How do PIP points work?

For people claiming PIP who want to understand how they are scored.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

PIP is decided by points scored in 12 activities: 10 for daily living and 2 for mobility.

8 to 11 points across the daily living activities gets the standard rate; 12 or more gets the enhanced rate.
Mobility works the same way: 8 points for standard, 12 for enhanced.
In each activity, only one descriptor counts: the one that applies to you on more than half of days.
You are only treated as able to do a task if you can do it safely, well enough, as often as needed and in a reasonable time.

Different in Scotland

Adult Disability Payment, which replaces PIP in Scotland, also uses points across 12 activities.

Key facts

8 points: standard rate
12 points: enhanced rate
12 activities in total
Highest descriptor per activity counts

What PIP points are

PIP looks at how your condition affects 12 everyday activities. For each activity there is a list of statements, called descriptors. Each descriptor scores a set number of points, from 0 upwards. The assessor and DWP decide which descriptor fits you best.

The 12 activities

Part	Activity	Most points
Daily living	1. Preparing food	8
Daily living	2. Taking nutrition	10
Daily living	3. Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition	8
Daily living	4. Washing and bathing	8
Daily living	5. Managing toilet needs or incontinence	8
Daily living	6. Dressing and undressing	8
Daily living	7. Communicating verbally	12
Daily living	8. Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words	8
Daily living	9. Engaging with other people face to face	8
Daily living	10. Making budgeting decisions	6
Mobility	1. Planning and following journeys	12
Mobility	2. Moving around	12

How points turn into money (2026/27)

Daily living and mobility are scored separately.

Points in that part	Daily living	Mobility
0 to 7	Nothing	Nothing
8 to 11 (standard)	£76.70 a week	£30.30 a week
12 or more (enhanced)	£114.60 a week	£80.00 a week

Example: the "moving around" activity

Descriptor	Points
Can stand and move more than 200 metres	0
Can stand and move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres	4
Can stand and move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres	8
Can stand and move using an aid more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres	10
Can stand and move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres	12
Cannot stand, or cannot move more than 1 metre	12

Worked example: Sam can walk about 30 metres using a stick, and has no problem planning journeys. Sam scores 10 points for moving around and 0 for journeys. That is 10 mobility points, so Sam gets the standard mobility rate of £30.30 a week. If Sam could only manage 15 metres, that would be 12 points and the enhanced rate of £80.00.

Rules that decide your score

More than half of days. A descriptor only applies if it fits you on more than half of the days in the period looked at. If more than one fits, the higher score counts.
Only one descriptor per activity. You cannot add up several descriptors within the same activity.
Doing it properly. You only count as able to do something if you can do it safely, to a good enough standard, as often as you need to, and in a reasonable time. A reasonable time means no more than twice as long as someone without your condition.
Aids count. You are assessed using any aids you use, or could reasonably be expected to use, such as a walking stick.
The time period. For a new claim, DWP looks at the 3 months before and the 9 months after the date it uses for your claim.

If you think your points are wrong

Your decision letter lists your points for each activity. If you disagree, ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month. Explain which descriptor you think fits you, and why, with real examples.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

Scotland: Adult Disability Payment replaces PIP. It also scores 12 activities, and your decision letter shows the points for each one. Northern Ireland: PIP is run by the Department for Communities, so check nidirect for how to claim or challenge a decision.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Claim PIP

Common questions

How many points do I need for PIP?

At least 8 points in a part for the standard rate, and at least 12 for the enhanced rate. Daily living and mobility are scored separately.

Can points from daily living and mobility be added together?

No. Each part has its own total, scored from its own activities.

What does a reasonable time mean?

No more than twice as long as a person without your condition would take.

Official sources

1.PIP Regulations 2013, Schedule 1: activities and descriptorswww.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/377/schedule/1
2.PIP Regulations 2013, regulation 5: daily living scoreswww.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/377/regulation/5
3.PIP Regulations 2013, regulation 6: mobility scoreswww.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/377/regulation/6
4.PIP Regulations 2013, regulation 7: which descriptor applieswww.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/377/regulation/7
5.PIP Regulations 2013, regulation 4: how ability is assessedwww.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/377/regulation/4
6.Adult Disability Payment: decisions (mygov.scot)www.mygov.scot/adult-disability-payment/decision

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

Ask about your situation

Please don't include your name, address, National Insurance number or health details. See our privacy notice.