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eligibility

Welfare & Benefits

Updated 2026-06-16

PIP descriptor scorer

Self-score the 10 daily-living and 2 mobility activities used in the Personal Independence Payment assessment. Educational tool — not a DWP decision.

Important: This tool provides general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Limitation periods and legal deadlines are strictly enforced — missing them can permanently bar your claim. Always verify key dates with a qualified solicitor before relying on this output. Laws and court fee scales change; confirm current figures on the relevant official government website.

When to use this tool

Use before applying for PIP or while preparing for a Mandatory Reconsideration / appeal. The scorer walks you through every activity and descriptor in the Social Security (PIP) Regulations 2013 (Schedule 1) and shows how your provisional score maps to standard / enhanced rates.

Educational tool only. The actual PIP assessment is done by a healthcare professional and a DWP decision maker. Self-scoring is a guide to what evidence to gather and what to argue, not a prediction of the DWP outcome. The descriptor that applies is the one you can complete safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard, and within a reasonable time, on most days.

Daily-living activities (1–10)

1. Preparing food

Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided

0 pts

Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to prepare or cook a simple meal

2 pts

Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but is able to do so using a microwave

2 pts

Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal

2 pts

Needs supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal

4 pts

Cannot prepare and cook food

8 pts

2. Taking nutrition

Can take nutrition unaided

0 pts

Needs an aid or appliance to take nutrition or supervision to be able to manage therapeutic source of nutrition

2 pts

Needs prompting to take nutrition

4 pts

Needs assistance to be able to cut up food

4 pts

Needs supervision to take nutrition

4 pts

Cannot convey food and drink to mouth and needs another person to do so

10 pts

3. Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition

Does not receive medication or therapy or need to monitor a health condition

0 pts

Needs an aid or appliance, OR supervision/prompting/assistance to be able to manage medication / monitor a health condition

1 pts

Needs supervision/prompting/assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes 3.5–7 hours a week

2 pts

Needs supervision/prompting/assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes 7–14 hours a week

4 pts

Needs supervision/prompting/assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 14 hours a week

8 pts

4. Washing and bathing

Can wash and bathe unaided

0 pts

Needs to use an aid or appliance to wash or bathe

2 pts

Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe

2 pts

Needs assistance to be able to wash either their hair or body below the waist

2 pts

Needs assistance to be able to get in or out of a bath or shower

3 pts

Needs assistance to be able to wash their body between the shoulders and waist

4 pts

Cannot wash and bathe at all and needs another person to wash their entire body

8 pts

5. Managing toilet needs or incontinence

Can manage toilet needs or incontinence unaided

0 pts

Needs to use an aid or appliance to manage toilet needs / incontinence

2 pts

Needs supervision or prompting to be able to manage toilet needs

2 pts

Needs assistance to manage toilet needs

4 pts

Needs assistance to manage incontinence of either bladder or bowel

6 pts

Needs assistance to manage incontinence of both bladder and bowel

8 pts

6. Dressing and undressing

Can dress and undress unaided

0 pts

Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to dress or undress

2 pts

Needs either prompting / assistance to select appropriate clothing

2 pts

Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their lower body

2 pts

Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their upper body

4 pts

Cannot dress or undress at all

8 pts

7. Communicating verbally

Can express and understand verbal information unaided

0 pts

Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear

2 pts

Needs communication support to be able to express or understand complex verbal information

4 pts

Needs communication support to be able to express or understand basic verbal information

8 pts

Cannot express or understand verbal information at all even with communication support

12 pts

8. Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

Can read and understand basic and complex written information either unaided or using spectacles or contact lenses

0 pts

Needs 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 pts

Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information

2 pts

Needs prompting to be able to read or understand basic written information

4 pts

Cannot read or understand signs, symbols or words at all

8 pts

9. Engaging with other people face to face

Can engage with other people unaided

0 pts

Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people

2 pts

Needs social support to be able to engage with other people

4 pts

Cannot engage with other people due to such engagement causing the claimant overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant

8 pts

10. Making budgeting decisions

Can manage complex budgeting decisions unaided

0 pts

Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make complex budgeting decisions

2 pts

Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make simple budgeting decisions

4 pts

Cannot make any budgeting decisions at all

6 pts

Mobility activities (1–2)

1. Planning and following journeys

Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided

0 pts

Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress

4 pts

Cannot plan the route of a journey

8 pts

Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid

10 pts

Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress

10 pts

Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid

12 pts

2. Moving around

Can stand and then move more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided

0 pts

Can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided

4 pts

Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres

8 pts

Can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres

10 pts

Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided

12 pts

Cannot, either aided or unaided, stand or move more than 1 metre

12 pts

Related Guides

Pip And Universal Credit Appeals

Official Resources

Social Security (PIP) Regulations 2013 — Schedule 1 →GOV.UK — PIP assessment guide →Citizens Advice — PIP →