Understanding the PIP Points System
The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) points system determines the level of support you may receive based on the difficulties you face with daily living and mobility tasks. This system is essential to ensuring that you get the help you need, whether it's assistance with personal care or getting around. Understanding the system will help you maximize your points and improve your chances of receiving the support you deserve.
Daily Living Activities
The Daily Living component assesses how your condition impacts your ability to perform essential activities in daily life, such as preparing food, managing personal hygiene, and handling medication.
1. Preparing Food
0 points: Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided.
2 points: Needs to use an aid or appliance to prepare or cook a simple meal.
2 points: Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but is able to do so using a microwave.
2 points: Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal.
4 points: Needs supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal.
8 points: Cannot prepare and cook food.
2. Taking Nutrition
0 points: Can take nutrition unaided.
2 points: Needs to use an aid or appliance to take nutrition, supervision, or assistance to cut up food.
2 points: Needs a therapeutic source to be able to take nutrition.
4 points: Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition.
6 points: Needs assistance to manage a therapeutic source for nutrition.
10 points: Cannot convey food and drink to their mouth and needs another person to do so.
3. Managing Therapy or Monitoring a Health Condition
0 points: Either does not receive medication or therapy or can manage it unaided.
1 point: Needs to use an aid or appliance, or supervision, prompting, or assistance to manage medication or therapy.
2 points: Needs supervision, prompting, or assistance to manage therapy that takes no more than 3.5 hours a week.
4 points: Needs supervision, prompting, or assistance to manage therapy that takes more than 3.5 but no more than 7 hours a week.
6 points: Needs supervision, prompting, or assistance to manage therapy that takes more than 7 but no more than 14 hours a week.
8 points: Needs supervision, prompting, or assistance to manage therapy that takes more than 14 hours a week.
4. Washing and Bathing
0 points: Can wash and bathe unaided.
2 points: Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe.
2 points: Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe.
2 points: Needs assistance to wash either their hair or body below the waist.
3 points: Needs assistance to get in or out of a bath or shower.
4 points: Needs assistance to wash their body between the shoulders and waist.
8 points: Cannot wash and bathe at all and needs another person to wash their entire body.
5. Managing Toilet Needs or Incontinence
0 points: Can manage toilet needs or incontinence unaided.
2 points: Needs to use an aid or appliance to manage toilet needs or incontinence.
2 points: Needs supervision or prompting to manage toilet needs.
4 points: Needs assistance to manage toilet needs.
6 points: Needs assistance to manage incontinence of either bladder or bowel.
8 points: Needs assistance to manage incontinence of both bladder and bowel.
6. Dressing and Undressing
0 points: Can dress and undress unaided.
2 points: Needs to use an aid or appliance to dress or undress.
2 points: Needs prompting to dress, undress, or select appropriate clothing.
2 points: Needs assistance to dress or undress their lower body.
4 points: Needs assistance to dress or undress their upper body.
8 points: Cannot dress or undress at all.
7. Communicating Verbally
0 points: Can express and understand verbal information unaided.
2 points: Needs to use an aid or appliance to speak or hear.
4 points: Needs communication support to express or understand complex verbal information.
8 points: Needs communication support to express or understand basic verbal information.
12 points: Cannot express or understand verbal information at all, even with communication support.
8. Reading and Understanding Signs, Symbols, and Words
0 points: Can read and understand basic and complex written information unaided, or using spectacles or contact lenses.
2 points: Needs an aid or appliance (other than spectacles or contact lenses) to read or understand written information.
2 points: Needs prompting to read or understand complex written information.
4 points: Needs prompting to read or understand basic written information.
8 points: Cannot read or understand signs, symbols, or words at all.
9. Engaging with Other People Face to Face
0 points: Can engage with other people unaided.
2 points: Needs prompting to engage with others.
4 points: Needs social support to engage with others.
8 points: Cannot engage with others due to overwhelming psychological distress or the risk of harm to themselves or others.
10. Making Budgeting Decisions
0 points: Can manage complex budgeting decisions unaided.
2 points: Needs prompting or assistance to make complex budgeting decisions.
4 points: Needs prompting or assistance to make simple budgeting decisions.
6 points: Cannot make any budgeting decisions at all.
Mobility Activities
The Mobility component assesses your ability to get around, whether you can walk unaided, follow routes, and take journeys independently.
1. Planning and Following Journeys
0 points: Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided.
4 points: Needs prompting to undertake a journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress.
8 points: Cannot plan the route of a journey.
10 points: Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without assistance.
10 points: Cannot undertake any journey due to overwhelming psychological distress.
12 points: Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without assistance.
2. Moving Around
0 points: Can stand and move more than 200 metres unaided.
4 points: Can stand and move between 50 to 200 metres unaided or aided.
8 points: Can stand and move unaided between 20 to 50 metres.
10 points: Can stand and move using an aid between 20 to 50 metres.
12 points: Can stand and move between 1 to 20 metres unaided or with assistance.
12 points: Cannot stand or move more than 1 metre, either aided or unaided.
How to Maximise Your PIP Points
Understanding the PIP points system and how to score points for each activity is key to securing the support you need. By providing clear evidence of the challenges you face with daily living and mobility activities, you can increase your chances of receiving the appropriate benefit level.
At PIP Ready, we specialize in helping people with the PIP application process. We assist with completing forms, gathering supporting evidence, and navigating the system, ensuring you get the points you deserve.
Want Help With Your PIP Claim?
Let PIP Ready assist you with your claim today. We handle all the paperwork, help you submit the best possible claim, and ensure your points are maximized for the best outcome. We understand the PIP system, and we're here to help you every step of the way.
Conclusion
Understanding the PIP Points System and how points are awarded for various daily living and mobility activities is essential when making a claim. The more accurately you can describe how your condition affects these activities, the better your chances of securing the benefits you need. If you're unsure about how to fill out your PIP claim form, need assistance with evidence, or just want expert help, PIP Ready is here for you.
