Personal Independence Payment in 2026/27 pays a daily living component of £76.70 a week at the standard rate or £114.60 at the enhanced rate, and a mobility component of £30.30 or £80.00. Someone awarded both at the enhanced rate receives £194.60 a week, £10,119 a year, paid every four weeks. PIP is tax free, is not means tested and is not affected by work, savings or a partner’s income. The rate for each component depends on points scored in an assessment: 8 to 11 points for the standard rate and 12 or more for the enhanced rate.
The rates
| Component | Standard rate, 8 to 11 points | Enhanced rate, 12 points or more |
|---|---|---|
| Daily living | £76.70 a week | £114.60 a week |
| Mobility | £30.30 a week | £80.00 a week |
| Award | Weekly | Every four weeks | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard daily living only | £76.70 | £306.80 | £3,988 |
| Enhanced daily living only | £114.60 | £458.40 | £5,959 |
| Standard daily living and standard mobility | £107.00 | £428.00 | £5,564 |
| Enhanced daily living and standard mobility | £144.90 | £579.60 | £7,535 |
| Enhanced daily living and enhanced mobility | £194.60 | £778.40 | £10,119 |
The two components are assessed and paid separately, so any combination is possible, including mobility alone. The rates rose by 3.8% in April 2026 in line with the previous September’s inflation figure and are the same in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland the equivalent benefit is Adult Disability Payment, paid at the same rates by Social Security Scotland.
Who can claim
PIP is for people aged 16 to State Pension age with a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability that has affected daily living or mobility for three months and is expected to last at least nine more. The condition itself does not decide the award; the assessment looks at how it affects specific activities. People who reach State Pension age while on PIP keep it, and those over State Pension age who have not claimed before look at Attendance Allowance instead, which has no mobility component.
How the points work
The daily living component scores ten activities: preparing food, eating and drinking, managing treatment, washing and bathing, managing toilet needs, dressing, communicating, reading, engaging with other people and making budgeting decisions. The mobility component scores two: planning and following journeys, and moving around. Each activity has descriptors worth between 0 and 12 points, and the highest descriptor that applies for the majority of days is taken. Points are added within each component: 8 to 11 gives the standard rate and 12 or more the enhanced rate. A descriptor only counts if the activity can be done safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time. The PIP points calculator walks through every descriptor and shows the component and rate the points would produce.
What PIP opens up
| Award | What it can bring |
|---|---|
| Any daily living component | Carer’s Allowance of £86.45 a week for someone caring 35 hours a week, or the Universal Credit carer element |
| Any component | Disability premiums in some legacy benefits, Council Tax Reduction and Blue Badge eligibility depending on the local scheme |
| Standard mobility | 50% reduction in vehicle tax |
| Enhanced mobility | Full vehicle tax exemption, the Motability scheme and an automatic Blue Badge |
PIP is not counted as income for Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or Pension Credit, and a partner’s PIP does not reduce a claimant’s Universal Credit. It can be paid alongside work at any earnings. The Carer’s Allowance calculator checks the earnings limit for someone caring for a PIP recipient, and our Universal Credit rates guide sets out the elements that a disability or caring role adds.
Claiming and reviews
A claim starts with a phone call to the PIP claim line, followed by a form describing how the condition affects each activity and, in most cases, an assessment by phone, video or in person with a health professional. Decisions can be challenged through mandatory reconsideration and then appeal to a tribunal, and a high proportion of appealed decisions are changed. Awards are made for a fixed period with a review date, or on an ongoing basis with a light-touch review after ten years for people whose needs are unlikely to change. Payment is normally backdated to the date of the initial call once a claim succeeds.
Common questions
How much is PIP in 2026/27? £76.70 or £114.60 a week for daily living and £30.30 or £80.00 a week for mobility, depending on the rate awarded. The maximum for both components at the enhanced rate is £194.60 a week.
How often is PIP paid? Every four weeks, in arrears, so the maximum award arrives as £778.40 each payment. Terminally ill claimants under the special rules are paid weekly.
Is PIP means tested or taxed? Neither. Savings, earnings and a partner’s income do not affect it, and it is not taxable income.
How many points do I need? 8 points in a component for the standard rate and 12 for the enhanced rate. The two components are scored separately.
Can I work and get PIP? Yes. PIP depends on how a condition affects daily activities, not on whether you work or how much you earn.
Does PIP stop at State Pension age? Not if you were already receiving it. New claims after State Pension age go to Attendance Allowance, which covers care needs but not mobility.
Information, not financial advice. Rates are the published 2026/27 figures on gov.uk: PIP, how much you’ll get; the points system is set out in the PIP regulations and summarised by the DWP. Eligibility depends on an individual assessment, so check gov.uk or a welfare rights adviser before acting on them.