Can You Get PIP for ADHD? Eligibility and Claims Guide

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Can you get PIP for ADHD? The short answer is yes.

Personal independent payment (PIP) is a monetary benefit from the UK government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It isfor people with a long-term physical disability or mental health condition. Since ADHD is a long-term condition, it qualifies for PIP.

We at AuDHD Psychiatry, a leader in specialist-led private assessments for ADHD in the United Kingdom, dive deep into the topic of ADHD and PIP. We discuss the program’s eligibility requirements and claims process to ensure that those with ADHD can fully access their benefits.

Key Takeaways

• ADHD is one of the qualifying conditions considered in PIP applications.
• PIP may be awarded if ADHD causes difficulties in getting around and accomplishing daily living activities.
• PIP applicants are awarded the lower rate or the higher rate, depending on the severity of their mobility and daily living difficulties.
• PIP can award as much as £187.45 weekly PIP support every week or £749.80 every four weeks.

Is ADHD Recognised as a Condition That Qualifies for PIP?

Yes, ADHD is recognised as a condition that qualifies for PIP. ADHD is a lifelong developmental condition, and ADHD symptoms can impair a person’s ability to get around and complete daily tasks. While it can be treated and its symptoms managed, there is no cure.

The DWP has released a list of the 178 medical conditions that qualify for PIP. ADHD is one of them.

Do you have ADHD? PIP is an option if:

• You are at least 16 years old and below state pension age.
• Your ADHD is causing mobility and daily living issues.
• You have been experiencing these issues for at least three months and expect that they will continue in the next nine months. 

Note: If you live in Scotland, apply for Adult Disability Payment instead of PIP.

Does ADHD Affect Both the Care and Mobility Components of PIP?

Yes, ADHD can affect both the care and mobility components of PIP.

Care or daily living component

ADHD can make accomplishing the following activities of daily living difficult:

• Meal prep and consumption (preparing food, eating, drinking) 
• Taking medicines or following through with treatment plans
• Maintaining basic hygiene (washing, bathing, using the toilet, dressing, undressing)
• Functional activities (reading, money management, socialising, interacting)

Someone with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, for instance, may be physically unable to stay put to complete tasks and chores, such as preparing their food, eating and drinking, dressing and undressing, or washing and bathing.

Those with inattentive ADHD, meanwhile, may forget to eat or take their medication, posing a risk to their health and well-being. They may lose things, get easily distracted and find it difficult to get (and stay) organised.

People with severe ADHD tend to abandon tasks midway. As such, they may need aid or tools to ensure they complete essential tasks, chores, and errands.

Mobility or getting around component  

The symptoms of ADHD can render one incapable of:

• Leaving their home
• Following directions to places
• Physically moving around

For instance, someone with severe inattentive ADHD may be:

• Unable to pay close attention to details
• Unable to sustain their attention in tasks
• Incapable of listening to and staying focused on somebody providing directions or dispensing advice and instructions
• Incapable of following instructions

All of the above can lead to an inability to plan and navigate routes.

PIP payments and awards

PIP is a tax-free weekly benefit paid every four weeks.

The mobility and daily living components have different rates, and a single ADHD PIP application may be awarded both. The mobility and daily living component award may fall under either the low or high rate.

	Standard/lower rate (in £)	Enhanced/higher rate (in £)
Mobility	29.20	77.05
Daily living	73.90	110.40
Maximum weekly PIP award		187.45

Someone with ADHD awarded the higher rate for both PIP components is entitled to as much as £187.45 financial ADHD support per week or £749.80 every four weeks.

What Are the Chances of Getting PIP If You Have ADHD?

You have around one in two chances of getting PIP if you have ADHD, based on data from Benefits and Work UK, which says ADHD PIP claims have a 43% success rate.

When it comes to applications for personal independence payment, ADHD is the 14th most commonly listed disabling condition. Here are other PIP ADHD statistics from Benefits and Work UK:

• 52,989 ADHD PIP claims were made in 2023.
• 41% of ADHD PIP claims got an award for the enhanced PIP rate in both the daily living and mobility components.
• 98% of those who were awarded PIP for ADHD qualified for daily living support.
• 75% of those awarded PIP for ADHD qualified for mobility support.

How Does the Government Assess PIP Eligibility for ADHD?

The government assesses PIP eligibility using a points-based system. A PIP disability assessor will evaluate your capacity to do specific mobility and daily living activities.

Every item will earn you points. The maximum number of points varies by task. For example, under ‘preparing food’, you can get 0-8 points. Under ‘communicating verbally’, you can get 0-12 points.

The more difficult you find a task, the more points you get. For instance, under the daily living activity, ‘making budgeting decisions’, you get zero points if you can make complex budgeting decisions by yourself. If you’re incapable of making any budgeting decisions at all, you get the top score for this item, which is six points.

How many points do you need to qualify for PIP?

After you have been rated across the mobility and daily living activities, the PIP disability assessor will add all your points to determine your total score.

• You need 8 points to qualify for the lower rate in the mobility or daily living categories.
• You need 12 points to qualify for the higher rate in either category.

What Is the Process for Applying for PIP If You Have ADHD?

Do you need information on how to apply for PIP for ADHD?

First, fill out the PIP claim form. You can request this from the DWP by phone or post. If available, you can also do this online.

Note: If you need help filing a claim, ask someone you rely on and trust for assistance. You may also request a DWP home visit if it’s available.

Next, collect evidence to support your claim. Get a letter from your GP and other medical professionals whom you’ve consulted about your condition. Get a copy of your ADHD diagnosis.

Include letters or filled-out questionnaires from family members, your school, or people you work with. These can add context and strengthen your claim.

Finally, submit your PIP claim form and supporting documents to DWP. DWP may schedule you for an ADHD disability PIP assessment if the person assigned to your claim believes they need more information to make a decision.

Frequently Asked Questions About PIP for ADHD

PIP and ADHD Support in the UK

PIP is one way the UK government supports people who have difficulty getting around and accomplishing daily activities because of a long-term disability. PIP helps defray or subsidise the cost of tools or aids needed to address mobility and daily living challenges.

Ultimately, the program aims to help people with long-term infirmities or conditions live independently.

Do you believe you have ADHD? Schedule an ADHD assessment, and unlock your PIP benefits.

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