The four PIP rates for 2026/27
Personal Independence Payment has two components, daily living and mobility, and each pays at either standard or enhanced rate. In 2026/27 the weekly rates are: daily living standard £72.65, daily living enhanced £108.55, mobility standard £28.70, mobility enhanced £75.75.
You can receive any combination of these two components, daily living only, mobility only, or both, depending on how your conditions affect you. Getting both components at enhanced rate gives a total of £184.30/week (£9,783.60/year). Getting both at standard rate gives £101.35/week (£5,388.20/year). The rates apply from April 2026.
The points-based assessment, what triggers each rate
PIP is not awarded based on diagnosis. It is awarded based on how your condition affects your ability to carry out activities. A points-based assessment measures this. For daily living, you need 8 points for the standard rate and 12 points for enhanced. For mobility, 8 points gives standard rate and 12 points gives enhanced.
The assessment covers 10 daily living activities (preparing food, eating and drinking, managing treatments, washing and bathing, managing toilet needs, dressing and undressing, communicating verbally, reading and understanding signs and symbols, mixing with other people, managing money) and 2 mobility activities (planning and following journeys, moving around). Each activity has descriptors that score 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 12 points.
The key principle is reliability: you must be able to carry out an activity safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and within a reasonable time. If you cannot meet all four conditions even on a good day, you may score points even if you can technically perform the task sometimes.
How PIP interacts with Universal Credit and other benefits
Receiving PIP does not reduce Universal Credit, it is not counted as income for UC purposes. In fact, PIP can increase your UC award by triggering the limited capability for work element (if you have a health condition that also limits work) and by exempting your household from the Benefit Cap.
Receiving PIP daily living at standard or enhanced rate may also entitle you to the UC disabled child element if your child receives PIP. The enhanced daily living rate triggers the enhanced disability element of UC, worth £101.28/month extra in 2026/27.
PIP mobility at enhanced rate entitles you to the Motability scheme, giving access to a leased vehicle or powered wheelchair. Standard mobility rate does not qualify for Motability. Both rates allow a Blue Badge application in England.
What the monthly and annual PIP amounts look like
PIP is paid every four weeks, not monthly. The four-weekly amount is four times the weekly rate. For budgeting purposes it is useful to know the monthly equivalent (weekly × 52 ÷ 12). Daily living enhanced: £458.40/four weeks, £497/month equivalent. Daily living standard: £306.80/four weeks, £332/month equivalent.
Mobility enhanced: £327.75/four weeks, £328.93/month equivalent. Mobility standard: £124.37/four weeks, £124.79/month equivalent. The annual amounts (weekly × 52) are: daily living enhanced £5,644.60, daily living standard £3,777.80, mobility enhanced £3,939.00, mobility standard £1,492.40.
Applying for PIP, what to expect
PIP claims start with a phone call to DWP (or a written request if you cannot use a telephone). DWP sends a PIP2 questionnaire, which you complete and return within a month. The questionnaire is the most important document in the process, it should describe how your condition affects you on your worst days, not average or best days.
After the questionnaire, most people are invited for a face-to-face or telephone assessment with a healthcare professional. The assessor writes a report for DWP, who makes the final decision. The whole process typically takes 12-20 weeks, though backlogs have extended this in some areas.
If you are refused PIP or awarded a lower rate than you expected, you can request a mandatory reconsideration. If that fails, you can appeal to a First-tier Tribunal. Around 70% of PIP appeals that reach a tribunal succeed, so an appeal is almost always worth pursuing if you believe the decision is wrong.