The PIP assessment is a test of your ability to take part in everyday life. It's a points-related assessment and is based on your ability to perform different activities relating to certain daily living needs and your mobility.
The number of points you score will determine whether or not you're entitled to either component of PIP and, if you are, at which rate.
The daily living activities
Your ability to carry out daily living activities is assessed by looking at 10 types of activity. These are:
- preparing food
- taking nutrition (eating and drinking)
- managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
- washing and bathing
- managing toilet needs or incontinence
- dressing and undressing
- communicating verbally
- reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
- engaging with other people face-to-face
- making budgeting decisions
The mobility activities
Your ability to carry out mobility activities is assessed by looking at 2 types of activity:
- planning and following journeys
- moving around
Scoring points
Within each of the above activity headings are a series of 'descriptors' with scores ranging from 0 to 12 points. The descriptors describe related tasks of various levels of difficulty and the different types of help you need to complete each task.
You score points for the descriptor that best describes the level at which you can complete the task safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable amount of time.
The highest descriptor scores from each activity heading are added together to work out your points for each component.
How many points do you need?
To be entitled to the standard rate of the daily living component, you need to score at least 8 points under the 10 daily living activity headings. To be entitled to the enhanced rate, you need to score at least 12 points.
Likewise, to be entitled to the standard rate of the mobility component, you need to score at least 8 points under the 2 mobility activity headings, and at least 12 points for the enhanced rate.
What if my condition fluctuates?
A descriptor will apply if you're unable to complete a task on the majority (more than half) of days. This will be considered over a 12-month period, looking back 3 months and forward 9 months.
Where 1 descriptor is satisfied on over half the days in that period, that descriptor will apply. Where 2 or more descriptors are satisfied on over half the days, the descriptor which scores the highest number of points will apply.
If you're not sure which descriptors apply to you, keeping a diary over a week may help you to choose.