PIP does not separate your needs into day and night-time needs. Instead, a descriptor can apply to you if your condition affects your ability to complete a task, at some stage of the day, on over half the days of the period. If you are waiting for medical treatment (such as an operation), the result of which is difficult to predict, your choice of descriptor should be based on your continued condition as if the treatment were not taking place. HOW LONG WILL YOU GET PIP FOR? The duration of your PIP award will be based on your individual circumstances. Shorter term awards of up to two years will be given where changes in your needs could be expected in that period. Longer term awards, of five or ten years, will be given where significant changes are less likely but your award will be reviewed over this time where some change in your needs may be expected. Ongoing awards will be given in the minority of cases where your needs are stable and changes are unlikely. Awards made under the for terminally ill people will be for three years ‘special rules’ (see Step 1 of Section 2). Reviews The DWP will periodically review awards, regardless of their length, to ensure that everyone continues to receive the most appropriate level of support. If you are in a hospital or care home You can make a claim for PIP if you are in hospital, but you cannot actually be paid any PIP while you are in there. You will only start to be paid PIP once you leave hospital. If you are 18 or over and already getting PIP when you go into hospital, you will continue to be paid for the first 28 days of your stay; after this, your payments will stop and will only start again when you leave. If you under 18 and already getting PIP when you go into hospital, there is no 28-day limit and your PIP will continue. If you are in a care home, you can claim PIP but you will only be paid the mobility component. If you are already getting PIP when you go into a care home, you will stop being paid your daily living component after 28 days but will keep any mobility component. The rules are complicated if you alternate between days in hospital or a care home and days at home. Find out more For more information on how stays in hospital or a care home affect your benefits, see our Disability Rights Handbook or visit
PIP does not separate your needs into day and night-time needs. Instead, a descriptor can apply to you if your condition affects your ability to complete a task, at some stage of the day, on over half the days of the period. If you are waiting for medical treatment (such as an operation), the result of which is difficult to predict, your choice of descriptor should be based on your continued condition as if the treatment were not taking place. HOW LONG WILL YOU GET PIP FOR? The duration of your PIP award will be based on your individual circumstances. Shorter term awards of up to two years will be given where changes in your needs could be expected in that period. Longer term awards, of five or ten years, will be given where significant changes are less likely but your award will be reviewed over this time where some change in your needs may be expected. Ongoing awards will be given in the minority of cases where your needs are stable and changes are unlikely. Awards made under the ‘special rules’ for terminally ill people will be for three years (see Step 1 of Section 2). Reviews The DWP will periodically review awards, regardless of their length, to ensure that everyone continues to receive the most appropriate level of support. If you are in a hospital or care home You can make a claim for PIP if you are in hospital, but you cannot actually be paid any PIP while you are in there. You will only start to be paid PIP once you leave hospital. If you are 18 or over and already getting PIP when you go into hospital, you will continue to be paid for the first 28 days of your stay; after this, your payments will stop and will only start again when you leave. If you under 18 and already getting PIP when you go into hospital, there is no 28-day limit and your PIP will continue. If you are in a care home, you can claim PIP but you will only be paid the mobility component. If you are already getting PIP when you go into a care home, you will stop being paid your daily living component after 28 days but will keep any mobility component. The rules are complicated if you alternate between days in hospital or a care home and days at home. Find out more For more information on how stays in hospital or a care home affect your benefits, see our Disability Rights Handbook or visit
PIPGuidetoclaiming23June2016-1.docx