PIP — Personal Independence Payment

Updated: 3 May 2026

In short

PIP up to £194.60/week (£10,119/year) for people with a disability or long-term illness — physical OR mental. NOT means-tested, NOT taxable, does not reduce other benefits. You can work full-time. 39% of all PIP awards are for mental health (PTSD, depression, anxiety). Refugees are exempt from the Past Presence Test and Habitual Residence Test from day one. From 2028 PIP daily living will become the gateway to the UC health element.

£194

Up to /week

enhanced + enhanced

39%

Mental health

share of PIP awards

PPT/HRT

refugees exempt from day 1

58-67%

Tribunal

success rate

💚 PIP is NOT welfare and NOT "disability" in a stigmatising sense

PIP is compensation for the extra costs of your condition (taxis if you cannot use the bus, a special diet, extra heating, help around the home, therapy). It does not depend on income. It does not reduce UC. You can work full-time and still receive it.

Many refugees feel embarrassed about applying ("I'm not really 'disabled'"). That is a mistake. PTSD, severe depression, chronic anxiety, the after-effects of torture — all of this qualifies. DWP assesses functional impact, not diagnosis.

How much you get (April 2026)

PIP has 2 components, each with 2 levels. You can get both, or just one.

DAILY LIVING COMPONENT

Standard: £76.70/week
Enhanced: £114.60/week
8-11 points = standard, 12+ = enhanced

MOBILITY COMPONENT

Standard: £30.30/week
Enhanced: £80/week
enhanced unlocks the Motability scheme

Maximum (enhanced + enhanced) from April 2026: £194.60/week = £778.40 per 4 weeks = £10,119.20/year. Paid every 4 weeks in arrears into a UK bank account. The 3.8% uprating (CPI Sep 2025) was applied automatically — no application needed.

12 activities — assessment structure

PIP assesses 10 daily living activities + 2 mobility. Each has descriptors with points (0-12). Only ONE highest descriptor counts — the one that applies on "more than 50% of days".

#	Activity	Max points	MH-relevant
DAILY LIVING (max 12 for enhanced)
1	Preparing food	8	⭐
2	Taking nutrition	10	⭐
3	Managing therapy / health	8	⭐⭐
4	Washing and bathing	8	⭐
5	Managing toilet needs	8	—
6	Dressing and undressing	8	⭐
7	Communicating verbally	12	⭐⭐
8	Reading and understanding	8	⭐
9	Engaging with other people	8	⭐⭐⭐
10	Making budgeting decisions	6	⭐
MOBILITY (max 12 for enhanced)
11	Planning and following journeys	12	⭐⭐⭐
12	Moving around	12	—

⭐⭐⭐ = main routes for PTSD / severe depression. Activities 9 and 11 were re-shaped around mental health after the landmark case MH v SSWP [2016] UKUT 531 (overwhelming psychological distress + journeys). Full detail at /en/pip/mental-health/ →

"Reliability four-prong test" — how points are awarded

For each activity the assessor must ask 4 questions. If even ONE answer is "no", the descriptor must be applied in your favour.

1 · SAFELY

Can you do the activity safely (without risk to yourself or others)?

2 · TO ACCEPTABLE STANDARD

To a good enough standard (not "badly")?

3 · REPEATEDLY

Can you repeat it as often as it would normally be needed?

4 · IN REASONABLE TIME

The "twice as long" rule — Reg 4(5) — taking twice as long as "normal" = treated as not being able to do it

💡 Reg 4(2A) UC Regulations 2013 — codifies this test. It is a binding rule for the assessor. On MR/Tribunal: "Decision-maker failed to apply the reliability test under Regulation 4(2A) — claimant cannot perform [X] safely / to acceptable standard / repeatedly / in reasonable time".

How to apply — step by step

1 · INITIAL PHONE CLAIM

PIP enquiry line: 0800 917 2222. Or online via gov.uk/pip/how-to-claim (rollout in progress since 2024). They take basic details and give you a reference number.

2 · PIP2 FORM (How your disability affects you)

30+ pages, 1 month to complete (you can request an extension). Describe yourself on a bad day, with concrete examples — dates, frequency and duration. Use continuation sheets — the boxes are small.

3 · MEDICAL EVIDENCE

GP letters, consultant letters, psychiatric reports, hospital records, prescriptions. Do not pay your GP for a "PIP report" — DWP should request it themselves. But your GP can write a general supporting letter (£20-£100, optional).

4 · ASSESSMENT

The provider depends on your region: Maximus (North + Scotland), Capita (Midlands + Wales + NI), Serco (SW + Central South), Ingeus (London + SE + East). Atos has lost all PIP contracts. Format: phone / video / face-to-face / paper-based. Free interpreter. You can record (give 2-3 weeks notice). You can bring a support person.

5 · DECISION + APPEALS

Decision in 12-16 weeks. Request the PA4 (assessor's report). Not happy — Mandatory Reconsideration within 1 month (success ~10-22%) → Tribunal (success 58-67% on paper, higher in oral hearings; effective ~80% if you persist, counting DWP "lapsed" decisions).

🌍 Refugees — special note

Exempt from both tests from day 1:
• Past Presence Test (PPT) — normally you must have lived 2 of the last 3 years in the UK/EEA. Refugees are exempt.
• Habitual Residence Test (HRT) — automatically met for refugees from the date of decision.

Applies to: Refugee Status, Humanitarian Protection, family reunion, Ukraine Scheme, BN(O), ARAP, ACRS.

Main mental-health routes for PTSD/depression:
• Activity 9 (engaging with other people) — avoiding people, especially men or people in uniform
• Activity 11 (planning and following journeys) — agoraphobia, panic, dissociation while travelling
• Activity 1, 4, 6 (food / washing / dressing) — depression interferes with basic self-care

If your GP just writes "anxiety" — a report from Helen Bamber Foundation or Freedom from Torture often turns a refusal into an enhanced rate award. See /en/pip/mental-health/ →

✅ "4-point rule" — NOT adopted (status May 2026)

In March 2025 the Pathways to Work Green Paper proposed a 4-point minimum in a single descriptor for daily living. This would have stripped the LCWRA-equivalent from hundreds of thousands of people. After the MP rebellion in July 2025, Clause 5 of the UC+PIP Bill was withdrawn. PIP eligibility in 2026 has not changed. We are waiting for the Timms Review (autumn 2026, co-produced with disabled people). The voucher proposal was dropped.

Scrapping the WCA and using PIP daily-living as the gateway to the UC health element is planned for 2028/29. Existing claimants and new claimants in 2026 are assessed under the same rules.

Frequently asked questions

Is PIP a "disability" benefit? I feel uncomfortable applying.

PIP is NOT welfare and NOT "disability" in a stigmatising sense. It is compensation for the extra costs of your condition. NOT means-tested, NOT taxable. You can work full-time. 39% of all PIP awards are for mental health (PTSD, depression). Many refugees feel embarrassed about applying — but this is money that helps you stop just surviving and start recovering.

How much does PIP pay in April 2026?

Daily Living: standard £76.70/week, enhanced £114.60/week. Mobility: standard £30.30/week, enhanced £80/week. You can receive both components. Maximum: £194.60/week = £778.40 per 4 weeks = £10,119.20/year. Paid into your bank account every 4 weeks in arrears.

Do I need a physical disability?

No. DWP assesses functional impact, not diagnosis. PTSD, severe depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, epilepsy, diabetes, chronic pain — all may qualify. Mental health = 39% of all PIP awards. Activities 9 (engaging socially) and 11 (planning journeys) are key for refugees with PTSD/agoraphobia.

I am a refugee — what documents do I need for PIP?

Refugee Status decision letter OR BRP / eVisa share code, NI number, a UK bank account, medical documents (fit notes, hospital letters, psychiatrist letters). Apply via the PIP enquiry line by phone or online (gradually rolled out since 2024). After that — the PIP2 form (How your disability affects you), 30+ pages to complete within 1 month.

I was refused — what should I do?

You have 1 month to request a Mandatory Reconsideration. MR success rate is ~10-22% (low). Do not give up — Tribunal success rate is 58-67%, and including "lapsed" decisions (DWP withdraws before the hearing) the effective success rate is ~80% if you persist. See /en/pip/mental-health/ for PTSD-specific guidance.

Are PIP and UC the same thing?

No. They are different benefits with different assessment processes. PIP is a separate assessment of the functional impact of your condition. UC LCWRA is a separate assessment of your ability to work (see /en/lcwra/). You can receive both at the same time — they do not compete. PIP "passports" you to Carer's Allowance (if someone cares for you 35+ hrs/week) and to UC carer / disabled child elements. From 2028 PIP daily living will become the gateway to the UC health element — a structural reform.

What is the "4-point rule" — will it affect me?

In March 2025 the Conservative government proposed a 4-point minimum for the daily living component (Pathways to Work Green Paper). After an MP rebellion in July 2025, Clause 5 of the UC+PIP Bill was withdrawn — meaning **the change was NOT adopted**. PIP eligibility in 2026 has not changed. We are waiting for the Timms Review (autumn 2026, co-produced with disabled people) — there may be something new there.

Sources: gov.uk · Personal Independence Payment gov.uk · Rates 2026/27 gov.uk · PIP Assessment Guide Part 2 (criteria)gov.uk · PIP Statistics to Jan 2026 House of Commons Library · UC and PIP Bill 2024-25 CPAG · Benefits for new refugees Disability Rights UK Updated 24 Apr 2026

📋 gov.uk · Apply for PIP →