We are not benefits advisors, but can point you in the right direction. It is best to speak to a benefits advice organisation about your situation so they can tailor their help to your needs. Some may even help you fill out the claim forms too. Don't feel like you have to do this alone.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
What is PIP?
Personal Independence Payment helps cover the extra living costs that come with health conditions like multiple sclerosis. It can help you stay active and do more on your own. It is not means-tested, so things like you and your partner’s finances, your work and other benefits do not affect your claim.
It replaces the Disability Living Allowance for those of working age in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, while Scotland's version is called the Adult Disability Payment.
Don't meet PIP's age requirements? You could take a look at these:
- Attendance Allowance if you are state pension age
- Disability Allowance for under 16s (England, Northern Ireland and Wales)
- Child Disability Payment for under 18s (Scotland)
PIP comes in two parts
- Daily living: such as eating, preparing food, washing, going to the toilet, dressing, reading and communicating, managing medication and money, socialising...
- Mobility: such as moving around, leaving home, planning a journey...
-
If you get the higher rate of PIP mobility you can join the Motability Scheme and lease a vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair to suit your needs.
How much can I get?
The amount varies depending on whether you are awarded the lower or higher rates for PIP and you end up with both the daily living and mobility parts, or just one. In real money this means:
|
Lower weekly rate |
Higher weekly rate |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Daily living part |
£72.65 |
£108.55 |
|
Mobility part |
£28.70 |
£75.75 |
-
Check the current PIP amounts at gov.uk. Note that PIP is usually paid every four weeks.
Can I get PIP with MS?
Having MS does not automatically mean you get PIP. You can start a claim if you've found it tough doing everyday tasks and getting around for the last three months at least, and expect these difficulties to continue for nine months or more.
Check your eligibility at gov.uk if you recently returned from living abroad, are currently in a care home or hospital, or not a British citizen.
You also need to be between 16 years and the state pension age to claim although there are a few exceptions, so do check with a benefits advisor.
Before claiming...
Here are some suggestions that may help you when claiming:
-
Speak to a benefits advice organisation to get to grips with the things you'll be assessed on and how the different PIP activities are scored. This is especially important for MS as it tends to fluctuate from day-to-day, so getting expert advice before you apply can be invaluable.
-
Keep a diary. Your MS symptoms may vary a lot, so it’s helpful to note down how they affect you day to day. Citizens Advice has a printable template which you can use to note down your symptoms over time. Diary entries can be useful for backing up your claim and linking it back to the PIP activities.
-
Do a PIP test. Benefits and Work’s online PIP test can help you understand how certain activities are scored during the assessment. It offers guidance on fluctuating conditions like MS, where you have good and bad days.
-
List your health professionals and their contact details. Include specialists like your neurologist, MS nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist who really understand your condition and how it affects you, including all your medications and therapies.
If you have not seen your MS nurse or consultant for several months, Citizens Advice recommends that you book an appointment. Tell them that you are applying for PIP and update them on the daily challenges you face.
-
Gather evidence. The stronger your case, the smoother the process. You may even avoid a follow-up assessment. There is no one size fits all approach, but here’s some evidence that may help:
- letters from your health professionals explaining how your MS affects your ability to do the activities assessed by PIP
- letters from other professionals who help you, explaining how your condition impacts your life
- letters from family and friends detailing how they help you, and the impact on you when they are not around. Keep the letters relevant to the PIP activities assessed. They need to be signed, dated and include a correspondence address
- a copy of your medical records from your GP – you do not need to pay for these
- discharge summaries following admissions to A&E
- copies of scans
- sick notes and prescriptions to support your claim.
You do not need to delay your application if you are waiting for supporting evidence – just let the authorities know it’s on its way.
-
Make copies of your evidence for future reference.
Who decides PIP where I live?
The Department for Work and Pensions deals with claims for England and Wales, while Northern Ireland's are handled by the Department for Communities. If you are researching PIP, make sure the information applies to your region as there are different application, appeal and review processes for England/Wales and Northern Ireland.
How to claim?
Select the region where you live:
-
Get started
- Visit gov.uk for details on how to start your claim. Most claims are started by a phone call, but you can apply by post, although this takes longer. Remember if you are still awaiting evidence, you can send this on after – just let the claim team know that it will follow. There are letter templates available on Citizens Advice England and Citizens Advice Wales websites that you can use to send in with your evidence.
- You will receive a form asking how your condition affects you. You can request this by email or post. You have one month to complete the form.
Need help filling in the form?
- There is a free question-by-question guide available on Citizens Advice England and Citizens Advice Wales.
- Turn2us has a sample copy of the PIP form.
- Benefits and Work has a downloadable sample of their members-only PIP claim guide. The full guide is available by subscription only.
- Local advice support organisations or your council’s welfare rights team sometimes offer practical help with filling in PIP forms. Do ask around.
If the Department for Work and Pensions decide that you do not meet the basic eligibility requirements, you can appeal by asking for a Mandatory Reconsideration.
Do I need a PIP assessment?
If more information is needed, you will be asked to an assessment with a health professional. You must receive seven days written notice of the date, time and place of your assessment. If you would like your assessment audio recorded by the assessor, ask well in advance. Don't leave it until your appointment as it will be too late.
During the appointment, they will ask you how your MS affects everyday living and getting around as well as any treatments. They want to make sure your answers are consistent with your claim form and the evidence. Bring notes to remind you of the important points you want to get across.
The assessment takes place either face-to-face (at home if your GP visits there), by phone or video call. For help on preparing for the assessment you could visit Citizens Advice England and Citizens Advice Wales.
When will I get a decision?
It takes around five months to get a decision on your PIP claim. If successful, the Department for Work and Pensions will let you know how much you will receive, for how long and whether it is for daily living or mobility, or both.
-
- Visit NI Direct website to find out how to start your claim. Most claims are started by calling the Personal Independent Payment Centre on 0800 012 1573. You can also apply by post, but this takes longer. Remember if you are still awaiting evidence, you can send this on after – just let the claim team know that it will follow
- You will receive a form asking how your condition affects you. You can request this by email or post. You have one month to complete the form.
These NI Direct films go into more detail:
Need help filling in the form?
- the Department for Communities' Make the call service can be reached on 0800 232 1271
- the independent advice network Advice NI allows you to search for benefits advisors in your area.
If the Department for Communities decides that you do not meet the basic eligibility requirements, you can appeal by asking for a Mandatory Reconsideration.
Do I need a PIP assessment?
If more information is needed, you will be asked to an assessment with a health professional. You normally get one week's notice and need to ask in advance if you want your assessment to be recorded. During the appointment, they will ask you how your MS affects everyday living and getting around as well as any treatments. They will want to make sure your answers are consistent with your claim form and the evidence. Bring notes to remind you of the important points you want to get across.
The assessment takes place either face-to-face (and in sometimes at home) or by phone.
You can watch NI Direct's video on PIP face-to-face assessments here.
When will I get a decision?
It takes around four weeks to get a decision on your PIP claim but it can take longer for complex cases. If successful, the Department for Communities will let you know how much you will receive, for how long and whether it is for daily living or mobility, or both.
PIP refused, what now?
Select the region where you live:
-
Appeal or not?
You may want to appeal if your claim is unsuccessful or you feel your situation merits a higher amount or a longer award. Be aware that an appeal could see you losing PIP altogether or risk it being reduced or shortened.
- You have a month from the date of your decision letter should you decide to appeal.
- Speak to a benefits advisor. You can find advice at Turn2us, Benefits and Work, and at Citizens Advice's England or Citizens Advice Wales. Advicenow has a guide called How to win a PIP appeal.
- Decided to appeal? Submit a mandatory reconsideration online or by writing a letter. Advicenow has a letter writing tool to help. If you decide to call, make sure you follow up with a letter.
Once the Department for Work and Pensions receive a mandatory reconsideration, they review their decision. There is no timescale for this – it could take a fortnight or several months but if there is an unreasonable delay, you can make a complaint. Once complete, you receive a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice explaining their decision.
Can I appeal PIP again?
If your first appeal was unsuccessful, or you disagree with the decision, you can take it up with HM Courts and Tribunals Service – this is separate from the Department for Work and Pensions. Ministry of Justice figures released in June 2022 show that seven out of 10 people win their tribunal appeal, so it may be worth your while.
But once again, challenging a PIP decision brings risks that could see your award being lowered or shortened.
You have one month to appeal from the date of your Mandatory Reconsideration Notice.
Find out more about the tribunal appeal process:
-
Appeal or not?
You may want to appeal if your claim is unsuccessful or you feel your situation merits a higher amount or a longer award. Be aware that an appeal could see you losing PIP altogether or risk it being reduced or shortened.
- You have a month from the date of your decision letter should you decide to appeal.
- It is worth speaking to a benefits advisor about your options.
- Decided to appeal? Submit a mandatory reconsideration online or by writing a letter. If you decide to call, make sure you follow up with a letter.
Once the Department for Communities receive a mandatory reconsideration, they review their decision. Once complete, you receive a Mandatory Reconsideration decision notice explaining their decision.
NI Direct's website explains the appeals process here.
Can I appeal PIP again?
If your first appeal was unsuccessful, or you disagree with the decision, you can take it up at an independent appeal tribunal – this is separate from the Department for Communities.
But once again, challenging a PIP decision brings risks that could see your award being lowered or shortened, so speak to a benefits advisor about your options.
You have one month to appeal from the date of your Mandatory Reconsideration decision notice.
Find out more about the tribunal appeal process on NI Direct's website.
Will my PIP get reviewed?
Select the region where you live:
-
Usually, you are told when your PIP award ends and if it will be reviewed. But not all PIP awards have an end date. ‘Indefinite’ awards are given to people that the Department for Work and Pensions views will not get better, and these tend to be reviewed after 10 years.
Review cases receive a form to fill in and sometimes a follow-up assessment is required. Some awards end at the cut-off date without review, which means starting again with a new claim, should you wish.
For more information about PIP reviews visit Citizens Advice England or Citizens Advice Wales.
-
Your original PIP decision letter tells you if your award will be reviewed and when. Review cases receive a form to fill in and sometimes a follow-up assessment is required either by telephone or face-to-face.
If your needs have worsened you could end up receiving more PIP money, so it's a good idea to include new evidence with your review form to back this up. Some awards are reduced while others end at the cut-off date without review, which means starting again with a new claim, should you wish.
