Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

PIP is a benefit designed to meet some of the extra costs of being an adult living with a long-term health condition or disability. Whether or not you are entitled to PIP is based on what help you need with very specific things because of your illness or disability, and any treatment. 

The application process is difficult and lots of people don't get awarded the benefit initially, or get the wrong award. All unfair decisions should be challenged, and most of the resources on this page are designed to help you get an incorrect decision overturned. 

90% of people who use our help to ask for a mandatory reconsideration and/or appeal successfully get the decision changed. 

This information applies in England, Wales, and Scotland. It will also be helpful for claimants in Northern Ireland where the rules are the same but the relevant government departments and forms are different.

Last updated: January 2026

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I want to apply for PIP

Information
PIP activities, descriptors and points
Understand how PIP works and what you will need to show so that you get the right amount of benefit if you have a health condition or disability.
Information
How to fill in the PIP form
This video guide explains what you need to know about PIP and how to fill in the form.
Chosen for you
How to claim PIP
Advicenow has gathered the most useful information available online to help you to make a successful PIP claim.

I disagree with the PIP decision

Tool
Ask for a PIP mandatory reconsideration
Our self-help tool makes it easier to challenge an unfair decision about your PIP effectively. Research shows you are twice as likely to win if you use this tool to write your letter.
Information
How to challenge a PIP decision
Everything you need to know about mandatory reconsiderations, what 'counts' as meeting a descriptor, deadlines, evidence, and how long it will take.

I want to appeal a PIP decision

(I have a mandatory reconsideration decision)

Information
How to appeal a PIP decision
What you need to do to ask for an appeal and increase your chances of having the decision changed before the hearing
Information
The PIP appeal process
Understand the PIP appeal process in 2026 - from mandatory reconsideration to the tribunal hearing. Learn what you need to do at each stage in the timeline, and how Advicenow can help you.
Information
How to write a PIP tribunal statement
Increase your chances of success by learning how to write an effective PIP tribunal statement with our step-by-step guide and example.
Information
How to write effective evidence for a PIP application or appeal
A guide for GPs, medical staff, social workers and other professionals so that your patient gets the right support.
Information
How to support a friend at a PIP appeal hearing
Learn how you could be most useful, if someone has asked you to go with them to the hearing to give them support.

I want to find an adviser

Information
How to find an adviser to help with your benefits
It is now much harder to find advice and help with your benefits than it used to be. But here we explain where to start.

Related benefits self-help tools

Self-help benefits tool
PIP mandatory reconsideration letter tool

This tool will help you write a letter that sets our your case so that you can get the decision changed. Research shows it more than doubles your chance of getting the decision changed at this stage.

Can't find what you are looking for?

Getting free one-to-one advice about benefits is hard. All advice services are extremely busy. We are here  to help everyone who cannot get in at an advice service and cannot afford to pay for legal help.


We give you the knowledge, confidence, and skills you need to deal with the issue yourself, or with the help of friends or family.  If you need more help than you can get from our advice guides and self-help tools, we explain how to try to find advice.

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