Personal Independence Payment

PIP Daily Living Activities

A detailed breakdown of all 10 daily living activities assessed for PIP. Understanding these helps you explain how your condition affects you.

How Points Work

Each activity has multiple "descriptors" worth different points. You pick the one that best matches you for each activity, and your points are added up:

8-11 points
Standard rate (£72.65/week)
12+ points
Enhanced rate (£108.55/week)

1. Preparing Food

Can you prepare and cook a simple meal?

This is about making a simple meal from fresh ingredients - like a microwave meal or beans on toast. It's not about complex cooking.

Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided0 points
Needs to use an aid or appliance2 points
Needs supervision or prompting2 points
Needs assistance to prepare or cook a simple meal4 points
Cannot prepare and cook food8 points

Think about: Can you safely use a cooker? Can you hold a pan? Can you stand long enough? Do you forget you're cooking? Do you burn yourself?

2. Taking Nutrition

Can you eat and drink?

This covers physically eating and drinking, including cutting up food. It also covers tube feeding if relevant.

Can take nutrition unaided0 points
Needs an aid or appliance (special cutlery, etc.)2 points
Needs supervision or prompting2 points
Needs assistance to cut up food2 points
Needs a therapeutic source (tube feeding)2 points
Cannot convey food or drink to mouth and needs another person10 points

3. Managing Therapy or Monitoring a Health Condition

Can you manage your medication and health monitoring?

This includes taking medication, using medical devices (inhalers, blood pressure monitors), managing treatments like dialysis, and therapy prescribed by a health professional.

Can manage medication or therapy unaided, or no therapy needed0 points
Needs an aid or appliance1 point
Needs supervision, prompting, or assistance1-4 points
Needs help managing therapy that takes 14+ hours per week8 points

Include: Time for exercises prescribed by physio, applying creams, managing stomas, dialysis, and any regular health monitoring.

4. Washing and Bathing

Can you wash yourself?

This is about washing your whole body, including getting in and out of a bath or shower. It includes washing your hair.

Can wash and bathe unaided0 points
Needs an aid or appliance (bath seat, grab rails, etc.)2 points
Needs supervision or prompting2 points
Needs assistance to wash your body below the waist2 points
Needs assistance to wash body between waist and neck3 points
Cannot wash and bathe at all, needs another person8 points

5. Managing Toilet Needs or Incontinence

Can you use the toilet?

This covers getting on and off the toilet, managing clothing, cleaning yourself afterwards, and managing incontinence.

Can manage toilet needs unaided0 points
Needs an aid or appliance2 points
Needs supervision or prompting2 points
Needs assistance to manage incontinence4 points
Needs assistance to get on/off toilet, manage clothing, clean self6 points
Needs another person to manage toilet needs8 points

6. Dressing and Undressing

Can you dress yourself?

This includes putting on and taking off clothing, including shoes and socks/tights. It also covers choosing appropriate clothing.

Can dress and undress unaided0 points
Needs an aid or appliance (long-handled shoe horn, etc.)2 points
Needs prompting to dress appropriately2 points
Needs assistance to dress/undress lower body2 points
Needs assistance to dress/undress upper body4 points
Cannot dress or undress at all8 points

7. Communicating Verbally

Can you express yourself and understand others?

This is about being able to speak and be understood, hear and understand speech, and use a communication aid if needed.

Can express and understand verbal information unaided0 points
Needs an aid or appliance (hearing aid, etc.)2 points
Needs a communication support worker for complex information4 points
Needs a communication support worker for basic information8 points
Cannot communicate at all12 points

8. Reading and Understanding Signs, Symbols and Words

Can you read and understand written information?

This is about understanding written words, signs, and symbols - like reading a letter, understanding road signs, or interpreting warning symbols.

Can read and understand basic/complex written information unaided0 points
Needs an aid or appliance (glasses, magnifier for VI, screen reader)2 points
Needs prompting2 points
Needs someone to read complex written information aloud4 points
Cannot read or understand any written information8 points

9. Engaging with Other People Face to Face

Can you mix with other people?

This is about interacting with others - including understanding body language, starting conversations, maintaining relationships, and coping in social situations.

Can engage with other people unaided0 points
Needs prompting2 points
Needs social support to engage with other people4 points
Cannot engage with other people due to significant distress or risk8 points

Relevant for: Anxiety, autism, depression, PTSD, social phobia, and mental health conditions that affect social interaction.

10. Making Budgeting Decisions

Can you manage your money?

This is about understanding money, making financial decisions, and managing day-to-day budgeting - like working out if you can afford something.

Can manage complex budgeting decisions unaided0 points
Needs prompting or assistance for complex decisions2 points
Needs prompting or assistance for simple decisions4 points
Cannot make any budgeting decisions6 points

Key Points to Remember

  • ✓You only score points for one descriptor per activity (the highest one that applies)
  • ✓Always describe your worst days when more than 50% of the time applies
  • ✓Consider whether you can do activities safely, repeatedly, in a timely manner, and to an acceptable standard
  • ✓Mental health conditions count just as much as physical conditions
  • ✓Pain and fatigue that result from doing activities are relevant

Related Guides

PIP Assessment Guide

What to expect and how to prepare

PIP Eligibility Checker

See if you might qualify for PIP