PIP helps with the extra costs of illness.

Who can claim

You can usually get PIP if you:

• are 16 or over and usually under State Pension age
• have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
• have difficulty with everyday tasks or getting around, more than half of the days
• expect this to last at least 12 months

PIP is tax free and is not affected by income or savings. You usually need to have lived in Great Britain for 2 of the last 3 years. In Scotland you apply for Adult Disability Payment instead.

What DWP looks at

Daily living covers things like:

• preparing food, eating and drinking
• managing medicines or treatments
• washing, bathing, using the toilet, dressing
• reading, managing money, talking with and being around other people

Mobility covers planning and following a journey and physically moving around. Mental health conditions such as anxiety can count too.

How a PIP claim works

1. 01

   Phone call

   The claim starts with a call to the PIP new claims line.

2. 02

   The form

   "How your disability affects you". You have 1 month to return it. This is where most claims are won or lost.

3. 03

   Assessment

   You may be asked to an assessment, often by phone or video. It usually takes about 1 hour.

4. 04

   Decision

   A letter tells you the decision. Awards last from 9 months to 10 years.