Eligibility

You can get PIP whether you’re working, studying at university or sixth-form or you’re unemployed. You must be aged 16+ (and usually below pension age!).    

You must also have a health condition or disability where you: 

• have difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both)
• expect these difficulties to continue for at least 12 months

N.B. There are different rules if you’re terminally ill.

You usually need to have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years (the process is different in Northern Ireland) and you should be in one of these countries when you apply. 

How to claim

You can claim via telephone, textphone or via post. Someone else can call on your behalf, but you’ll need to be with them when they call. 

Before calling, check you’ve got the following Information:

• your contact details, e.g. telephone number
• your date of birth
• your National Insurance number – this is on letters about tax etc. You should’ve received yours in a letter from the government shortly before you turned 16; if you can’t find it – don’t panic, there are ways to find out 
• your bank or building society account number and sort code
• your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
• dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital

DWP – PIP claims

Telephone: 0800 121 4433

Textphone: 0800 121 4433

Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 4433

Video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users – check you can use the service

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm 

Find out about call charges

Claim by post

You can get a form to send information by post, although this can delay the decision on your claim. Write a letter to ask for the form, with the one line address below – you don’t need to use a stamp or a postcode. 

Freepost DWP PIP 1 

What happens next

1. You’ll be sent a ‘How your disability affects you’ form. Call the PIP enquiry line if you need it in an alternative format e.g. braille.
2. Fill in the form. There are notes to help, or see Citizens Advice.
3. Return the form to DWP within 28 days – the address is on the form. DWP will start processing your claim when they receive your form. Contact the PIP enquiry line if you need more time.
4. If more info is needed, you’ll get a letter from an independent health professional inviting you to a phone assessment. You’ll be asked about your ability to carry out activities and how your condition affects your daily life. Citizens Advice’s help on preparing for an assessment.
5. You’ll get a letter that tells you whether you’ll get PIP. If you do, you’ll be told how much you’ll get, when you’ll be paid and the review date so that you continue to get the right support. 

If you disagree with a decision 

You can challenge a decision about your claim. This is called asking for ‘mandatory reconsideration’.