How activities are described and assessed
Whether or not you qualify for PIP depends on how your condition affects you in two ways: your 'daily living' and your 'mobility' (how you physically move).
Questions 1 - 12 are about everyday ‘activities’ and points are scored if your condition affects your ability to do that activity. Questions 1 - 10 cover daily living activities and questions 11 - 12 cover mobility activities. The points scored for each activity are added up to give one final score for daily living, and one for mobility.
For each question on the form there is a description of the activity, and what it covers. There are some specific questions and space for you to write about how your condition affects you in relation to the activity. Your answers will then be used to score you against certain criteria called ‘descriptors’. These descriptors will not be included on the form. However, we list the descriptors and the points you would score if you meet each descriptor, for daily living activities and mobility activities. More information about descriptors can be found in the DWP's PIP Handbook or in Disability Rights UK's guide to making a claim for PIP.
In some cases, you may feel that your condition does not affect you doing the activity at all. However, it is important to give enough information about all the ways that your condition affects you in relation to the activity, and all the help or aids you need, so that the assessor can accurately decide which descriptor best applies to you.
You will receive one score for each activity. This will be the highest of the scores that apply to you (as you might meet different descriptors on different days, depending on how your condition affects you), or the one that applies for the most time. It will not be all the scores that apply to you within an activity added together. However, the scores from each activity will be added together at the end to get your overall ‘daily living’ and ‘mobility’ scores.
Rates and payments
If your claim is successful, you may be awarded PIP based on 'daily living', on 'mobility' or on both. PIP is paid at either a standard or enhanced rate, depending on the points you score. PIP is usually paid every four weeks. Currently, the weekly rates for PIP are:
- standard daily living rate (which needs at least 8 points) = £58.70 per week;
- enhanced daily living rate (which needs at least 12 points) = £87.65 per week;
- standard mobility rate (which needs at least 8 points) = £23.20 per week; and
- enhanced mobility rate (which needs at least 12 points) = £61.20 per week.
Information produced: July 2019
Daily living and mobility activities
You can find information about the daily living and mobility activities that form part of your PIP assessment criteria below.
Preparing food
This activity is about whether you can prepare and cook a simple, hot, one-course meal from fresh ingredients (not ready meals). It is not about how good you are as a cook, but about whether your medical condition(s) affects your ability to prepare a simple, hot meal.
Eating and drinking
This activity is about physically feeding yourself, eating and drinking, and whether you are able to do this unaided, or with help. It does not include preparing food (covered in activity 1). Nutrition means food and drink.
Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
This activity is about taking medication, or managing any treatment, at home. It is also about your ability to notice any changes in your health, and know what to do about it.
Managing toilet needs or incontinence
This activity is about your ability to get on and off the toilet, to clean afterwards and to manage emptying your bladder and/or bowel, including the use of collecting devices. This activity does not include the ability to manage clothing, for example fastening and unfastening zips or buttons, as this is covered in activity 6.
Dressing and undressing
This activity is about your ability to dress and undress, including choosing, and putting on appropriate and non-adapted clothing that is suitable for the situation, including socks and shoes. This may include dealing with fastenings such as zips or buttons.
Washing and bathing
This activity is about your ability to keep your body clean, including washing your whole body and getting in and out of a non-adapted bath or shower.
Communicating verbally
This activity is about speaking and being understood, and about listening and understanding. It means speaking and listening in your native language, which may not be English. It includes sign language and text relay, but not Braille.
Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
This activity is about understanding written or printed information, including signs and symbols, in your native language (which may not be English).
Engaging with other people face-to-face
This activity is about how you get on with other people (people you know and people you don't know). It includes behaving appropriately with other people and understanding how they behave towards you, including whether severe anxiety or stress stops you from doing this. It includes understanding body language and establishing relationships.
Making budgeting decisions
This activity is about your ability to make everyday decisions about spending and managing your money.
Planning and following journeys
This activity is about planning (working out) and following a journey, including using public transport, and whether severe anxiety or distress stops you from being able to go out. It is not about your physical mobility (covered in the mobility activity 'PIP - moving around').
Moving around
This activity is about being able to physically move around, focusing on being able to stand up and walk unaided, without severe discomfort such as breathlessness, pain or fatigue.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
PIP is a UK benefit for people over the age of 16, to help with any additional costs due to having a long-term disability or health condition.
Benefit decisions and appeals
Whether someone with epilepsy can claim benefits will depend on their situation. Some benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are for people with a long-term disability or health condition, who need help or support with daily living, or with mobility, or both.
Benefits
If you have epilepsy you may be eligible to apply for benefits. This depends on what your epilepsy is like and how it affects you.