Can you claim PIP and work? Yes. GOV.UK says you can get PIP if you're working or have savings, and the amount you get is not affected by your income or savings. PIP depends on how your condition affects your daily living and mobility. This guide explains what that means if you work, the changes you still have to report, and how work affects other benefits you might get.
Key points
✓You can get PIP if you're working or have savings.
✓PIP is not means tested: the amount you get is not affected by your income or savings, and PIP is tax free.
✓PIP depends on whether you have difficulty with everyday tasks or getting around because of a long-term condition, not on whether you have a job.
✓You must still tell DWP straight away about changes GOV.UK lists, such as needing more or less help with daily living or mobility.
✓If you also get Universal Credit, you must report finding or leaving a job to Universal Credit.
Is PIP means tested?
No. GOV.UK says:
✓Yes: PIP is tax free.
✓Yes: The amount you get is not affected by your income or savings.
✓Yes: You can get PIP if you're working or have savings.
✓Yes: You can get PIP at the same time as all other benefits, except Armed Forces Independence Payment.
To get PIP you need a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around, and to expect the difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started.
Can you claim PIP and work full time?
GOV.UK says you can get PIP if you're working, and the amount you get is not affected by your income. What counts is how your condition affects the daily living and mobility activities in the assessment:
✓Yes: A descriptor applies if you meet it on over 50% of the days in the period looked at.
✓Yes: You only count as able to do an activity if you can do it safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and within a reasonable time period.
Describe how you manage each activity, including any help, aids or extra time you need at work or at home. See the PIP descriptors for the wording of each activity.
When you must report a change of circumstances to DWP
You must tell DWP straight away if:
✓Yes: You need more or less help with daily living and mobility tasks
✓Yes: Your health professional tells you that your condition will last for a longer or shorter time than you reported before
✓Yes: You go into a hospital, a hospice, a nursing home or a care home
✓Yes: You plan to go abroad for more than 4 weeks
✓Yes: Your personal details change, for example your name, address, bank account or doctor
Report changes on the PIP enquiry line, 0800 121 4433. The full list is in our PIP change of circumstances guide. You may have to repay money if you did not report a change straight away.
Will working trigger a PIP review?
Your first award is between 9 months and 10 years, and your decision letter tells you when and if your claim will be reviewed. A review also follows a change of circumstances you report. If you get a review letter:
✓Yes: You continue to get PIP while your claim is being reviewed.
✓Yes: Return the 'Personal Independence Payment Review' form within 1 month, or contact the PIP enquiry line if you need more time.
✓Yes: Describe how you manage on most days, including bad days, not only your good days.
✓Yes: Universal Credit: you can work and get Universal Credit, but you must report any change of circumstances straight away, including finding or leaving a job. PIP continues if you claim Universal Credit.
✓Yes: Carer's Allowance: someone who cares for you for at least 35 hours a week may be able to get Carer's Allowance if you get the PIP daily living part. They can work, but their earnings must be £204 or less a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses.
✓Yes: Blue Badge (England): you are eligible if you get PIP because you cannot walk more than 50 metres, shown by 8 points or more in the moving around activity.
✓Yes: Motability: the higher mobility rate of PIP can make you eligible for a Motability Scheme vehicle.
Starting work can affect other benefits in different ways, so check each one you get. See PIP and other benefits.
Yes. GOV.UK says you can get PIP if you're working or have savings, and the amount you get is not affected by your income or savings. PIP depends on how your condition affects your daily living and mobility.
Is PIP means tested?
No. GOV.UK says PIP is tax free and the amount you get is not affected by your income or savings. You can get PIP at the same time as all other benefits, except Armed Forces Independence Payment.
How many hours can I work on PIP?
GOV.UK says you can get PIP if you're working, and the amount you get is not affected by your income. What matters is how your condition affects the daily living and mobility activities, not the hours you work.
Do I need to tell DWP I've started working while claiming PIP?
Report straight away any change on GOV.UK's list for PIP, such as needing more or less help with daily living or mobility. If you also get Universal Credit, you must report finding or leaving a job to Universal Credit straight away.
Know Your Rights UK. "Working on PIP: Can You Work and Still Claim?." Know Your Rights UK, https://www.knowyourrightsuk.com/benefits/pip/working-on-pip