How to apply for PIP

A letters-only postbox. A PIP claim starts with a phone call, and the claim form then arrives by post. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.

A vintage telephone on a wall. — A telephone. The first step is calling the PIP new claims line; someone can call on your behalf if you are with them. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC0.

A pen resting on a notebook. — A pen on a notebook. The form asks how your difficulties affect you day by day — concrete examples score better than general statements. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC0.

A PIP claim starts with a phone call. Call the PIP new claims line and give your contact details, National Insurance number, bank or building society details, and your doctor's or health worker's details, plus any time spent abroad or in a care home or hospital. Someone can call on your behalf, but you will need to be with them when they call. If you cannot use the phone, ask about other ways to start a claim — and if someone already acts for you formally, as an appointee, they can handle the claim for you.

The claim form

After the call, DWP posts you the claim form, titled "How your condition affects you". This is the most important document in the claim. For each activity, describe what happens when you try it: what help you need, what goes wrong, how often, and how long recovery takes. Concrete examples beat general statements. "I need help" scores less than "on four days a week my partner has to cut up my food because I cannot grip a knife safely, and on the other days I skip hot meals". Say what happens on bad days and on better days, and how many days a week each pattern holds.

Evidence checklist

Any letters or reports that describe effects on daily life, not just diagnoses.
Prescription lists and appointment letters, to show treatment and monitoring.
A short diary of a typical week, if you keep one, showing help needed and recovery time.
Statements from someone who helps you regularly, describing what they actually do.
The assessor's report from any earlier claim, if you are renewing or re-claiming.

Send copies, never originals, and keep a full copy of everything you send, with proof of posting or a screenshot of an online submission.

What happens after you file

DWP may decide the claim on the form and evidence alone, or it may arrange a health assessment — covered on the assessment page. Decisions often take several months from filing; the timeline varies by case, and this site does not promise a faster one. If you move house or your circumstances change while you wait, tell DWP straight away rather than waiting for the decision.

Sources

Official sources for the figures on this page: GOV.UK — Personal Independence Payment; nidirect — Personal Independence Payment (Northern Ireland); DWP — Annual Benefits Statistics Compendium 2026.

General information only. This page explains Personal Independence Payment in plain English. It is not legal, financial, or medical advice, and it cannot decide whether you qualify. Only the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) — or the Department for Communities (DfC) in Northern Ireland — can decide a claim. Rates and rules change over time; always confirm the current position with GOV.UK before you act on it. Contact: hello [at] tapetoolhq.com.