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Personal Independence Payment - PIP Assessment - Washing and bathing

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

Washing and bathing

Washing and bathing 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 washing and bathing, think about what help you need most of the time to do it:

  • Safely
  • Well enough
  • Often enough
  • Fast enough

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 washing and bathing, do not add them together.

No points

You can wash and bathe yourself without any help.

Two points

You can only wash or bathe yourself if you use a special aid.

You can only wash or bathe yourself if someone reminds you to.

You can only wash or bathe yourself if someone watches you to keep you safe.

You can only wash your hair if someone helps you.

You can only wash below your waist if someone helps you.

Examples of special aids:

  • Bath grab rails or hoist
  • Bath or shower chair
  • Long handled bath brush

Three points

You need someone to help you get in or out of the bath or shower.

Four points

You need someone to help you to wash your body between your shoulders and your waist.

Eight points

You can’t wash or bathe at all and you need someone to do it for you.

Reviewed: February 2023

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