Is Personal Independence Payment for You?

Is Personal Independence Payment for you?

If you are blind or partially sighted the RNIB PIP Toolkit will help you to complete your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application form effectively.

What is PIP?

PIP is a benefit which helps with some of the extra costs related to disability if you’re aged 16 to 64. 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.

For more information about PIP you can request a copy our PIP factsheet or the PIP questions on Ask RNIB.

How do I claim PIP?

You 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). 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. This RNIB PIP Toolkit has been designed to help you to complete your PIP 2 claim form as clearly and completely as possible.

You can ask for the PIP 2 form in a format that is accessible for you.

How does the PIP Toolkit work?

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.

The descriptors and the questions on the claim form are not always exactly the same. If there is not a question on the form about the descriptor that you think applies to you, include information about this descriptor 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 of 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. Remember - 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.