PIP Glossary: Key Terms Explained
Understanding the language used in the PIP process helps you make a stronger claim and navigate forms, assessments, and decisions with more confidence. Below is a clear, plain-English guide to the most important terms.
PIP Review
A reassessment of your existing award to check whether your needs have changed. You’ll usually be sent a short review form (called an AR1 form) before your award end date. It’s important to return this on time with updates about your condition.
AR1 Form
The shorter form sent when you’re already receiving PIP and your claim is being reviewed. You’re expected to confirm whether your condition has improved, worsened, or stayed the same.
Change of Circumstances
If your condition changes significantly (for better or worse), you must report this to the DWP. They may review your claim and ask for new evidence or an updated assessment.
Functional Needs
This refers to what you can or cannot do in everyday life due to your condition, not just your diagnosis. PIP is awarded based on functional impact, not the name of your illness or disability.
Health Professional (HP)
The person who carries out your PIP assessment on behalf of the DWP. They might be a nurse, paramedic, physiotherapist, or other clinician, but they are trained by the assessment company, not necessarily a specialist in your condition.
Supporting Evidence
Documents that back up your claim. This can include medical reports, letters from specialists, prescriptions, care plans, occupational therapy reports, or condition-specific assessments (like mental health or neuropsychology reports).
Daily Living Activities
A group of 10 activities the DWP uses to assess how your condition affects your everyday life. These include things like preparing food, managing medication, washing and bathing, dressing, communicating, and budgeting.
Mobility Activities
There are 2 mobility activities assessed:
Planning and following journeys
Moving around physically
These help determine your eligibility for the Mobility component of PIP.
Capita / IAS (formerly Atos)
Private companies contracted by the DWP to carry out PIP assessments. They write a report based on your answers, behaviour, and any evidence you provide.
Face-to-Face / Telephone / Video Assessment
The PIP assessment can be done in different formats. You have a right to request a telephone or video call instead of an in-person meeting as a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act.
Equality Act 2010
A law that protects your right to fair treatment if you're disabled. Under this Act, the DWP and assessment companies must make reasonable adjustments to ensure the process is accessible to you.
Tribunal Panel
If you appeal a PIP decision, your case may be heard by a panel made up of an independent judge, a medical expert, and a disability specialist. They will review the facts and make a new decision.
Decision Letter
A formal letter from the DWP explaining the outcome of your PIP claim or review. It will show which activities they looked at, which descriptors they applied, and how many points you scored.
Effective Date
The date your PIP award begins. If you're awarded PIP after a successful claim or appeal, your payments are backdated to this date — usually when you first contacted the DWP to start your claim.
Fluctuating Conditions / Most of the Time Rule
If your condition varies day to day, the DWP will assess how it affects you most of the time — meaning at least 50% of the time.
You should not just describe a “good day” or a “bad day” — instead, explain how things are for you on an average day, including how often and how severely your symptoms or difficulties appear.
It’s also helpful to describe the impact of doing a task repeatedly or how long recovery takes after doing something once.
Reliably Criteria
To be considered able to do an activity, you must do it:
Safely
To an acceptable standard
Repeatedly
Within a reasonable time
If you can’t meet all four, you should be treated as needing support with that task.
Aid or Appliance
An object or device that helps you complete a task more easily or safely. This includes items provided by the NHS or ones you’ve bought or adapted yourself. Examples: grab rails, walking sticks, perching stools, pill organisers, or reminder apps.
Assistance
Direct help from another person to complete an activity. This could be physical help (e.g. helping you dress), verbal guidance (e.g. telling you what to do), or emotional support (e.g. calming you down so you can continue a task).
Supervision
Having someone nearby while you do a task in case something goes wrong. This applies if there’s a significant risk of harm to you or others — for example, if you’re likely to fall, forget a hot pan, or have a seizure or panic attack.
Prompting
Verbal reminders or encouragement from another person to start or continue a task. This is often relevant for people with memory issues, mental health conditions, learning disabilities, or fatigue.
Safely
You can complete a task without causing harm to yourself or someone else. If doing an activity puts you at risk — physically or mentally — it may count as needing support.
To an Acceptable Standard
You are able to do the task properly and thoroughly, not just partially. For example, getting dressed but wearing inappropriate or dirty clothes would not be considered acceptable.
Repeatedly
You can do the activity as often as it is reasonably required throughout the day. If you can do it once, but not multiple times, you may still qualify for support.
Within a Reasonable Time
You can complete the task in no more than twice the time it would take someone without your condition. If it takes you significantly longer, this may count as needing support under PIP rules.
Descriptors
Pre-defined phrases the DWP uses to describe different levels of difficulty with each activity. Each descriptor has a points value. The one that applies to you (based on your evidence and assessment) is used to calculate your score.
Points
PIP awards points for each activity based on how much support you need. You can score between 0 and 12 points per activity. These points determine your eligibility and rate of payment.
Components
PIP is divided into two parts:
Daily Living – help with everyday activities such as cooking, washing, dressing, communicating, or taking medication.
Mobility – help with planning and following journeys or physically moving around.
You can be awarded one or both components, depending on your needs.
Standard Rate / Enhanced Rate
Each component (Daily Living and Mobility) can be paid at either:
Standard Rate – if you score 8–11 points
Enhanced Rate – if you score 12 or more points
These rates determine how much money you receive.
