What counts as "therapy" for PIP Activity 3?

Therapy includes any treatment you do at home: taking medication, physiotherapy exercises, dialysis, breathing exercises, wound care, insulin injections, and monitoring conditions (blood sugar, blood pressure). Time spent on all therapies is added together.

How are hours calculated for managing therapy?

Add up ALL time spent weekly on medication, therapy, monitoring, and related tasks. Under 3.5 hours/week with help = 2 points, 3.5–7 hours = 4 points, 7–14 hours = 6 points, over 14 hours = 8 points.

Does forgetting medication count for PIP points?

Yes. If you need prompting or supervision to take medication (e.g., forgetting doses, dismissing alarms, lacking insight), you score 1 point under descriptor 3b.

PIP Activity 3: Managing Therapy — Descriptors, Points & How to Score

Activity 3 assesses whether you can manage medication, monitor a health condition, or carry out therapy at home without help. This includes taking pills, injections, physiotherapy, dialysis, and monitoring blood sugar.

This is a Daily Living activity. Maximum score: 8 points.

All Descriptors for Managing Therapy

Descriptor	Description	Points	Examples
3a	Can manage medication or therapy unaided	0	—
3b	Needs prompting or supervision to manage medication or therapy (common in: ADHD, bipolar, dementia)	1	forgets to take meds, dismisses alarms, lacks insight
3c	Needs assistance to manage medication or therapy (common in: arthritis, migraine, scoliosis)	2	cannot self-inject, cannot apply cream to back
3d	Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy that takes no more than 3.5 hours a week (common in: kidney disease, chronic pain)	2	physiotherapy, dialysis prep
3e	Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy that takes more than 3.5 but not more than 7 hours a week (common in: kidney disease, diabetes)	4	home dialysis, extensive wound care
3f	Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy that takes more than 7 but not more than 14 hours a week (common in: spinal injury, post-stroke)	6	intensive physiotherapy regime
3g	Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy that takes more than 14 hours a week (common in: COPD, MND)	8	overnight ventilation monitoring, complex care regime

The Reliability Test for Managing Therapy

Even if you can technically do this activity, you should score higher points if you cannot do it:

Safely — without risk of harm to yourself or others
Repeatedly — as often as needed throughout the day
To an Acceptable Standard — properly and completely
In a Reasonable Time — not taking much longer than average

Failing ANY one of these four tests means you should score higher points, even if you can sometimes do the activity.

What Evidence Helps for Managing Therapy?

Pharmacy records showing multiple medications, GP letters about medication regime, evidence of missed doses or medication errors, physiotherapy or dialysis schedules.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not counting physiotherapy or exercises as "therapy", underestimating time spent on health monitoring, forgetting that setting alarms to take meds counts as needing prompting.

Related Activities

Free Tools to Help

Free PIP Eligibility Checker — estimate your points for all 12 activities
Mandatory Reconsideration Letter Builder — challenge a PIP decision
Evidence Request Builder — get supporting evidence from your GP
Assessment Preparation — practice PIP assessment questions