Can I get PIP for Long Covid?

Yes, Long Covid can qualify for PIP if it affects your daily living or mobility activities. You could receive up to 12 points per affected descriptor. PIP is not based on your diagnosis alone — it’s about how your condition affects you day to day.

How many PIP points can I get for Long Covid?

The points depend on how Long Covid affects each activity. Across 6 relevant descriptors, you could receive up to 12 points per descriptor. You need 8 points for standard rate and 12 for enhanced rate.

What evidence do I need for a Long Covid PIP claim?

For a Long Covid PIP claim, you should gather: a letter from your GP or specialist confirming your diagnosis and how it affects you, any hospital or clinic letters, medication lists, and statements from people who help you. The more evidence showing how Long Covid affects your daily activities, the stronger your claim.

What if my Long Covid PIP claim is denied?

If your Long Covid PIP claim is denied, you have one month to request a Mandatory Reconsideration. If that fails, you can appeal to an independent tribunal — where 73% of PIP appeals succeed. Use our free Mandatory Reconsideration letter builder to challenge the decision.

How does the PIP assessment work for Long Covid?

The PIP assessment for Long Covid involves a health professional asking how your condition affects 12 daily living and mobility activities. They score you using descriptors. Always answer based on your worst days, not your best. Remember the reliability test: can you do it safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard, and in a reasonable time?

Long Covid and PIP: Complete Guide to Descriptors & Points

If you have Long Covid, you may be entitled to PIP (Personal Independence Payment). This guide shows which PIP descriptors apply to your condition and how many points you could receive.

Last updated: February 2026 | Based on Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013

Which PIP Activities Does Long Covid Affect?

Preparing food

Descriptor 1e: Needs supervision or assistance to prepare or cook a simple meal — 4 points (e.g. fire risk from inattention, cuts self due to tremor)

Washing and bathing

Descriptor 4b: Needs to use an aid or appliance to wash or bathe — 2 points (e.g. shower stool, grab rails, long-handled sponge)

Communicating verbally

Descriptor 7c: Needs communication support to express or understand complex verbal information — 4 points (e.g. interpreter, advocate, family member explains tone/sarcasm)

Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

Descriptor 8c: Needs prompting to read or understand complex written information — 2 points (e.g. sensory overload from dense text, brain fog)

Planning and following journeys

Descriptor 11f: Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, guide dog or orientation aid — 12 points (e.g. paranoia on transport, disorientation, route changes cause panic)

Moving around

Descriptor 12c: Can stand and move more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres — 8 points (e.g. severe pain, Post-Exertional Malaise)

How to Claim PIP for Long Covid

Use our free PIP eligibility checker to estimate your points
Answer based on your worst days, not your best days
Remember the reliability test: can you do it safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard, in a reasonable time?
Gather supporting evidence from your GP or specialist

Already Been Denied?

73% of PIP appeals succeed at tribunal. If you’ve been denied, use our Mandatory Reconsideration letter builder to challenge the decision.