PIP2 Form Guide — How to Answer Every Question

What this activity means

This activity is about preparing and cooking a simple meal for one person using fresh ingredients — peeling, chopping, using a hob or cooker, and serving. It is not about gourmet cooking or batch-cooking for a family. Ready meals alone do not prove you can prepare and cook a simple meal from scratch. DWP is assessing whether you can do this reliably on most days, not whether you ever manage a sandwich.

The four criteria

You are only treated as able to do this activity if you can do it:

• Safely — without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or others
• To an acceptable standard
• Repeatedly — as often as you reasonably need to
• In a reasonable time — no more than twice as long as someone without your condition

Descriptors and point values

Score the highest descriptor that applies on the majority of days. You do not add multiple descriptors from the same activity together.

What assessors look for

• Whether you can peel, chop, open packaging, and use a hob or cooker safely without burns, cuts, or falls
• Whether fatigue, pain, tremor, mental health, or cognitive problems mean you need prompting, supervision, or physical help
• Whether you can only use a microwave (not a conventional cooker) — that is a specific 2-point descriptor
• How long cooking takes you compared with someone without your condition, and whether you need long recovery afterwards (reliability)
• What happens on a typical bad day across the majority of days — not your best day

Sample answers

What evidence helps

• Occupational therapy reports recommending kitchen aids, perching stool, or meal support
• GP or specialist letters describing tremor, neuropathy, fatigue, depression, or cognitive problems affecting cooking
• Care plans or carer statements explaining who helps with meals and how often
• Photos of aids you use (perching stool, adapted knives, kettle tipper) — optional but helpful
• A short diary noting which days you cooked, used only a microwave, or needed someone else to take over

Common mistakes

• Saying “I can cook” because you reheat ready meals — the test is a simple meal from fresh ingredients
• Describing only good days, or forgetting to explain safety risks (burns, leaving the hob on, falls)
• Omitting prompting or supervision needs for mental health or cognitive conditions — those can score points even if you have no physical kitchen aids

What this activity means

This activity is about eating and drinking — getting nutrition into your body — not cooking. It covers cutting up food, using cutlery, conveying food and drink to your mouth, needing supervision or prompting to eat, and using a therapeutic source (for example a feeding tube). DWP is assessing whether you can take nutrition reliably, safely, and to an acceptable standard on most days.

The four criteria

You are only treated as able to do this activity if you can do it:

• Safely — without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or others
• To an acceptable standard
• Repeatedly — as often as you reasonably need to
• In a reasonable time — no more than twice as long as someone without your condition

Descriptors and point values

Score the highest descriptor that applies on the majority of days. You do not add multiple descriptors from the same activity together.

What assessors look for

• Whether you need adapted cutlery, a non-spill cup, or help cutting food
• Whether someone has to prompt you to eat or drink (common with depression, eating disorders, dementia, or cognitive impairment)
• Whether you use a therapeutic source such as a PEG or other feeding tube — and whether you need help to manage it
• Whether another person has to convey food and drink to your mouth entirely
• Choking risk, spills, very slow eating, or needing supervision for safety

Sample answers

What evidence helps

• GP or dietitian notes on weight loss, malnutrition risk, or appetite problems
• Mental health records describing prompting needed for meals
• Speech and language therapy reports if swallowing or choking is an issue
• Evidence of adapted cutlery, plate guards, or feeding equipment
• Carer or family statements describing how they cut food, prompt, or feed you

Common mistakes

• Mixing this up with Preparing food — “I can’t cook” does not score here unless you also cannot eat or drink reliably
• Underplaying prompting: “I forget to eat” without saying how often someone has to intervene
• Not mentioning therapeutic feeding or help managing a tube when that applies

What this activity means

This activity covers managing medication, monitoring a health condition (for example blood glucose or blood pressure), and managing therapy at home (such as physiotherapy exercises, dressings, dialysis support, or nebulisers). “Therapy” for higher points means treatment that takes measurable hours each week with supervision, prompting, or assistance — not simply remembering tablets. DWP is assessing what help you need and, for therapy, how many hours that help takes each week.

The four criteria

You are only treated as able to do this activity if you can do it:

• Safely — without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or others
• To an acceptable standard
• Repeatedly — as often as you reasonably need to
• In a reasonable time — no more than twice as long as someone without your condition

Descriptors and point values

Score the highest descriptor that applies on the majority of days. You do not add multiple descriptors from the same activity together.

What assessors look for

• Whether you need an aid (dosette box, pill dispenser, alarm) or another person to manage medication safely
• Whether you need help monitoring a condition (readings, interpreting results, acting on them)
• The weekly hours of supervision, prompting, or assistance needed for therapy — this drives the higher point scores
• Risks if help is not given: missed doses, wrong doses, untreated symptoms, infection from unmanaged dressings
• Whether your needs apply on the majority of weeks, not only during a short flare

Sample answers

What evidence helps

• Prescription lists, dosette use, pharmacy blister packs, or medication review letters
• Care plans showing time spent on medication prompts, monitoring, or home therapy
• Physio, district nurse, or dialysis team letters describing help needed at home
• GP or specialist notes on consequences of missed medication or unmanaged therapy
• A weekly timesheet-style diary of minutes/hours of help with therapy

Common mistakes

• Listing lots of tablets but not explaining what help you need — volume of medication alone does not score high points
• Calling ordinary tablet prompting “therapy hours” — higher descriptors need evidenced therapy time each week
• Forgetting monitoring (glucose, oxygen sats, peak flow) when that is a major part of your daily management

What this activity means

This activity is about washing your whole body — including hair — and getting in and out of an unadapted bath or shower. It includes using aids (shower seat, grab rails), needing prompting or supervision (for example because of mental health, confusion, or seizure risk), and needing physical help with different parts of the body. DWP is assessing whether you can wash and bathe reliably and safely on most days.

The four criteria

You are only treated as able to do this activity if you can do it:

• Safely — without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or others
• To an acceptable standard
• Repeatedly — as often as you reasonably need to
• In a reasonable time — no more than twice as long as someone without your condition

Descriptors and point values

Score the highest descriptor that applies on the majority of days. You do not add multiple descriptors from the same activity together.

What assessors look for

• Aids you already use: shower seat, grab rails, long-handled sponge, bath board
• Whether you need prompting to wash at all (depression, cognitive impairment, sensory overload)
• Which body areas you cannot wash without another person’s help — hair, below the waist, or between shoulders and waist score differently
• Whether you need help getting in or out of the bath or shower
• Safety: falls, seizures, dizziness, scalding, or leaving taps running

Sample answers

What evidence helps

• OT assessment recommending bath/shower adaptations
• GP or physiotherapy letters about falls risk, balance, pain, or fatigue affecting washing
• Mental health evidence if prompting is needed to initiate washing
• Photos or council/housing adaptation letters for grab rails or shower seat
• Carer statements describing which parts of washing they help with and how often

Common mistakes

• Saying you “manage with a strip wash” without explaining that you cannot wash your whole body in a bath or shower reliably
• Not specifying which body areas need help — that decides between 2, 3, 4, or 8 points
• Forgetting supervision/prompting needs where risk or motivation is the main barrier

What this activity means

This activity covers getting on and off the toilet, cleaning yourself afterwards, and managing incontinence of bladder or bowel (including using pads, catheters, or stoma care where relevant). DWP is assessing whether you need aids, prompting, or another person’s help to manage toilet needs or incontinence reliably and with dignity on most days.

The four criteria

You are only treated as able to do this activity if you can do it:

• Safely — without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or others
• To an acceptable standard
• Repeatedly — as often as you reasonably need to
• In a reasonable time — no more than twice as long as someone without your condition

Descriptors and point values

Score the highest descriptor that applies on the majority of days. You do not add multiple descriptors from the same activity together.

What assessors look for

• Aids such as raised toilet seats, frames, bottom wipers, pads, bottles, or catheters
• Whether you need prompting or supervision to get to the toilet in time or to clean yourself
• Whether another person must help you on/off the toilet or with cleaning
• Whether you need help managing incontinence — and whether it is bladder, bowel, or both (this changes points)
• Frequency, urgency, accidents, night-time needs, and infection or skin problems from poor management

Sample answers

What evidence helps

• Continence service or district nurse assessments
• GP or urology/gastroenterology letters about incontinence, catheters, or stomas
• Prescriptions for pads, catheter supplies, or barrier creams
• OT recommendations for toilet frames, raised seats, or wet rooms
• Carer diary of assistance with toilet transfers, cleaning, or pad changes

Common mistakes

• Mentioning pads without saying whether you need help to manage them — pads alone are usually an aid (2 points) unless assistance is also needed
• Being too vague about bladder vs bowel incontinence when both apply — both can score 8 points
• Leaving out night-time help, which often shows why assistance is needed repeatedly

What this activity means

This activity is about dressing and undressing — putting on and taking off clothes and shoes, managing fastenings, and choosing clothing that is appropriate for the weather and situation. It is not only about physical reach and dexterity; prompting because of mental health, cognitive problems, or sensory issues also counts. DWP is assessing whether you can dress and undress reliably on most days, including within a reasonable time and without unsafe struggle.

The four criteria

You are only treated as able to do this activity if you can do it:

• Safely — without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or others
• To an acceptable standard
• Repeatedly — as often as you reasonably need to
• In a reasonable time — no more than twice as long as someone without your condition

Descriptors and point values

Score the highest descriptor that applies on the majority of days. You do not add multiple descriptors from the same activity together.

What assessors look for

• Aids you use: dressing sticks, button hooks, sock aids, velcro adaptations, shoe horns
• Whether you need prompting or help to choose clothes that are clean, suitable, and weather-appropriate
• Whether help is needed for lower body (trousers, underwear, socks, shoes), upper body (tops, bras, coats), or both
• How long dressing takes, how many rests you need, and whether you give up mid-way
• Pain, stiffness, tremor, breathlessness, sensory overload, or motivational barriers on the majority of days

Sample answers

What evidence helps

• Occupational therapy reports recommending dressing aids or assistance
• GP, rheumatology, neurology, or physio letters about upper/lower limb limitation, pain, or fatigue
• Mental health evidence where prompting to dress or select clothing is needed
• Carer statements describing which garments they help with and how often
• A short diary of dressing time, aids used, and days you could not finish without help

Common mistakes

• Saying “I can dress” because you manage in loose joggers on a good day — describe majority days and full outfits including fastenings and shoes
• Not separating lower-body and upper-body help — those are different descriptors
• Forgetting prompting for appropriate clothing when depression, psychosis, dementia, or cognitive impairment is relevant

What this activity means

This activity is about expressing and understanding spoken information — talking and being understood, and understanding what others say. It includes using aids such as hearing aids, and needing communication support (another person who helps you understand or be understood). “Basic” verbal information is simple, and “complex” is longer or more detailed. DWP is assessing reliable face-to-face verbal communication on most days, not whether you can send a text message.

The four criteria

You are only treated as able to do this activity if you can do it:

• Safely — without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or others
• To an acceptable standard
• Repeatedly — as often as you reasonably need to
• In a reasonable time — no more than twice as long as someone without your condition

Descriptors and point values

Score the highest descriptor that applies on the majority of days. You do not add multiple descriptors from the same activity together.

What assessors look for

• Whether you need hearing aids, a voice amplifier, or similar to speak or hear
• Whether you need another person for complex conversations (appointments, instructions, explanations)
• Whether you need support even for basic verbal information (simple questions and answers)
• Whether communication fails entirely even with support
• Fatigue, breathlessness, stammering, cognitive overload, or sensory issues that make conversation unreliable

Sample answers

What evidence helps

• Audiology reports, hearing-aid prescriptions, or ENT letters
• Speech and language therapy assessments
• Neurology, stroke, learning disability, or mental health reports affecting speech or comprehension
• Evidence of British Sign Language, lip-speaking, or interpreter needs where relevant
• Companion/carer statements describing how they support conversations

Common mistakes

• Relying only on “I wear hearing aids” without explaining what you still cannot do reliably with them
• Confusing preference for written messages with inability to manage basic or complex spoken information
• Not explaining the difference between needing help for complex talk (4 points) versus basic talk (8 points)

What this activity means

This activity is about reading and understanding written information — signs, symbols, and words — including basic information (simple notices or labels) and complex information (letters, forms, longer text). Ordinary spectacles or contact lenses alone do not score as the relevant aid. DWP is assessing whether you can read and understand reliably, not whether someone else can read things out for convenience.

The four criteria

You are only treated as able to do this activity if you can do it:

• Safely — without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or others
• To an acceptable standard
• Repeatedly — as often as you reasonably need to
• In a reasonable time — no more than twice as long as someone without your condition

Descriptors and point values

Score the highest descriptor that applies on the majority of days. You do not add multiple descriptors from the same activity together.

What assessors look for

• Aids other than standard glasses: magnifiers, screen readers, large-print devices, coloured overlays
• Whether prompting is needed to understand complex written information (letters, forms, instructions)
• Whether prompting is needed even for basic written information (signs, simple labels)
• Vision problems, dyslexia, cognitive impairment, brain injury, or learning disability effects
• Whether you cannot read or understand written information at all on most days

Sample answers

What evidence helps

• Ophthalmology or low-vision clinic reports; evidence of magnifiers or assistive software
• Neuropsychology, stroke, learning disability, or education/psychology reports on reading comprehension
• Dyslexia assessments where relevant
• Examples of missed appointments or errors caused by not understanding letters (redacted)
• Statements from people who regularly read and explain written information to you

Common mistakes

• Thinking ordinary glasses count toward the “aid or appliance” descriptor — they usually do not
• Describing dislike of paperwork rather than inability to read or understand on most days
• Not saying whether the difficulty is with complex text, basic text, or both

What this activity means

This activity is about engaging with other people face to face — establishing relationships, interacting appropriately, and coping with social contact. It includes needing prompting (encouragement to engage) or social support (an experienced person present to help you engage safely and appropriately). The highest descriptor applies where engagement causes overwhelming psychological distress or a substantial risk of harm. DWP is assessing real-world face-to-face contact on most days, not online chat.

The four criteria

You are only treated as able to do this activity if you can do it:

• Safely — without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or others
• To an acceptable standard
• Repeatedly — as often as you reasonably need to
• In a reasonable time — no more than twice as long as someone without your condition

Descriptors and point values

Score the highest descriptor that applies on the majority of days. You do not add multiple descriptors from the same activity together.

What assessors look for

• Whether you need prompting to answer the door, speak in appointments, or stay in a conversation
• Whether you need social support — someone who knows your needs present during interactions
• Panic, aggression risk, shutdown, or overwhelming distress caused by face-to-face engagement
• How often you avoid people entirely because you cannot engage reliably
• Evidence from mental health, autism, learning disability, or brain injury services

Sample answers

What evidence helps

• Psychiatry, psychology, CMHT, or autism/ADHD diagnostic and support reports
• Care plans describing social support needed for appointments and daily interactions
• Crisis or incident records linked to social contact where relevant and safe to share
• Support worker or carer statements about what happens without them present
• Evidence of missed appointments due to inability to engage face to face

Common mistakes

• Treating ordinary shyness as enough — explain distress, risk, or need for another person
• Confusing prompting (encouragement) with social support (an experienced person helping you engage)
• Only describing strangers — include neighbours, shop staff, clinicians, and household visitors if relevant

What this activity means

This activity is about making budgeting decisions — understanding and deciding how to spend and manage money. Simple budgeting means basic transactions (paying a single bill, calculating change). Complex budgeting means things like household budgeting, sorting out debts, or working out monthly bills. DWP is assessing decision-making ability, not whether you are poor or whether someone else prefers to handle the accounts for convenience.

The four criteria

You are only treated as able to do this activity if you can do it:

• Safely — without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or others
• To an acceptable standard
• Repeatedly — as often as you reasonably need to
• In a reasonable time — no more than twice as long as someone without your condition

Descriptors and point values

Score the highest descriptor that applies on the majority of days. You do not add multiple descriptors from the same activity together.

What assessors look for

• Whether you can manage complex decisions (monthly budget, comparing tariffs, dealing with priority debts) alone
• Whether you need prompting or assistance for complex decisions but can still do simple ones
• Whether even simple budgeting decisions need help
• Cognitive impairment, learning disability, mental health, addiction, or brain injury effects on money decisions
• Risks when unaided: unpaid rent, unopened bills, impulsive spending you cannot control, scams

Sample answers

What evidence helps

• Neuropsychology, learning disability, or mental health reports affecting financial decision-making
• Appointee, deputy, or DWP Alternative Payment Arrangement evidence where relevant
• Debt advice letters describing inability to manage budgeting without support
• Examples of consequences when unaided (arrears, disconnection) with sensitive details minimised
• Carer statements about prompting/assistance for bills and budgeting

Common mistakes

• Describing a couple’s division of chores (“my partner does the bills”) without explaining why you cannot do it
• Mixing lack of money with inability to make budgeting decisions
• Not distinguishing simple decisions (4 points if help needed) from complex ones (2 points if help needed)

What this activity means

This mobility activity is about planning and following journeys — working out a route and actually undertaking travel to go somewhere. It includes psychological distress that prevents journeys, needing prompting to go out, being unable to plan a route, and needing another person, an assistance dog, or an orientation aid to follow unfamiliar or familiar routes. It is not about how far you can walk (that is Moving around). DWP is assessing orientation, navigation, and the psychological ability to travel on most days.

The four criteria

You are only treated as able to do this activity if you can do it:

• Safely — without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or others
• To an acceptable standard
• Repeatedly — as often as you reasonably need to
• In a reasonable time — no more than twice as long as someone without your condition

Descriptors and point values

Score the highest descriptor that applies on the majority of days. You do not add multiple descriptors from the same activity together.

What assessors look for

• Whether overwhelming psychological distress stops you going out, or means you need prompting to go at all
• Whether you can plan a route yourself (maps, apps, steps in order)
• Whether you can follow unfamiliar routes alone, or need another person, dog, or orientation aid
• Whether you also cannot follow familiar routes alone
• Evidence of getting lost, panic attacks on transport, or never leaving without support

Sample answers

What evidence helps

• Mental health records describing agoraphobia, panic, PTSD, or journey-related distress
• Neurology, vision, or cognitive assessments affecting navigation and route-following
• Orientation aid / assistance dog evidence where relevant
• Incident examples: getting lost, emergency calls, abandoned journeys
• Carer statements about needing to accompany you on familiar and unfamiliar journeys

Common mistakes

• Writing about walking distance here — distance belongs in Moving around
• Only describing unfamiliar journeys when familiar journeys are also affected (that can be 12 points)
• Underplaying psychological distress that prevents any journey — that is a specific 10-point descriptor

What this activity means

This mobility activity is about standing and then moving — how far you can walk (or move using an aid) after standing, repeatedly and safely, on most days. Distances are absolute thresholds: more than 200m, up to 200m, up to 50m, up to 20m, or only up to 1m. Using an aid can change which descriptor applies between 20 and 50 metres. Wheelchair users are assessed on the distance they can move. DWP is assessing reliable walking/moving distance, not a one-off push on assessment day.

The four criteria

You are only treated as able to do this activity if you can do it:

• Safely — without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or others
• To an acceptable standard
• Repeatedly — as often as you reasonably need to
• In a reasonable time — no more than twice as long as someone without your condition

Descriptors and point values

Score the highest descriptor that applies on the majority of days. You do not add multiple descriptors from the same activity together.

What assessors look for

• The furthest you can reliably stand and then move on most days without stopping, and what happens if you push further
• Whether you need aids (stick, crutches, frame, wheelchair) and how that affects the 20–50 metre descriptors
• Pain, breathlessness, balance, weakness, or need to stop and recover
• Whether you can repeat the distance as often as reasonably required in a day
• Falls, near-falls, and safety risks when moving

Sample answers

What evidence helps

• Physiotherapy or orthopaedic reports with walking distances and aids prescribed
• GP or consultant letters about mobility, falls, breathlessness, or claudication
• Evidence of walking aids, wheelchair prescription, or blue badge / mobility scheme where relevant
• OT or falls clinic assessments
• A diary of distances you can manage before needing to stop, on good and bad days

Common mistakes

• Giving only “I can’t walk far” without approximate metres on majority days
• Describing your best day at the assessment centre as typical
• Forgetting aids — moving 20–50 metres with an aid is a different descriptor from doing it unaided