Personal Independence Payment (PIP) toolkit

The RNIB PIP toolkit is broken up into two sections: mobility and daily living - similar to how the PIP application form is structured, .

The mobility component is paid at two rates – the standard rate and the enhanced rate. The PIP 2 application form asks questions about your ability to work out and follow a route to another place. You are awarded points for your answer to each question.

Read the mobility component

The daily living component is paid at two rates – the standard rate and the enhanced rate. The PIP 2 application form asks questions about a number of activities related to daily living. You are awarded points for your answer to each question.

Read the daily living component

PIP is a benefit which helps with some of the extra costs related to disability if you’re aged 16 or over and under state pension age. It is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for working age people – but DLA can still be claimed by people under 16. PIP has two parts – a mobility component and a daily living component.

PIP has been replaced with Adult Disability Payment (ADP) for people living in Scotland. ADP is administered by Social Security Scotland. The criteria for PIP and ADP are very similar and therefore ADP claimants might still find parts of this toolkit useful, but the claims process is different.

You can begin your PIP claim by ringing 0800 917 2222. You will be helped to complete the first section of the PIP application form over the phone.

You will then be sent the second section of the application form called ‘How your disability affects you’ (PIP 2). This can now be sent by email to the claimant if requested. Once the claim form is received you have four weeks to complete and return it, though this period can be extended on request if necessary.

The PIP 2 form asks you questions about how your disability affects your ability to undertake a range of activities related to daily living and getting out and about. Our PIP Toolkit has been designed to help you to complete your PIP 2 claim form as clearly and completely as possible.

You can also ask for the PIP 2 form in a format that is accessible for you. Alternatively, you can also ask for the PIP2 to be emailed to you via a link which means you can complete it and return it electronically.

Our PIP Toolkit identifies the PIP “descriptors” that are most relevant to many blind and partially sighted people. The descriptors are the legal tests you must satisfy to score the points you need to get PIP.

Once you have read the notes and Top Tips for each descriptor and thought about how they apply to you, you should be in a good position to complete your PIP2 form.

If the specific questions on the claim form do not address the difficulties you have then you should include this information in the box called "Extra information". You can also use the “Extra Information“ box to give more information about how you satisfy any of the descriptors.

Our PIP toolkit looks at the questions that are most relevant for many blind and partially sighted people.  It does not cover all the questions on the claim form. You may have difficulties that we have not identified, and you should always answer the questions in a way that reflects the reality of your life. If you have other disabilities or health issues you will need to look at all the questions on the PIP 2 form.

You can save or print off any of the Toolkit pages to use when you need to complete your PIP 2 form. And if you send us your contact details using our Get in Touch page we will send you an email explaining what will happen once you have returned your completed claim form.