Disability benefits: the overview

Lesson 8 of 13 in our free Benefits & Support guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.

This lesson is in the full version.

Free with a code from your uni, college, council, landlord or employer (worth £600/year). Lesson 1 of Benefits & Support is free for everyone.

Questions you'll answer

Mo's mate is worried about filling in the PIP form. What's the most helpful tip?

Preparing food → Daily living. Daily living activity.
Planning and following a journey → Mobility. Mobility — includes things like anxiety about unfamiliar routes, not only physical movement.
Managing medication or treatments → Daily living. Daily living activity.
Moving around → Mobility. Mobility — how far you can walk reliably and safely.
Washing and bathing → Daily living. Daily living activity.
Myth: “PIP is means-tested, so working or having savings stops it.” — It isn't means-tested. You can work, study or have savings and still get it.
Myth: “You need one particular diagnosis to qualify.” — It's about the impact on your daily life, including mental health conditions — not a specific label.
Fact: “Mental health conditions can count for PIP.” — Yes. The assessment looks at how any condition affects you, physical or mental.
Fact: “Disabled students may get extra help with study costs through Disabled Students' Allowance.” — Yes — DSA is separate from PIP and isn't a loan.