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Personal Independence Payment - PIP Assessment - Reading and understanding

A straightforward guide to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) test, what the activities are and what you can score points for

Reading and understanding

Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words is a daily living activity. Add the points you score for this activity with the points you score for other daily living activities to find out if you may be entitled to the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

When you are looking at how many points you score for reading and understanding, think about what help you need most of the time to do it:

  • In your own language
  • Safely
  • Well enough
  • Often enough
  • Fast enough
  • Because you have a physical or mental disability

You score the points for the sentence that is true for most or over half of the time. If more than one sentence is true, you normally only get points for the sentence that is true for the most time. You can only score one set of points for reading and understanding, do not add them together.

No points

You can read and understand written sentences when you are wearing your glasses or contact lenses.

You can read and understand written sentences without any help or special aids.

Examples of special aids:

  • NOT glasses or contact lenses
  • Larger font size
  • Screen reader
  • Magnifier
  • Braille

Two points

You can only read or understand written sentences if you use a special aid.

You can only read or understand written sentences if someone reminds or encourages you.

Examples of complex written information:

  • Letters about your benefits
  • Letters from your doctor

Four points

You can only read or understand signs, symbols, dates or simple text if someone reminds or encourages you.

Eight points

You cannot read or understand signs, symbols or words at all.

Reviewed: February 2023

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