ones apply to YOUR condition and how to describe your difficulties to match them is where most people struggle.

Daily Living: 8 points = standard rate (£76.70/week) · 12 points = enhanced rate (£114.60/week)

Mobility: 8 points = standard rate (£30.30/week) · 12 points = enhanced rate (£80.00/week)

Enhanced rate for both = £10,119/year

Daily Living Activity 1: Preparing Food

This assesses whether you can prepare and cook a simple meal. Descriptors range from 0 points (can do it unaided) to 8 points (cannot prepare and cook food at all). Needing supervision for safety scores 4 points.

Daily Living Activity 2: Taking Nutrition

Covers eating and drinking, including cutting food. Points range from 0 to 10, with higher scores for needing physical assistance to eat.

Daily Living Activity 3: Managing Therapy

Includes medication, health monitoring, physiotherapy exercises, and home treatments. Scored by how many hours per week you need help - from 0 to 8 points. Many people undercount their therapy time here.

Daily Living Activity 4: Washing and Bathing

Assesses whether you can wash yourself safely. 0 to 8 points, with higher scores for needing help with more of your body.

Daily Living Activity 5: Managing Toilet Needs

Covers getting to and using the toilet and managing incontinence. 0 to 8 points.

Daily Living Activity 6: Dressing and Undressing

Can you put on and take off clothes including shoes? 0 to 8 points, with upper body assistance scoring more than lower body.

Daily Living Activities 7-10

Activity 7: Communicating Verbally

Expressing and understanding verbal information. Up to 12 points - one of the highest-scoring activities.

Activity 8: Reading and Understanding Signs

Reading signs, symbols and words. Up to 8 points.

Activity 9: Engaging with Other People

Social engagement and interaction. Up to 8 points. Mental health conditions often score here.

Activity 10: Making Budgeting Decisions

Managing money and financial decisions. Up to 6 points.

Mobility Activity 11: Planning and Following Journeys

This is a crucial activity for mental health conditions. If anxiety or psychological distress prevents you from travelling, you could score 10-12 points on this activity alone - enough for enhanced rate mobility. Descriptors range from 0 to 12.

Mobility Activity 12: Moving Around

How far can you walk reliably? The distance is measured by what you can do safely, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time. If you can walk 100 metres but it causes severe pain or you can't do it again for hours, your reliable distance may be much less. 0 to 12 points.