Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - How do I claim PIP?

This page gives an overview of claiming PIP. For more detail about each stage, click on the sections below or see our Claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) guide.  

Start your PIP claim

Call the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to start your claim for PIP.

In England, Scotland or Wales:

• Telephone 0800 917 2222
• Textphone 0800 917 7777

In Northern Ireland:

• Telephone 0800 012 1573
• Textphone 0800 012 1574

Get documents for your PIP claim

Start getting the documents that you want to put with your claim. You may want to get your medical records or letters from people who help you.

Fill out your PIP form

Take your time to fill out the form and ask the DWP for more time if you need it. Get help to do it if it’s too much for you on your own. Put in as much as you can about how your health affects what you can do by yourself.

Send your PIP form

Your form came with an addressed envelope. Use the envelope or the address on it to send your form to the DWP with any documents you have. Try to send your form in on time.  

Go to medical assessment

You will hear from Atos or Capita to arrange a medical assessment. You will be asked to go to an appointment at an assessment centre. You can take someone with you. It is important that you go, unless you have a good reason not to. 

Get decision

The DWP will send you a letter telling you whether you qualify for PIP. If you disagree with the decision, you may want to challenge it.

Get paid

If you qualify for PIP, you normally get it for a fixed amount of time. Awards can be made for periods between one and ten years depending on when the DWP think it is likely that your needs may change. Payments are usually made every four weeks into your bank account.  

Report changes

It is important that you tell the DWP if and when anything changes which might affect your entitlement to PIP. If your health is getting worse or better, the DWP may want to reassess you to check you are getting the right amount.

Renew your PIP claim

The DWP will contact you in the last year of your PIP claim about review or renewal. Or you can ask to renew yourself in the last 6 months of your claim. You will need to complete another form and go to another medical assessment. 

Updated May 2017