Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
How to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) when you have arthritis
Personal Independence Payment, or PIP, can help with the extra costs of living with arthritis. You can claim whether you work or not. Your income and savings are not taken into account.
PIP is based on how your condition affects everyday activities and getting around. It is not based on your diagnosis alone. This guide takes you through the application and explains how to describe pain, fatigue, stiffness and symptoms that change over time.
Check the rules where you live
This guide covers new PIP claims in England and Wales.
- Scotland Apply for Adult Disability Payment instead.
- Northern Ireland Use the PIP service on nidirect.
If you are over State Pension age, you will usually need to claim Attendance Allowance instead. In Scotland, check Pension Age Disability Payment.
Can I claim PIP?
You may be able to claim PIP if:
- you are aged 16 or over and usually below State Pension age when you first claim
- you have a physical or mental health condition makes daily living or getting around difficult
- you have had these difficulties for at least three months and expect them to continue for at least nine months
PIP looks at the combined effect of all your conditions. This may include arthritis, pain, fatigue, a mental health issue, or another health problem. You do not need to have a carer to qualify.
There are two parts to PIP: daily living and mobility. You may qualify for one or both. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) awards points according to the help you need with set up activities.
How to apply for PIP
There are five main stages:
- Start your claim.
- Complete the ‘How your disability affects you’ form.
- Send supporting evidence.
- Prepare for an assessment if DWP needs more information.
- Read the decision and challenge it quickly if you think it is wrong.
1. Start your claim
In England and Wales, call the PIP new claims line on 0800 917 2222. It is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Have your National Insurance number, bank details, contact details and your GP or Doctors details ready. You may also need dates for time spent in hospital, a care home or abroad.
Someone can join the call and help you. You can also claim by post or check whether you can apply online in your area. The full online service is not available everywhere.
DWP will then send you the ‘How your disability affects you’ form. You will usually have one month to return it. Contact DWP as soon as possible if you need more time.
2. Complete the form
Give a full answer for every activity affected by your condition. Do not write only ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘it varies’. Explain what happens when you try the activity.
Explain whether you can do an activity reliably
For each activity, say whether you can do it:
- safely, without a real risk of harm during the activity or afterwards
- to an acceptable standard
- repeatedly, as often as you reasonably need to
- within a reasonable time, meaning no more than twice as long as someone without your condition
If you cannot meet any one of these tests, explain why. Pain, fatigue, stiffness, weakness and recovery time can all matter. Think about the help you need, even if nobody is available to provide it.
Describe how your symptoms change
Arthritis can change from day to day and during the same day. DWP usually looks at the difficulties that affect you on more than half the days over a 12-month period.
Tell DWP:
- how many days each week or month you have difficulty
- what happens on a typical day, a flare day and a better day
- how long flares last and how long it takes you to recover
- whether morning stiffness or waiting for medication affects your day
- whether one activity makes another harder later that day or the next day
Describe the pattern over time. Do not base your answers only on your best day, your worst day or the day you fill in the form.
Give clear examples
For each activity, include:
- what you try to do and what goes wrong
- any pain, fatigue, stiffness, weakness or risk
- the aid, prompting, supervision or physical help you need
- how long it takes, whether you need breaks and what happens afterwards
- how often this happens and a recent example
An example could be:On about five days a week, pain and weakness in my hands mean I cannot grip a knife safely or lift a hot pan. I use an adapted knife and a perching stool. Preparing a simple meal takes about 45 minutes and I need to rest afterwards. During a flare, I cannot prepare a meal at all. Think about the whole dayArthritis may affect preparing food, eating, managing treatment, washing, using the toilet, dressing and moving around. Include the effects of your other conditions too. If you say you can walk to a shop, explain the distance, time, rests, support and how you feel afterwards. |
3. Send supporting evidence
Useful evidence explains how your condition affects daily life. A letter that only confirms your diagnosis may be less helpful than evidence about pain, fatigue, mobility and the help you need.
You could send:
- clinical letters or reports from a healthcare professional
- a treatment plan or care plan
- evidence of referrals, planned treatment, prescriptions or waiting lists
- a short diary covering typical days, flares and recovery
- a statement from someone who knows what help you need
Keep a copy of your form and evidence. Do not miss the deadline while waiting for evidence. Return the form on time, tell DWP that more evidence will follow and send it before a decision is made.
4. Prepare for an assessment
The DWP may decide your claim from the form and evidence. If it needs more information, you may be invited to an assessment in person, at home, by phone or by video.
Before the assessment:
- read your form and keep a copy with you
- make short notes about typical days, flares and recovery
- have your medication list, aids and any new evidence ready
- ask early for reasonable adjustments, such as breaks or an accessible venue
- ask someone to be with you if that would help
During the assessment, explain if a task causes pain, takes a long time or stops you repeating it. Do not push yourself to make a movement that would cause pain or put you at risk.
Telephone and face-to-face assessments are normally audio recorded. You can opt out. You may also want to ask the assessment provider for a copy of the recording.
5. Read the decision
DWP will send you a decision letter. Read the reasons and check they reflect what you said. Keep the letter with your form and evidence.
If you disagree with the decision
Ask DWP to look at the decision again. This is called a mandatory reconsideration. You will usually need to ask within one month of the date on the decision letter.
Explain which part is wrong and why. Refer to the activity, the help you need and any evidence that was missed or misunderstood.
If you still disagree after the mandatory reconsideration, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. You will usually need to appeal within one month of the date on the mandatory reconsideration notice. Get specialist benefits advice as soon as you can.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a confirmed diagnosis?
No. PIP is based on how your condition affects you. Include conditions that are still being investigated and explain the difficulties you have. Medical evidence can still help.
What if I use an aid?
Say what you use and why. Explain whether it lets you do the activity safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and in a reasonable time.
Can someone help me apply?
Yes. Someone can help with the first call, the form, evidence and assessment. Check the final answers to make sure they describe your experience accurately.
Where to get help
For detailed benefits of advice or help with a form or challenge, contact Citizens Advice or a local welfare rights service. Ask early, as appointments can be limited.
For information and support about arthritis, call the Arthritis UK helpline free on 0800 5200 520. We are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. We close at 12 noon on the last Friday of each month for training.