Guidance

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) handbook

Detailed guidance about PIP – the benefit for people with a health condition or disability.

Documents

PIP handbook

Details

This handbook is for individuals and organisations that support people who may be entitled to PIP. It provides detailed information about PIP and lists other sources of help for claimants.

If you currently get PIP or would like to apply for it, read the PIP guide for claimants.

Published 3 September 2013
Last updated 7 February 2024 + show all updates
  1. Information has been added about light touch award reviews.

  2. Updated eligibility for special rules for end of life from 6 months to 12 months. The SR1 form has replaced the DS1500.

  3. Updated the 'How to make a claim' chapter to make it clear that a National Insurance number is not required to start a claim.

  4. Updated the guide to reflect the change to the eligible age range for PIP. Added clarification to the last paragraph in the 'Face-to-face consultation' section.

  5. Updated Welsh language version to link to the current contact details for claims and enquiries, and updated the links to other benefits and services that PIP claimants can access.

  6. Updated contact details for PIP claims and enquiries and updated links to other sources of support that PIP claimants can get. Added HTML version of the information. An update to the Welsh language version will follow.

  7. Updated the publication to link to the current contact details for claims and enquiries and updated the links to other benefits and services that PIP claimants can access. Also added a HTML version of the publication. The corresponding update to the Welsh language version will follow.

  8. Section on 'Support from other people' (pages 9 and 10) updated to reflect recent case law on the interpretation of 'supervision'.

  9. Page 9 updated to reflect recent case law on the interpretation of 'safely'.

  10. References to 'Atos' changed to 'Independent Assessment Services'.

  11. Revised version of handbook (version 8, April 2016), updated to include information about the British Sign Language (BSL) Video Relay Service trial.

  12. Replaced English handbook with update to 'PIP and existing DLA claimants: From July 2015' (page 16).

  13. Added revised English version of PIP handbook with updated information relating to existing DLA claimants.

  14. Updated the English version of the PIP handbook with information about extending reassessments of Disability Living Allowance claimants for PIP from 13 July 2015.

  15. Updated English version of the handbook with updated guidance on the evidence required to help us assess PIP claims.

  16. Updated and condensed existing guidance into a new handbook for individuals and organisations that support PIP claimants.

  17. Factsheet updated with new information on how long to expect claims to take and new processes for special rules for terminal illness claims.

  18. Details added to factsheets about extending reassessment areas. DWP will ask existing DLA claimants to claim PIP instead, under certain conditions.

  19. Reformatted fact sheet pack, removed fact sheet 5:Introducing PIP for new claimants (8 April 2013) and added a postcode map showing the parts of the UK in scope for PIP reassessments from October 2013.

  20. Amendment to table of DWP benefits and schemes on page 36.

  21. We are delaying the reassessment for some DLA claimants by 3 weeks until 28 October, following the consultation on the PIP ‘moving around’ assessment criteria, to give the government more time to consider responses and to respond.

  22. First published.