PIP Descriptors Explained in Simple English

PIP is scored using 12 daily living and mobility activities. Each activity has multiple descriptors with different point values. You need 8 points for standard rate and 12 for enhanced rate.

Last updated: February 2026

Activity 1: Preparing food

• 1a: Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided — 0 points
• 1b: Needs to use an aid or appliance to prepare or cook a simple meal — 2 points
• 1c: Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but can using a microwave — 2 points
• 1d: Needs prompting to prepare or cook a simple meal — 2 points
• 1e: Needs supervision or assistance to prepare or cook a simple meal — 4 points
• 1f: Cannot prepare and cook food — 8 points

Activity 2: Taking nutrition

• 2a: Can take nutrition unaided — 0 points
• 2b: Needs an aid or appliance to take nutrition, or assistance to cut up food — 2 points
• 2c: Needs a therapeutic source of nutrition — 2 points
• 2d: Needs prompting to take nutrition — 4 points
• 2e: Needs assistance to manage a therapeutic source — 4 points
• 2f: Cannot convey food and drink to their mouth and needs another person to do so — 10 points

Activity 3: Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition

• 3a: Can manage medication or therapy unaided — 0 points
• 3b: Needs prompting or supervision to manage medication or therapy — 1 points
• 3c: Needs assistance to manage medication or therapy — 2 points
• 3d: Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy that takes no more than 3.5 hours a week — 2 points
• 3e: Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy that takes more than 3.5 but not more than 7 hours a week — 4 points
• 3f: Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy that takes more than 7 but not more than 14 hours a week — 6 points
• 3g: Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy that takes more than 14 hours a week — 8 points

Activity 4: Washing and bathing

• 4a: Can wash and bathe unaided — 0 points
• 4b: Needs to use an aid or appliance to wash or bathe — 2 points
• 4c: Needs supervision or prompting to wash or bathe — 2 points
• 4d: Needs assistance to wash either hair or body below the waist — 2 points
• 4e: Needs assistance to wash body between shoulders and waist — 3 points
• 4f: Cannot wash and bathe at all and needs another person to do so — 8 points

Activity 5: Managing toilet needs or incontinence

• 5a: Can manage toilet needs unaided — 0 points
• 5b: Needs to use an aid or appliance to manage toilet needs — 2 points
• 5c: Needs supervision or prompting to manage toilet needs — 2 points
• 5d: Needs assistance to manage toilet needs — 4 points
• 5e: Needs assistance to manage incontinence — 6 points
• 5f: Needs assistance to manage both toilet needs and incontinence — 8 points

Activity 6: Dressing and undressing

• 6a: Can dress and undress unaided — 0 points
• 6b: Needs to use an aid or appliance to dress or undress — 2 points
• 6c: Needs prompting to dress or undress — 2 points
• 6d: Needs assistance to dress or undress lower body — 2 points
• 6e: Needs assistance to dress or undress upper body — 3 points
• 6f: Cannot dress or undress at all — 8 points

Activity 7: Communicating verbally

• 7a: Can express and understand verbal information unaided — 0 points
• 7b: Needs to use an aid or appliance to speak or hear — 2 points
• 7c: Needs communication support to express or understand complex verbal information — 4 points
• 7d: Needs communication support to express or understand basic verbal information — 8 points
• 7e: Cannot express or understand verbal information at all — 12 points

Activity 8: Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

• 8a: Can read and understand complex written information unaided — 0 points
• 8b: Needs to use an aid or appliance to read or understand complex written information — 2 points
• 8c: Needs prompting to read or understand complex written information — 2 points
• 8d: Needs prompting to read or understand basic written information — 4 points
• 8e: Cannot read or understand signs, symbols or words — 8 points

Activity 9: Engaging with other people face to face

• 9a: Can engage with other people unaided — 0 points
• 9b: Needs prompting to engage with other people — 2 points
• 9c: Needs social support to engage with other people — 4 points
• 9d: Cannot engage with other people due to significant distress or risk of harm — 8 points

Activity 10: Making budgeting decisions

• 10a: Can manage complex budgeting decisions unaided — 0 points
• 10b: Needs prompting or assistance to make complex budgeting decisions — 2 points
• 10c: Needs prompting or assistance to make simple budgeting decisions — 4 points
• 10d: Cannot make any budgeting decisions at all — 6 points

Activity 11: Planning and following journeys

• 11a: Can plan and follow a journey unaided — 0 points
• 11b: Needs prompting to undertake any journey — 4 points
• 11c: Cannot plan the route of a journey — 8 points
• 11d: Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, guide dog or orientation aid — 10 points
• 11e: Cannot undertake any journey because of overwhelming distress — 10 points
• 11f: Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, guide dog or orientation aid — 12 points

Activity 12: Moving around

• 12a: Can stand and move more than 200 metres unaided — 0 points
• 12b: Can stand and move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres — 4 points
• 12c: Can stand and move more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres — 8 points
• 12d: Can stand and move between 1 and 20 metres using an aid or appliance — 10 points
• 12e: Can stand and move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres unaided — 10 points
• 12f: Cannot stand or move more than 1 metre even with aid — 12 points

What Do You Need to Qualify?

• Standard rate daily living: 8-11 points from activities 1-10
• Enhanced rate daily living: 12+ points from activities 1-10
• Standard rate mobility: 8-11 points from activities 11-12
• Enhanced rate mobility: 12+ points from activities 11-12

Check your likely points with our free PIP eligibility checker.