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Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

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How to claim

Before you apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), check if you’re eligible.

If you live in:

There’s a different way to claim if you’re nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness).

Start your claim by phone

You need to:

  1. Call the ‘PIP new claims’ phone line and answer some basic questions about you and your disability or condition.

  2. Complete a form that asks about how your disability or condition affects you. You can do this online or by post.

  3. You might need to have an assessment, if more information is needed.

If you need someone to help you

You can:

  • ask for them to be added to your call - you cannot do this if you use textphone
  • ask someone else to call on your behalf - you’ll need to be with them when they call
  • ask for a Welsh speaker - you’ll be given this option when the call begins

You may be able to get a home visit from a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) officer to help you with your claim. Ask the advisor when you call the PIP new claims phone line.

Before you start

You’ll need:

  • your contact details, for example telephone number
  • your date of birth
  • your National Insurance number, if you have one (you can find this on letters about tax, pensions and benefits)
  • your bank or building society account number and sort code
  • your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
  • dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent in a care home or hospital
  • dates for any time you spent abroad for more than 4 weeks at a time, and the countries you visited
  • information about any money or support you or a close family member (husband, wife, civil partner or dependent parent) get from an EEA country or Switzerland

PIP new claims phone line

Telephone: 0800 917 2222
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 917 2222
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet

Calling from abroad: +44 191 218 7766
Relay UK if you’re calling from abroad (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): +44 151 494 1260 then 0800 917 2222

Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

Start your claim by post

Write a letter saying you want to start a PIP claim. Include your name and address.

Send the letter to:

Freepost DWP PIP 1

You do not need to put a postcode or stamp on the envelope.  

You’ll be sent a form to complete asking some basic questions about you and your disability or condition. Fill in and return the form.

You’ll then get a second form which asks for information about how your disability or condition affects you.

Completing the form about your condition

You’ll need to complete a form called ‘How your disability affects you’. You can usually do this:

  • online, if you applied by phone (you’ll be emailed a link to the form after your phone call)
  • by post, if you applied by phone or post (you’ll usually receive the form within 2 weeks)

Fill in the form using the guidance that comes with it.

Include supporting documents if you have them - for example, prescription lists, care plans, or information from your doctor or others involved in your care.

You should return the form by post or complete it online within 1 month.

Contact the PIP enquiry line if you need more time or have questions.

You can read Citizens Advice’s help on filling in the form.

Check if you can apply online

You can make your full application online in some areas. You’ll need to check your postcode when you start your application.

Check if you can apply for PIP online

If you’ve already registered, you can sign in to your PIP account.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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