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PIP application: how to describe your condition (so you actually get it)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is worth up to **£737.20 per month** — but the application process can be daunting. Around **43% of PIP decisions are overturned on appeal**, which means many people are being turned down who should get it.

The key principle

PIP is about **how your condition affects you**, not what your condition is. The assessor wants to know about your **worst days**, not your best.

The two components

Daily living (up to £108.55/week)

Activities assessed:

Preparing food

Taking nutrition (eating and drinking)

Managing treatments or monitoring health

Washing and bathing

Managing toilet needs

Dressing and undressing

Communicating verbally

Reading and understanding signs

Engaging with other people

Making budgeting decisions

Mobility (up to £75.75/week)

Activities assessed:

Planning and following journeys

Moving around (walking, standing)

How to describe your difficulties

Use your worst days, not your best

If you can sometimes cook a meal but often can't, describe your worst days. For example:

❌ "I can cook meals" (this suggests you're fine)

✅ "On most days, I struggle to prepare food safely. I have difficulty standing for more than 5 minutes due to pain in my lower back. I often rely on microwave meals because I cannot safely use the cooker."

Be specific about what happens

❌ "I find it hard to walk"

✅ "I can walk about 30 metres before I need to stop due to severe pain in my knees. On bad days, I cannot leave the house without my walking stick. I have fallen twice in the last 3 months."

Describe the consequences

"If I try to cook, I risk burning myself because my hands shake"

"Without help getting dressed, I would take over 30 minutes and be in significant pain"

"I have anxiety attacks on public transport and have been unable to travel alone for 2 years"

Include frequency

How often each difficulty occurs:

"This happens most days (5–7 days per week)"

"I have flare-ups approximately 3 weeks per month"

"My condition varies — on the worst days (about 15 per month), I cannot..."

Supporting evidence

Gather evidence from:

**Your GP** — ask for a summary of your conditions and how they affect you

**Hospital consultants** — any letters or reports

**Medications list** — shows the severity of your condition

**Care records** — if you receive formal care

**Photos** — of adaptations, aids, or the consequences of your condition

The assessment

What to expect

You'll be invited for a face-to-face or telephone assessment with a health professional. They'll ask about each activity and watch how you move.

Key tips

**Don't try to be brave** — show your difficulties, don't mask them

**Take someone with you** — they can remind you of things you forget

**Ask for reasonable adjustments** — home visit, breaks, extra time

**Record the assessment** — you have the right to (give advance notice)

If you're turned down

**Mandatory reconsideration first** — request a review within 1 month

**Appeal to the tribunal** — 73% of appeals succeed

**Get help from Citizens Advice or Scope** — they can help with appeals

PIP is there to help with the extra costs of living with a condition. Don't let the process put you off claiming what you're entitled to.