PIP daily living activities: what the DWP is actually assessing

Activity 1 is preparing food. This means making a simple cooked meal from fresh ingredients for one person. Not a complex recipe. Think beans on toast or heating soup. If you forget the oven is on, get distracted mid-task, or cannot sequence the steps without someone prompting you, you should be scoring points here. If you burn food regularly or only use a microwave because the cooker is not safe, that counts.

Activity 2 is taking nutrition. This is about physically eating and drinking, including cutting food and using a cup. For most neurodivergent people this is less relevant unless you have co-occurring conditions affecting motor skills or sensory issues that severely restrict what you can eat.

Activity 3 is managing therapy or monitoring a health condition. This is one of the most important activities for ADHD. It covers taking medication. If you forget to take your medication without prompting, that scores points. If you double-dose because you cannot remember whether you already took it, that scores points. It also covers attending medical appointments and managing treatments at home.

Activity 4 is washing and bathing. This means getting in and out of an unadapted bath or shower and washing your whole body. If you go days without washing because you cannot initiate the task, that is relevant. If you need someone to remind you, that is prompting. Be honest about this.

Activity 5 is managing toilet needs. This is about getting on and off the toilet and cleaning yourself afterwards. It is less commonly relevant for ADHD or autism on its own, but may apply if you have co-occurring conditions.

Activity 6 is dressing and undressing. This includes choosing appropriate clothing. If you wear the same clothes for days because you cannot make decisions about what to put on, or need prompting to change, that is relevant.

Activity 7 is communicating verbally. This covers understanding spoken language and expressing yourself. It can be relevant for autistic people who have difficulty processing speech, especially in noisy environments, or who experience selective mutism or shutdowns.

Activity 8 is reading and understanding signs, symbols, and words. This is about processing written information. If you cannot read a letter from the DWP without someone explaining it, that is relevant. Difficulty concentrating enough to read and retain information counts.

Activity 9 is engaging with other people face to face. This is often highly relevant for autism and ADHD. It covers your ability to interact with people, understand body language, and manage social situations. If you become overwhelmed in social settings, experience meltdowns, shutdowns, or avoid social contact because of anxiety, describe that.

Activity 10 is making budgeting decisions. This covers managing money for everyday spending. Impulsive spending is very common with ADHD. If you cannot budget, overspend regularly, or need someone else to manage your money, you should be scoring here.

Each activity has descriptors labelled A through to F or sometimes further. Descriptor A is always worth 0 points and means you can do the activity without help. The higher descriptors carry more points, up to 8 or 12 depending on the activity.

You can only score from one descriptor per activity. If more than one applies, the DWP should use the one with the highest points. Your total across all 10 activities determines your award.

8 to 11 points gets you the standard rate of the daily living component. 12 or more points gets you the enhanced rate.

The DWP applies the 50 per cent rule. A descriptor applies if it is true for you on more than half the days in a year. You do not have to struggle every single day. If you need prompting to wash on 4 days out of 7, that counts.

Points from different activities are added together. You might score 2 here, 4 there, and 4 somewhere else. That is 10 points and enough for the standard rate. This additive pattern is very common for neurodivergent people because ADHD and autism tend to cause moderate difficulties across many areas rather than one severe difficulty in a single area.

For every activity, the DWP has to consider whether you can do it reliably. That means four things.

Safely. Can you do the activity without risk of harm to yourself or anyone else? If you leave the hob on and that is a fire risk, you cannot do it safely.

To an acceptable standard. Can you complete the activity properly? If you can technically make food but it is inedible, that is not an acceptable standard.

Repeatedly. Can you do it as often as you need to? If you can manage it once but not consistently through the day or week, that matters.

In a reasonable time. Can you complete it in roughly twice the time it would take a non-disabled person? If getting dressed takes you 45 minutes because you cannot focus or make decisions, that is not a reasonable time.

If you fail any one of these four tests, you should be scoring points for that activity. The DWP does not always apply these tests properly. Know them. Refer to them on your form. If you are refused, check whether the decision maker applied all four tests to each activity.

PIP also has two mobility activities. These are assessed separately from daily living and have their own points threshold.

Mobility Activity 1 is planning and following journeys. This is highly relevant to ADHD and autism. If you cannot plan an unfamiliar route without help, that scores points. If you get overwhelmed by sensory input when travelling, that scores points. If you need someone with you to manage the journey, that scores higher points. If you cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, that scores 10 points.

Mobility Activity 2 is moving around. This is about physical mobility. It is less commonly relevant for ADHD or autism unless you have co-occurring physical conditions.

You need 8 points for the standard rate of the mobility component and 12 for the enhanced rate. The enhanced rate gives you access to the Motability scheme and a Blue Badge.

Many neurodivergent people miss out on mobility points because they assume mobility means physical mobility only. It does not. Planning and following journeys is a cognitive activity and ADHD and autism both affect it significantly.

Go through each activity and honestly assess whether you score points. Use the four tests for each one. Write down specific examples of times you could not do the activity safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, or in a reasonable time.

If you score 8 or more points across daily living, you are likely eligible for the standard rate. If you score 12 or more, you are likely eligible for the enhanced rate. The same applies to mobility.

Our separate guides cover how to write about ADHD on the PIP form, how to prepare for the assessment, and what to do if you are refused. If you have not yet started your claim, our step-by-step application guide walks you through the process.

If you are not sure whether you have ADHD or autism, our free screening tools can help you decide whether to pursue a diagnosis. A diagnosis is not required for PIP, but it strengthens your claim.