To start a claim for Personal Independence Payment, call the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to check that you are eligible. If you are eligible, the DWP will send you a form within two weeks.
When you call, you will be asked for the information in the list below. It is a good idea to have this information ready before you start:
- Your date of birth
- Your address and phone number
- Your national insurance number
- Your bank or building society account details
- Your doctor or health worker’s name
- Dates you’ve been abroad
- Dates you’ve been in a care home or hospital
In England, Scotland and Wales, start your PIP claim by calling:
- Telephone 0800 917 2222
- Textphone 0800 917 7777
Or write to:
Personal Independence Payment New Claims
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV99 1AH
In Northern Ireland, start your PIP claim by calling:
- Telephone 0800 012 1573
- Textphone 0800 012 1574
Or write to:
Castle Court
Royal Avenue
Belfast
BT1 1HR
Claiming under special rules
If you are terminally ill, you may be able to claim under special rules. Special rules mean you can automatically get the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment without filling out the daily living activities part of the claim form or going to a medical assessment.
Special rules do not let you get the mobility component automatically. So you would have to fill out the mobility activities part of the claim form and attend a medical assessment to get the mobility component.
Claiming for someone else
Adult
You can start the claim for someone else if you are with them when you phone or they are terminally ill.
Child
You can start the claim for your child if they are getting Disability Living Allowance (DLA), they have just turned 16 years old and they do not have the mental capacity to manage their own money.
When you call the DWP, tell them that you would like to be your child’s appointee. The DWP will arrange a meeting to:
- Check that your child needs an appointee
- Check that you are a suitable appointee
- Complete the BF56 application to become an appointee
You will only become your child’s appointee if and when you receive the BF57 confirmation letter.
As long as you apply for PIP on time, your child’s DLA will continue until their PIP claim has been decided. You can find out more about what happens when you claim PIP instead of DLA on the When will I move from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) onto Personal Independence Payment (PIP)? page of our PIP guide.
Updated May 2017