PIP descriptors and points explained
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) looks at 12 activities. Each activity has a list of descriptors, and each descriptor is worth a set number of points. This page lists every descriptor and its points, in plain English.
Daily living is scored on activities 1 to 10. You get the standard rate of the daily living part with at least 8 points, and the enhanced rate with at least 12 points. (source: legislation.gov.uk)
Mobility is scored separately on activities 11 and 12, with the same thresholds: at least 8 points for the standard rate and at least 12 points for the enhanced rate. (source: legislation.gov.uk)
- Rates last checked: 17 October 2026
- Rules last checked against legislation.gov.uk: 17 October 2026
- Not yet reviewed by a welfare rights adviser
How descriptors are chosen
Two rules decide which descriptor applies to you for each activity.
Doing an activity “reliably”
You only count as able to do an activity if you can do it safely, to an acceptable standard, as often as is reasonably required, and within a reasonable time period. A reasonable time period is no more than twice as long as a person without your condition would normally take. (source: legislation.gov.uk)
More than half of the days
A descriptor applies if it applies to you on more than 50% of the days in the period being looked at. If more than one descriptor in an activity applies on more than 50% of days, you get the one with the highest points. (source: legislation.gov.uk)
If no single descriptor applies on more than 50% of days, but two or more scoring descriptors together do, you get the one that applies on the most days. (source: legislation.gov.uk)
The full descriptor wording is in Schedule 1 of the PIP Regulations 2013. (source: legislation.gov.uk)
Daily living activities (1 to 10)
1. Preparing food
Up to 8 points.
| Ref | What it means | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1a | You can make a simple one-course meal for one from fresh ingredients without help or equipment.Legal wordingCan prepare and cook a simple meal unaided. | 0 |
| 1b | You need equipment (such as a perching stool or adapted utensils) to prepare or cook.Legal wordingNeeds to use an aid or appliance to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal. | 2 |
| 1c | You can only cook with a microwave, not a hob or oven.Legal wordingCannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but is able to do so using a microwave. | 2 |
| 1d | Someone has to remind, encourage or explain to you so you can prepare or cook.Legal wordingNeeds prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal. | 2 |
| 1e | Someone has to be with you, or physically help, for you to prepare or cook safely.Legal wordingNeeds supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal. | 4 |
| 1f | You cannot prepare and cook food at all.Legal wordingCannot prepare and cook food. | 8 |
Evidence that can help
- A note from your GP, occupational therapist or specialist about difficulty with cooking, lifting pans or using knives.
- A list or photos of aids you use in the kitchen (perching stool, kettle tipper, jar opener, adapted utensils).
- Who prompts, supervises or helps you, and how often.
2. Taking nutrition
Up to 10 points.
| Ref | What it means | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 2a | You can cut up food, eat, drink, chew and swallow without help or equipment.Legal wordingCan take nutrition unaided. | 0 |
| 2b | You need adapted cutlery or similar, someone with you while you eat, or help cutting up food.Legal wordingNeeds – to use an aid or appliance to be able to take nutrition; or supervision to be able to take nutrition; or assistance to be able to cut up food. | 2 |
| 2c | You are fed by a tube or feeding pump and can manage it yourself.Legal wordingNeeds a therapeutic source to be able to take nutrition. | 2 |
| 2d | Someone has to remind or encourage you to eat or drink.Legal wordingNeeds prompting to be able to take nutrition. | 4 |
| 2e | You are tube-fed and need another person to manage the feed.Legal wordingNeeds assistance to be able to manage a therapeutic source to take nutrition. | 6 |
| 2f | Another person has to put food and drink into your mouth.Legal wordingCannot convey food and drink to their mouth and needs another person to do so. | 10 |
Evidence that can help
- A letter from a dietitian, speech and language therapist or specialist about eating, chewing or swallowing difficulties.
- Details of any feeding tube or pump, and who manages it.
- Examples of choking, food left uneaten, or needing food cut up or reminders to eat and drink.
3. Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
Up to 8 points.
| Ref | What it means | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 3a | You have no medication, therapy or monitoring needs, or you manage them without help.Legal wordingEither – does not receive medication or therapy or need to monitor a health condition; or can manage medication or therapy or monitor a health condition unaided. | 0 |
| 3b | You need a pill organiser or similar, or someone to help with medication or to watch for changes in your health.Legal wordingNeeds any one or more of the following – to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage medication; supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage medication; supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to monitor a health condition. | 1 |
| 3c | You need help with home therapy that takes up to 3.5 hours a week.Legal wordingNeeds supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes no more than 3.5 hours a week. | 2 |
| 3d | You need help with home therapy that takes 3.5 to 7 hours a week.Legal wordingNeeds supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 3.5 but no more than 7 hours a week. | 4 |
| 3e | You need help with home therapy that takes 7 to 14 hours a week.Legal wordingNeeds supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 7 but no more than 14 hours a week. | 6 |
| 3f | You need help with home therapy that takes more than 14 hours a week.Legal wordingNeeds supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 14 hours a week. | 8 |
Evidence that can help
- Your repeat prescription or medication list, and any pharmacist or nurse note about managing it.
- A clinic or therapist plan showing the hours a week your therapy takes (for example physiotherapy, dialysis, nebulisers, exercises).
- Evidence of reminders you rely on (alarms, pill organiser, a person who prompts you).
4. Washing and bathing
Up to 8 points.
| Ref | What it means | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 4a | You can wash and bathe, including getting in and out of the bath or shower, without help or equipment.Legal wordingCan wash and bathe unaided. | 0 |
| 4b | You need equipment such as a shower seat or grab rails.Legal wordingNeeds to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe. | 2 |
| 4c | Someone has to be with you, or remind you, so you wash or bathe safely.Legal wordingNeeds supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe. | 2 |
| 4d | You need physical help to wash your hair or your lower body.Legal wordingNeeds assistance to be able to wash either their hair or body below the waist. | 2 |
| 4e | You need physical help to get in or out of the bath or shower.Legal wordingNeeds assistance to be able to get in or out of a bath or shower. | 3 |
| 4f | You need physical help to wash your upper body.Legal wordingNeeds assistance to be able to wash their body between the shoulders and waist. | 4 |
| 4g | Another person has to wash your whole body.Legal wordingCannot wash and bathe at all and needs another person to wash their entire body. | 8 |
Evidence that can help
- An occupational therapist assessment, or a list of bathroom aids (shower seat, grab rails, bath board).
- A GP or specialist note about balance, pain, fatigue, falls or mental health affecting washing.
- Who helps or prompts you, which parts of washing they help with, and how often.
5. Managing toilet needs or incontinence
Up to 8 points.
| Ref | What it means | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 5a | You can use the toilet and clean yourself, or manage incontinence, without help or equipment.Legal wordingCan manage toilet needs or incontinence unaided. | 0 |
| 5b | You need equipment such as a raised toilet seat, commode or continence aids.Legal wordingNeeds to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage toilet needs or incontinence. | 2 |
| 5c | Someone has to be with you, or remind you, so you manage toilet needs safely.Legal wordingNeeds supervision or prompting to be able to manage toilet needs. | 2 |
| 5d | You need physical help to use the toilet.Legal wordingNeeds assistance to be able to manage toilet needs. | 4 |
| 5e | You need physical help to manage bladder or bowel incontinence.Legal wordingNeeds assistance to be able to manage incontinence of either bladder or bowel. | 6 |
| 5f | You need physical help to manage both bladder and bowel incontinence.Legal wordingNeeds assistance to be able to manage incontinence of both bladder and bowel. | 8 |
Evidence that can help
- A letter from a GP, continence nurse or specialist about toilet needs or incontinence.
- Details of products, aids or equipment you use (pads, catheters, raised seat, commode) and prescriptions for them.
- A record of accidents and how often you need help cleaning yourself or changing.
6. Dressing and undressing
Up to 8 points.
| Ref | What it means | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 6a | You can dress and undress, including socks and shoes, without help or equipment.Legal wordingCan dress and undress unaided. | 0 |
| 6b | You need equipment such as a button hook, sock aid or long shoe horn.Legal wordingNeeds to use an aid or appliance to be able to dress or undress. | 2 |
| 6c | You need reminding to dress or undress, or help choosing suitable clothes.Legal wordingNeeds either - prompting to be able to dress, undress or determine appropriate circumstances for remaining clothed; or prompting or assistance to be able to select appropriate clothing. | 2 |
| 6d | You need physical help to dress your lower body, including socks and shoes.Legal wordingNeeds assistance to be able to dress or undress their lower body. | 2 |
| 6e | You need physical help to dress your upper body.Legal wordingNeeds assistance to be able to dress or undress their upper body. | 4 |
| 6f | Another person has to dress and undress you completely.Legal wordingCannot dress or undress at all. | 8 |
Evidence that can help
- A note from your GP, occupational therapist or specialist about pain, stiffness, fatigue or mental health affecting dressing.
- A list of aids you use (button hook, sock aid, long shoe horn, adapted clothing).
- Who helps or prompts you with dressing, selecting clothes, or deciding what to wear, and how often.
7. Communicating verbally
Up to 12 points.
| Ref | What it means | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 7a | You can speak and understand speech without help or equipment.Legal wordingCan express and understand verbal information unaided. | 0 |
| 7b | You need equipment such as a hearing aid to speak or hear.Legal wordingNeeds to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear. | 2 |
| 7c | You need a trained person to help with anything longer than a simple sentence.Legal wordingNeeds communication support to be able to express or understand complex verbal information. | 4 |
| 7d | You need a trained person to help even with a simple sentence.Legal wordingNeeds communication support to be able to express or understand basic verbal information. | 8 |
| 7e | You cannot express or understand speech at all, even with support.Legal wordingCannot express or understand verbal information at all even with communication support. | 12 |
Evidence that can help
- An audiology report, speech and language therapy assessment or specialist letter.
- Details of hearing aids or communication devices you use.
- Examples of when you needed an interpreter, a trained communication helper, or someone to repeat or simplify what was said.
8. Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
Up to 8 points.
| Ref | What it means | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 8a | You can read and understand signs, dates and longer text, with glasses or contact lenses if you use them.Legal wordingCan read and understand basic and complex written information either unaided or using spectacles or contact lenses. | 0 |
| 8b | You need equipment other than glasses or contacts, such as a magnifier or screen reader.Legal wordingNeeds to use an aid or appliance, other than spectacles or contact lenses, to be able to read or understand either basic or complex written information. | 2 |
| 8c | Someone has to prompt you to read or understand text longer than a sentence.Legal wordingNeeds prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information. | 2 |
| 8d | Someone has to prompt you to read or understand signs, symbols and dates.Legal wordingNeeds prompting to be able to read or understand basic written information. | 4 |
| 8e | You cannot read or understand signs, symbols or words at all.Legal wordingCannot read or understand signs, symbols or words at all. | 8 |
Evidence that can help
- An eye clinic or optician letter, or details of any sight impairment registration.
- Evidence of a learning, cognitive or neurodivergent condition affecting reading, such as an assessment report.
- Details of aids you use (magnifier, screen reader, coloured overlays) and examples of when someone had to read for you or explain forms.
9. Engaging with other people face to face
Up to 8 points.
| Ref | What it means | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 9a | You can meet and talk with people face to face without support.Legal wordingCan engage with other people unaided. | 0 |
| 9b | Someone has to remind, encourage or explain to you so you can engage with others.Legal wordingNeeds prompting to be able to engage with other people. | 2 |
| 9c | You need a trained or experienced person with you to engage with others.Legal wordingNeeds social support to be able to engage with other people. | 4 |
| 9d | Meeting people causes overwhelming distress, or behaviour that puts you or others at substantial risk of harm.Legal wordingCannot engage with other people due to such engagement causing either – overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant; or the claimant to exhibit behaviour which would result in a substantial risk of harm to the claimant or another person. | 8 |
Evidence that can help
- A letter from a mental health professional, community psychiatric nurse, psychologist or support worker.
- Examples of times meeting people caused overwhelming distress, panic or behaviour that put you or others at risk.
- Who attends appointments or social situations with you, and what support they give.
10. Making budgeting decisions
Up to 6 points.
| Ref | What it means | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 10a | You can work out household budgets, pay bills and plan purchases without help.Legal wordingCan manage complex budgeting decisions unaided. | 0 |
| 10b | You need help with budgets, bills or planning purchases.Legal wordingNeeds prompting or assistance to be able to make complex budgeting decisions. | 2 |
| 10c | You need help working out the cost of goods or the change from a purchase.Legal wordingNeeds prompting or assistance to be able to make simple budgeting decisions. | 4 |
| 10d | You cannot make any budgeting decisions at all.Legal wordingCannot make any budgeting decisions at all. | 6 |
Evidence that can help
- Bank statements, letters or bills showing missed payments, debts or errors linked to your condition.
- Details of anyone who manages your money or helps with bills (appointee, power of attorney, family, support worker).
- A cognitive or mental health assessment, or a note from a professional about decision-making.
Mobility activities (11 and 12)
11. Planning and following journeys
Up to 12 points.
| Ref | What it means | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 11a | You can plan and follow a route without help.Legal wordingCan plan and follow the route of a journey unaided. | 0 |
| 11b | Someone has to prompt you to make any journey, otherwise you would feel overwhelming distress.Legal wordingNeeds prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant. | 4 |
| 11c | You cannot plan the route of a journey.Legal wordingCannot plan the route of a journey. | 8 |
| 11d | You cannot follow an unfamiliar route without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid.Legal wordingCannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid. | 10 |
| 11e | You cannot make any journey because it would cause overwhelming distress.Legal wordingCannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant. | 10 |
| 11f | You cannot follow even a familiar route without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid.Legal wordingCannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid. | 12 |
Evidence that can help
- A letter from a mental health professional, autism or neurodevelopmental service, or specialist describing difficulty with journeys.
- Examples of getting lost, panic or distress on journeys, or turning back.
- Details of an assistance dog, orientation aid, or the person who goes with you, and how often you travel with them.
12. Moving around
Up to 12 points.
| Ref | What it means | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 12a | You can stand and move more than 200 metres, with or without a walking aid.Legal wordingCan stand and then move more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided. | 0 |
| 12b | The furthest you can reliably move is over 50 metres but no more than 200 metres.Legal wordingCan stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided | 4 |
| 12c | Without an aid, the furthest you can reliably move is over 20 metres but no more than 50 metres.Legal wordingCan stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. | 8 |
| 12d | With an aid such as a stick or frame, the furthest you can reliably move is over 20 metres but no more than 50 metres.Legal wordingCan stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. | 10 |
| 12e | The furthest you can reliably move is over 1 metre but no more than 20 metres.Legal wordingCan stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided. | 12 |
| 12f | You cannot stand, or cannot move more than 1 metre, even with an aid.Legal wordingCannot, either aided or unaided, – stand; or move more than 1 metre. | 12 |
Evidence that can help
- A letter from a physiotherapist, consultant or GP about how far you can walk and what limits you (pain, breathlessness, fatigue, balance).
- Details of walking aids or a wheelchair, and any wheelchair or mobility assessment.
- A record of falls, rest stops, and how far you can really go before you must stop, measured in a real outdoor setting.
If you disagree with your points
You usually need to ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date on your decision letter. If you write, your letter or form must arrive by then. (source: GOV.UK)
Read our guides on asking for a mandatory reconsideration and appealing to a tribunal.
Common questions
What is a PIP descriptor?
A descriptor is a statement in the PIP rules that describes how well you can do an activity, such as "Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition". Each descriptor is worth a set number of points, from 0 to 12.
How many points do I need for PIP?
You need at least 8 points for the standard rate and at least 12 points for the enhanced rate. Daily living (activities 1 to 10) and mobility (activities 11 and 12) are scored separately.
Can I score points from more than one descriptor in the same activity?
No. Only one descriptor counts for each activity. If more than one applies to you on more than half of the days, you get the one with the highest points.
Do daily living and mobility points add together?
No. They are two separate parts. Points from activities 1 to 10 only count towards daily living, and points from activities 11 and 12 only count towards mobility.
What if the DWP gave me fewer points than I expected?
You can ask the DWP to look at the decision again. This is called mandatory reconsideration, and you usually need to ask within one month of the date on your decision letter. Free advice is available from Citizens Advice and Turn2us.
Check your points free
Score all 12 activities in a few minutes. No sign-up. An estimate, not advice.
Related PIP guides
This is an estimate, not advice. Get free help from Citizens Advice or Turn2us.
This information is based on UK Government PIP rules and the DWP's published rates. It is general information, not legal advice, and it cannot predict what the DWP will decide. For advice on your own claim, speak to a welfare rights adviser or a solicitor. You may want to check anything important with a lawyer.