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Can I get PIP for mental health?
For people whose mental health makes daily tasks or going out difficult.
Applies to: England, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026
Yes. You can get PIP for a mental health condition if it makes everyday tasks or getting around difficult.
- PIP looks at how your condition affects you, not your diagnosis.
- Needing someone to remind or encourage you (called prompting) can score points.
- If journeys cause you overwhelming psychological distress, you can score mobility points.
- Psychiatric disorder was the most common main condition on PIP at 31 July 2026, at 39% of claims.
Different in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
Rules may be different in:
- Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
- Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland
Key facts
- Mental health conditions can qualify
- Prompting can score points
- Mobility can be awarded too
- 39% of PIP claims: psychiatric
How PIP works for mental health
PIP is for long-term physical or mental health conditions. You do not need a particular diagnosis. What matters is how your condition affects you on more than half of the days over a 12-month period.
The rates for 2026/27 are:
| Part | Standard | Enhanced |
|---|---|---|
| Daily living | £76.70 a week | £114.60 a week |
| Mobility | £30.30 a week | £80 a week |
You need 8 points in a part for the standard rate and 12 for the enhanced rate.
Key words in the PIP rules
The law that sets out the PIP test uses some words that matter a lot for mental health:
- Prompting: another person reminding, encouraging or explaining things to you.
- Supervision: someone needing to be with you all the time to keep you safe.
- Psychological distress: distress linked to an enduring mental health condition, or an intellectual or cognitive impairment.
If you can only do a task because someone prompts you, that can score points even if you could physically do it.
Daily living activities that often apply
Mental health can affect many tasks, such as preparing food, eating, washing, dressing, managing medicines or treatments, and making budgeting decisions. One activity is closely linked to mental health:
Engaging with other people face to face
| What applies to you | Points |
|---|---|
| Needs prompting to engage with others | 2 |
| Needs social support to engage with others | 4 |
| Cannot engage because it causes overwhelming psychological distress, or a substantial risk of harm | 8 |
Mobility for mental health
You do not need a physical problem to get the mobility part. The "planning and following journeys" activity includes:
| What applies to you | Points |
|---|---|
| Needs prompting to make any journey, to avoid overwhelming psychological distress | 4 |
| Cannot plan the route of a journey | 8 |
| Cannot follow an unfamiliar route without another person, assistance dog or aid | 10 |
| Cannot make any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress | 10 |
| Cannot follow a familiar route without another person, assistance dog or aid | 12 |
Since 28 November 2016, DWP has had to consider overwhelming psychological distress when deciding if you can plan and follow a journey.
Example
Priya has severe anxiety. She needs a friend to prompt her to wash and to go out, and she cannot face unfamiliar journeys alone. Points from washing, engaging with others and journeys could add up across each part. The final award depends on the points DWP gives for each activity.
Tips for your claim
- Describe your worst days and how often they happen.
- Explain who helps you, and what happens if they do not.
- Send evidence, such as letters from your GP, community mental health team or support worker.
If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
Wales follows the same rules as England. In Scotland, apply for Adult Disability Payment. In Northern Ireland, start a new claim by calling the PIP Centre on 0800 012 1573.
Related guides
- Is there a list of conditions that qualify for PIP?
- How do PIP points work?
- What happens at a PIP assessment?
- How do I apply for PIP?
- Who can get PIP?
Where this comes from
- Personal Independence Payment overview (GOV.UK)
- PIP: how much you'll get (GOV.UK)
- PIP Regulations 2013, Schedule 1 (legislation.gov.uk)
- PIP Regulations 2013, regulation 5 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Overwhelming psychological distress and journeys (DWP)
- PIP statistics to July 2026 (DWP)
- PIP in Northern Ireland (nidirect)
- PIP Centre contact details (Department for Communities)
Get it done
This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.
Start a PIP claimCommon questions
Can I get the mobility part of PIP for anxiety?
Official sources
- 1.Personal Independence Payment (PIP)www.gov.uk/pip
- 2.PIP Regulations 2013, Schedule 1www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/377/schedule/1
- 3.Overwhelming psychological distress and journeys: changes to PIP lawwww.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-changes/overwhelming-psychological-distress-and-journeys-changes-to-pip-law-from-28-november-2016
- 4.Personal Independence Payment statistics to July 2026www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-statistics-to-july-2026/personal-independence-payment-statistics-to-july-2026
- 5.Adult Disability Payment (mygov.scot)www.mygov.scot/adult-disability-payment
Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026
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