1A 0 points
Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided.
All PIP descriptors by activity
Every activity and descriptor line used in the PIP points calculator, with official point values. For the authoritative wording and rules, see the PIP assessment criteria on GOV.UK (Part 2) .
Descriptor activities
Daily living
Activity 1: Preparing food
1B 2 points
Needs an aid or appliance to prepare or cook a simple meal.
1C 2 points
Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker, but can do so using a microwave.
1D 2 points
Needs prompting to prepare or cook a simple meal.
Anxiety guide
For anxiety, this is most relevant when the person can physically prepare food but needs another person to remind, encourage, or explain before they can start.
Depression guide
For depression, this may apply when you can cook in principle, but need prompting to begin or to keep going, for example when motivation is very low or you shut down before you start.
ADHD guide
For ADHD, this may apply when you can cook in principle but struggle to start or finish a simple meal without someone breaking the steps down or keeping you on track.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, this may apply on high pain or fatigue days when you cannot face the kitchen and need prompting before you can prepare even a simple meal.
Autism guide
For autism, this may apply when sensory overload, burnout, or executive overload mean you cannot face the kitchen and need prompting before you can prepare even a simple meal.
PTSD guide
For PTSD, this may apply when hypervigilance, poor sleep, or exhaustion mean you cannot face the kitchen and need prompting before you can prepare even a simple meal.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, this may apply on high pain days when bending and standing in the kitchen feel impossible and you need prompting before you can prepare even a simple meal.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, this may apply when stiff hands and painful joints mean you cannot face the kitchen and need prompting before you can prepare even a simple meal.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, this may apply when fatigue and leg heaviness mean you cannot face the kitchen and need prompting before you can prepare even a simple meal.
1E 4 points
Needs supervision or assistance to prepare or cook a simple meal.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, this may apply when pain, dizziness, or exhaustion mean you need supervision or assistance to prepare or cook a simple meal safely, not just prompting to begin.
Autism guide
For autism, this may apply when overload or shutdown mean you need supervision or assistance to prepare or cook a simple meal safely, not just prompting to begin.
PTSD guide
For PTSD, this may apply when exhaustion or being on edge mean you need supervision or assistance to prepare or cook a simple meal safely, not just prompting to begin.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, this may apply when back pain and bending make the kitchen unsafe without supervision or assistance, not just prompting to begin.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, this may apply when grip and joint pain mean you need supervision or assistance to prepare or cook a simple meal safely, not just prompting to begin.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, this may apply when fatigue or numbness mean you need supervision or assistance to prepare or cook a simple meal safely, not just prompting to begin.
1F 8 points
Cannot prepare and cook food.
Activity 2: Taking nutrition
2A 0 points
Can take nutrition unaided.
2B 2 points
Needs an aid or appliance, supervision, or assistance to cut up food.
2C 2 points
Needs a therapeutic source to take nutrition.
2D 4 points
Needs prompting to take nutrition.
Anxiety guide
For anxiety, this is most relevant when the person needs encouragement or reminders to eat because anxiety affects active choice, motivation, or ability to begin eating.
Depression guide
For depression, this may apply when very low mood or apathy means you do not eat enough unless someone reminds or encourages you to take nutrition.
ADHD guide
For ADHD, this may apply when you forget to eat, skip meals during hyperfocus, or need reminders to take proper nutrition.
2E 6 points
Needs assistance to manage a therapeutic source to take nutrition.
2F 10 points
Cannot convey food and drink to their mouth and needs another person to do so.
Activity 3: Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
3A 0 points
Can manage medication, therapy, or monitoring unaided, or does not need to.
3B 1 points
Needs an aid, appliance, supervision, prompting, or assistance to manage medication or monitor health.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, this may apply when fatigue and brain fog mean you need prompting, reminders, or support to manage medication or monitor your condition reliably.
Autism guide
For autism, this may apply when poor sleep, overload, or burnout mean you need prompting, reminders, or support to manage medication or monitor your health reliably.
PTSD guide
For PTSD, this may apply when poor sleep and symptoms mean you need prompting, reminders, or support to manage medication or monitor your health reliably.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, this may apply when pain and fatigue mean you need prompting, reminders, or support to manage medication or monitor your condition reliably.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, this may apply when pain and stiffness mean you need prompting, reminders, or support to manage medication or monitor your condition reliably.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, this may apply when fatigue and brain fog mean you need prompting, reminders, or support to manage medication or monitor your condition reliably.
3C 2 points
Needs supervision, prompting, or assistance to manage therapy up to 3.5 hours a week.
3D 4 points
Needs supervision, prompting, or assistance to manage therapy more than 3.5 and up to 7 hours a week.
3E 6 points
Needs supervision, prompting, or assistance to manage therapy more than 7 and up to 14 hours a week.
3F 8 points
Needs supervision, prompting, or assistance to manage therapy more than 14 hours a week.
Activity 4: Washing and bathing
4A 0 points
Can wash and bathe unaided.
4B 2 points
Needs an aid or appliance to wash or bathe.
4C 2 points
Needs supervision or prompting to wash or bathe.
Anxiety guide
For anxiety, this can apply where the person needs prompting because anxiety causes shutdown, avoidance, or difficulty starting washing and bathing.
Depression guide
For depression, this can apply when you need prompting or supervision to wash or bathe because of shutdown, self-neglect, or inability to start the task.
ADHD guide
For ADHD, this can apply when executive dysfunction or overwhelm means you need prompting or supervision to wash or bathe reliably.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, this may apply on flare days when pain and exhaustion leave you unable to wash or bathe until someone prompts or supports you to start.
Autism guide
For autism, this may apply on shutdown or burnout days when overload leaves you unable to wash or bathe until someone prompts or supports you to start.
PTSD guide
For PTSD, this may apply on depleted days when you cannot wash or bathe until someone prompts or supports you to start.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, this may apply when back pain and bending leave you unable to wash or bathe until someone prompts or supports you to start.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, this may apply when stiff joints and pain leave you unable to wash or bathe until someone prompts or supports you to start.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, this may apply when fatigue and heavy legs leave you unable to wash or bathe until someone prompts or supports you to start.
4D 2 points
Needs assistance to wash either their hair or body below the waist.
4E 3 points
Needs assistance to get in or out of a bath or shower.
4F 4 points
Needs assistance to wash their body between the shoulders and waist.
4G 8 points
Cannot wash and bathe at all and needs another person.
Activity 5: Managing toilet needs or incontinence
5A 0 points
Can manage toilet needs or incontinence unaided.
5B 2 points
Needs an aid or appliance to manage toilet needs or incontinence.
5C 2 points
Needs supervision, prompting, or assistance to manage toilet needs.
5D 4 points
Needs assistance to manage incontinence of either bladder or bowel.
5E 6 points
Needs assistance to manage incontinence of both bladder and bowel.
5F 8 points
Cannot manage toilet needs or incontinence at all and needs another person.
Activity 6: Dressing and undressing
6A 0 points
Can dress and undress unaided.
6B 2 points
Needs an aid or appliance to dress or undress.
6C 2 points
Needs prompting or assistance to select appropriate clothing.
Anxiety guide
For anxiety, this can apply where the person needs prompting to get dressed, change clothes, or choose suitable clothing because anxiety causes shutdown or overwhelm.
Depression guide
For depression, this can apply when low energy or apathy means you need prompting to dress, change clothes, or pick suitable clothes for the situation.
ADHD guide
For ADHD, this can apply when you need prompting to dress, change clothes, or choose suitable clothing because of difficulty starting or finishing the task.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, this may apply when a flare means you cannot get dressed until later in the day without prompting or help to begin.
Autism guide
For autism, this may apply when shutdown or burnout means you cannot get dressed until later in the day without prompting or help to begin.
PTSD guide
For PTSD, this may apply when symptoms leave you unable to get dressed until later in the day without prompting or help to begin.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, this may apply when bending and pain mean you cannot get dressed until later in the day without prompting or help to begin.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, this may apply when stiff hands and painful joints mean you cannot get dressed until later in the day without prompting or help to begin.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, this may apply when fatigue and numbness mean you cannot get dressed until later in the day without prompting or help to begin.
6D 2 points
Needs assistance to dress or undress their lower body.
6E 4 points
Needs assistance to dress or undress their upper body.
6F 8 points
Cannot dress or undress at all.
Activity 7: Communicating verbally
7A 0 points
Can express and understand verbal information unaided.
7B 2 points
Needs an aid or appliance to express or understand verbal information.
7C 4 points
Needs communication support to express or understand complex verbal information.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, brain fog can make complex conversations or messages hard. You may need extra time or communication support to express or understand what you mean.
Autism guide
For autism, overload can make complex conversations or messages hard. You may need extra time or communication support to express or understand what you mean without the words coming out wrong.
PTSD guide
For PTSD, poor sleep and being on edge can make complex conversations or messages hard. You may need extra time or communication support to express or understand what you mean.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, pain and poor sleep can make complex conversations or messages hard. You may need extra time or communication support to express or understand what you mean.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, stiff hands and pain can make typing and complex conversations hard. You may need extra time or communication support to express or understand what you mean.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, brain fog can make complex conversations or messages hard. You may need extra time or communication support to express or understand what you mean.
7D 8 points
Needs communication support to express or understand basic verbal information.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, on bad fog days even basic conversations or texts may need support. Focus on whether you can express or understand basic verbal information reliably without help.
Autism guide
For autism, on bad overload days even basic conversations or texts may need support. Focus on whether you can express or understand basic verbal information reliably without help.
PTSD guide
For PTSD, on bad days even basic conversations or texts may need support. Focus on whether you can express or understand basic verbal information reliably without help.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, on bad pain days even basic conversations or texts may need support. Focus on whether you can express or understand basic verbal information reliably without help.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, when hands are stiff even basic conversations or texts may need support. Focus on whether you can express or understand basic verbal information reliably without help.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, on bad fog days even basic conversations or texts may need support. Focus on whether you can express or understand basic verbal information reliably without help.
7E 12 points
Cannot express or understand verbal information even with support.
Activity 8: Reading and understanding
8A 0 points
Can read and understand basic and complex written information unaided, or using glasses or contact lenses.
8B 2 points
Needs an aid or appliance, other than glasses or contact lenses, to read or understand written information.
8C 2 points
Needs prompting to read or understand complex written information.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, fatigue and fog can stop you following complex written information, even if you reread it many times.
Autism guide
For autism, burnout and shutdown can stop you following complex written information, even if you reread it many times.
PTSD guide
For PTSD, poor sleep and symptoms can stop you following complex written information, even if you reread it many times.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, pain and fatigue can stop you following complex written information, even if you reread it many times.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, pain and fatigue can stop you following complex written information, even if you reread it many times.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, fatigue and brain fog can stop you following complex written information, even if you reread it many times.
8D 4 points
Needs prompting to read or understand basic written information.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, this may apply when even basic reading or following simple instructions needs prompting because concentration will not hold.
Autism guide
For autism, this may apply when even basic reading or following simple instructions needs prompting because concentration will not hold during overload or shutdown.
PTSD guide
For PTSD, this may apply when even basic reading or following simple instructions needs prompting because concentration will not hold after poor sleep or triggers.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, this may apply when even basic reading or following simple instructions needs prompting because pain and fatigue break concentration.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, this may apply when even basic reading or following simple instructions needs prompting because pain and stiffness break concentration.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, this may apply when even basic reading or following simple instructions needs prompting because brain fog breaks concentration.
8E 8 points
Cannot read or understand signs, symbols, or words at all.
Activity 9: Engaging with other people face to face
9A 0 points
Can engage with other people unaided.
9B 2 points
Needs prompting to engage with other people.
Anxiety guide
For anxiety, prompting can include someone reassuring or calming the person before face-to-face contact.
Depression guide
For depression, you may need prompting to engage in person, for example when low mood, withdrawal, or fear of conversation makes the first step hard without support.
ADHD guide
For ADHD, prompting can include someone helping you prepare for appointments, remember what to say, or get through face-to-face contact you would otherwise avoid or miss.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, prompting may be needed before social plans, for example when pain and fatigue mean you need help to prepare for or attend noisy group settings.
Autism guide
For autism, prompting may be needed before social plans, for example when sensory overload or masking cost mean you need help to prepare for or attend noisy group settings.
PTSD guide
For PTSD, prompting may be needed before social plans, for example when crowded or noisy settings feel unsafe or unmanageable without help to prepare.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, prompting may be needed before social plans, for example when long sitting and pain mean you need help to prepare for outings.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, prompting may be needed before social plans, for example when stiff joints and long sitting mean you need help to prepare for outings.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, prompting may be needed before social plans, for example when fatigue and heat sensitivity mean you need help to prepare for outings.
9C 4 points
Needs social support to engage with other people.
Anxiety guide
Social support means support from someone trained or experienced in helping the person engage socially, or someone directly experienced with the claimant.
Depression guide
The same test applies for depression. Social support is trained or experienced help, or someone who knows you well enough to help you stay engaged when face-to-face contact is hard.
ADHD guide
The same test applies for ADHD. Social support is trained or experienced help, or someone who knows your difficulties well enough to help you stay engaged in person.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, social support may help you manage outings that would otherwise be cancelled because of pain, sensory overload, or post-exertion collapse.
Autism guide
For autism, social support may help you manage outings that would otherwise be cancelled because of sensory overload, social exhaustion, or post-social collapse.
PTSD guide
For PTSD, social support may help you manage outings that would otherwise be cancelled because of distress, crowds, or feeling unsafe in public settings.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, social support may help you manage outings that would otherwise be cancelled because of pain, sitting limits, or post-exertion flare.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, social support may help you manage outings that would otherwise be cancelled because of stiffness, pain, or difficulty with long sitting.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, social support may help you manage outings that would otherwise be cancelled because of fatigue, heat, or unreliable mobility.
9D 8 points
Cannot engage with other people because it causes overwhelming psychological distress or creates a substantial risk.
Anxiety guide
For anxiety, focus on whether face-to-face contact creates such severe distress that the person cannot function, even with prompting or social support.
Depression guide
For depression, focus on whether the interaction, or the thought of it, causes such severe psychological distress that you cannot engage, even with support.
ADHD guide
For ADHD, focus on whether face-to-face contact causes such severe distress or shutdown that you cannot engage, even with support. Sensory overload or rejection sensitivity may be relevant but must meet the legal test.
Autism guide
For autism, focus on whether sensory or social overload causes such severe psychological distress that you cannot engage, even with support. The legal test is strict and must be met on its own terms.
PTSD guide
For PTSD, focus on whether triggers, crowds, or sudden stimuli cause such severe psychological distress that you cannot engage, even with support. The legal test is strict and must be met on its own terms.
Activity 10: Making budgeting decisions
10A 0 points
Can make budgeting decisions unaided.
10B 2 points
Needs prompting or assistance to make complex budgeting decisions.
Anxiety guide
Complex budgeting includes household budgets, bills, and planning future purchases. Anxiety may matter where it causes avoidance, overwhelm, or inability to respond to changing demands.
Depression guide
For depression, the same test applies. Complex money tasks may be avoided or feel impossible when concentration, motivation, or follow-through is badly affected.
ADHD guide
For ADHD, complex money tasks may pile up when you avoid post, forget due dates, or cannot follow through without someone helping step by step.
10C 4 points
Needs prompting or assistance to make simple budgeting decisions.
Anxiety guide
Simple budgeting includes calculating costs and change. This is a higher bar than needing help with bills alone.
Depression guide
Simple budgeting is still a defined test (costs, change, small sums). If depression leaves you unable to do even these reliably without help, this line may be relevant.
ADHD guide
Simple budgeting is still a defined test. ADHD may matter if even small money tasks need prompting because of distraction, impulsivity, or avoidance.
10D 6 points
Cannot make any budgeting decisions at all.
Mobility
Activity 11: Planning and following journeys
11A 0 points
Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided.
11B 4 points
Needs prompting to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress.
Anxiety guide
For anxiety, this is most relevant where you need encouragement or reassurance to set off, but would not need another person throughout the journey itself.
Depression guide
For depression, this can apply when low mood, fear, or shutdown means you need prompting to start a journey, even if you would not need someone with you the whole time.
ADHD guide
For ADHD, this may apply when you need prompting to start a journey because of executive dysfunction, time blindness, or distress about being late or overwhelmed, even if you would not need someone throughout.
11C 8 points
Cannot plan the route of a journey.
11D 10 points
Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog, or orientation aid.
Anxiety guide
For anxiety, this may apply where unfamiliar journeys, route changes, public transport, or unexpected events cause overwhelming distress and another person is needed.
Depression guide
For depression, this may apply if unfamiliar routes, changes, or overload mean you cannot follow the journey without another person, even on days when you can leave the house.
ADHD guide
For ADHD, unfamiliar journeys, route changes, or distraction may mean you cannot follow the route without another person.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, pain, fog, and fatigue may mean you cannot manage journeys to appointments safely without another person, even if you sometimes set off alone.
Autism guide
For autism, overload, poor sleep, and burnout may mean you cannot manage journeys to appointments safely without another person, even if you sometimes set off alone.
PTSD guide
For PTSD, poor sleep, hypervigilance, and exhaustion may mean you cannot manage journeys to appointments safely without another person, even if you sometimes set off alone.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, pain and fatigue may mean you cannot manage journeys to appointments safely without another person, even if getting in and out of the car is already hard.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, pain and stiffness may mean you cannot manage journeys to appointments safely without another person, even if you sometimes set off alone.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, fatigue, numbness, or fog may mean you cannot manage journeys to appointments safely without another person, even if you sometimes set off alone.
11E 10 points
Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress.
Anxiety guide
This is a high threshold. If the person can make one journey on a day, this descriptor may not be satisfied for that day.
Depression guide
This is a high threshold and works the same way for depression. The assessor must look at the actual journey rules in the PIP test, not this summary alone.
ADHD guide
This is a high threshold and works the same way for ADHD. The assessor must look at the actual journey rules in the PIP test, not this summary alone.
11F 12 points
Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, assistance dog, or orientation aid.
Anxiety guide
For anxiety, this is relevant where even familiar routes cannot be followed safely or reliably without another person because of overwhelming distress.
Depression guide
For depression, this may be relevant if even familiar routes feel unsafe or unmanageable without someone with you, when symptoms are that severe on the day in question.
ADHD guide
For ADHD, this may be relevant if even familiar routes cannot be followed reliably without another person because of distraction, forgetting the way, or distress on the day.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, familiar routes to GP or other appointments may still be unmanageable on high pain or fog days without someone with you.
Autism guide
For autism, familiar routes to GP or other appointments may still be unmanageable on high overload or burnout days without someone with you.
PTSD guide
For PTSD, familiar routes to GP or other appointments may still be unmanageable on high symptom days without someone with you.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, familiar routes to GP or other appointments may still be unmanageable on high pain days without someone with you.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, familiar routes to GP or other appointments may still be unmanageable on stiff painful days without someone with you.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, familiar routes to GP or other appointments may still be unmanageable on high fatigue or relapse days without someone with you.
Activity 12: Moving around
12A 0 points
Can stand and then move more than 200 metres.
12B 4 points
Can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, post-exertion pain and fatigue may limit how far you can stand and move reliably, even on days when you can leave the house.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, back pain and sciatica may limit how far you can stand and move reliably, even on days when you can leave the house.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, stiff painful joints may limit how far you can stand and move reliably, even on days when you can leave the house.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, leg heaviness, numbness, and fatigue may limit how far you can stand and move reliably, even on days when you can leave the house.
12C 8 points
Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres.
Fibromyalgia guide
For fibromyalgia, this may apply on flare days when you can only manage very short distances before pain or dizziness forces you to stop.
Chronic pain and back pain guide
For chronic pain and back pain, this may apply on flare days when you can only manage very short distances before back pain or sciatica forces you to stop.
Arthritis guide
For arthritis, this may apply on flare days when you can only manage very short distances before joint pain forces you to stop and rest.
MS and neurological conditions guide
For MS and neurological conditions, this may apply on bad days when you can only manage very short distances before leg weakness or fatigue forces you to stop.
12D 10 points
Can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres.
12E 12 points
Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres.
12F 12 points
Cannot stand or cannot move more than 1 metre, even with an aid or appliance.