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Printable tool

PIP diary and appointment prep sheets

Blank sheets to print and write on by hand, for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in England and Wales. Nothing you write is saved on this page: there is nothing on it to type into.

Rules and sources read on 7 and 8 October 2026. PIP is under review, so check the note on the last page before you rely on any rule here.

Informational only: not medical or legal advice.

Use your browser’s Print command (Ctrl or Cmd + P) and choose Save as PDF.

The sheets are blank on purpose. Print as many copies as you need and write on paper. Nothing you write is stored: the page has no inputs and sends nothing you write.

Part 1

How to use this pack

  1. Print the pages you need, or save the page as a PDF and print later. Each part starts on a new page.
  2. Use one activity sheet for each activity you want to keep notes on. Print more copies if you need them.
  3. Write what is true for you, in your own words, for good days as well as bad days. The prompts only ask neutral questions; they do not suggest an answer.
  4. Use the bad-day sheet on a day that goes badly, and the “most days” sheet for how things usually go. Both are in part 3.
  5. Take your notes and the appointment sheet (part 4) with you.

This pack is not a calculator or a checker. It does not tell you how a claim will be decided or at what rate, and it does not suggest what to write.

Scope: England and Wales only

  • This pack is for PIP as assessed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in England and Wales.[1][2]
  • In Scotland you apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) from Social Security Scotland instead of PIP.[1][3]
  • Northern Ireland has its own PIP. nidirect says to tell the Department for Communities (DfC) straight away about a change, and names the Department for Communities Make the Call Service for help to fill in the form.[4][5]
  • nidirect lists the same twelve activity names as Schedule 1, and mygov.scot lists very similar ones (for example, “taking nutrition (eating and drinking)”). Each nation still runs its own scheme.[5][6][7]

We have not checked this pack against the Scottish or Northern Irish rules. For those schemes, use the official pages below.

A diagnosis is not the focus

DWP’s guidance says the assessment looks at the overall impact of a condition on a person’s ability to carry out everyday activities “rather than focusing on a particular diagnosis”. GOV.UK says what you get depends on how difficult you find everyday tasks and getting around.[1][8]

Our guide: PIP for ADHD
Our guide: Is ADHD a disability?

Sources for this part

  1. [1] GOV.UK: Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Guide last publicly changed 6 November 2024; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/pip
  2. [2] GOV.UK: PIP guide, residence rules. Guide last publicly changed 6 November 2024; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/pip/eligibility
  3. [3] mygov.scot: Adult Disability Payment, how to apply. Page last updated 24 March 2025; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.mygov.scot/adult-disability-payment/how-to-apply
  4. [4] GOV.UK: PIP, how to claim. Guide last publicly changed 6 November 2024; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/pip/how-to-claim
  5. [5] nidirect: Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Page shows no date; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/personal-independence-payment-pip
  6. [6] mygov.scot: Adult Disability Payment. Page last updated 24 March 2025; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.mygov.scot/adult-disability-payment
  7. [7] Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013, Schedule 1 (legislation.gov.uk). Latest available (revised) text; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/377/schedule/1
  8. [8] GOV.UK: PIP assessment guide for assessment providers, Part 1 (the assessment process). Public update 31 August 2026; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-1-the-assessment-process

Part 2

Activity sheets

These are the activities the regulations name, in the regulations’ own order and words. Use a sheet for each one you want to keep notes on.

  • Schedule 1 of the PIP Regulations 2013 names 12 activities: 10 daily living activities (Part 2) and 2 mobility activities (Part 3).[7][8]
  • GOV.UK says that for each task DWP looks at whether you can do it safely, how long it takes you, and whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment.[1]
  • Regulation 4 says that where a person’s ability to carry out an activity is assessed, they are assessed as meeting a Schedule 1 description only if they can do so safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and within a reasonable time period.[9]
  • The regulation defines “safely” as in a manner unlikely to cause harm to the person or to another person, either during or after completion of the activity; “repeatedly” as as often as the activity being assessed is reasonably required to be completed; and “reasonable time period” as no more than twice as long as the maximum period that a person without a physical or mental condition which limits that person’s ability to carry out the activity would normally take to complete it. It does not define “acceptable standard”.[9]
  • Regulation 4 says a person’s ability is assessed while wearing or using any aid or appliance they normally wear or use, or as if they were wearing or using any aid or appliance they could reasonably be expected to wear or use.[9]
  • Schedule 1 defines “prompting” as reminding, encouraging or explaining by another person; “supervision” as the continuous presence of another person for the purpose of ensuring the person’s safety; and “assistance” as physical intervention by another person, not including speech.[7]
  • DWP’s guide tells assessors that if another person gives help, they should record the type of help, why the person needs help, who gives it, how often and for how long.[8]

We matched GOV.UK’s plain-English task list to the Schedule 1 names by subject. GOV.UK does not number them or say which wording belongs to which activity. GOV.UK’s “leaving your home” bullet is not matched to either mobility activity, and some of its plain wording is shorter than the Schedule 1 name (for example, it does not mention monitoring a health condition or incontinence); the Schedule 1 definitions on each sheet show the wider wording.

About the two mobility activities

  • GOV.UK lists the mobility part as help with working out a route and following it, physically moving around, and leaving your home. It says you do not have to have a physical disability to get the mobility part, and describes difficulty getting around because of “a cognitive or mental health condition, like anxiety”.[1]
  • DWP’s assessor guide numbers the two mobility activities 11 and 12. Schedule 1 numbers them 1 and 2 of Part 3.[7][10]

Daily living activities (Schedule 1, Part 2)

Daily living activity 1 of 10

Preparing food

GOV.UK’s plain wording: “preparing food”.[1]

Schedule 1 defines “prepare”, in the context of food, as make food ready for cooking or eating; “cook” as heat food at or above waist height; and “simple meal” as a cooked one-course meal for one using fresh ingredients.[7]

What do you do for this activity? Describe how it usually goes.

How often does it come up?

How long does it take you?

What help, aids or reminders do you use? If another person helps: who, why, how often and for how long?

Does it vary from day to day? What changes, and on how many days?

When you try, can you do it in each of these ways? (yes, sometimes or no, and what happens)

Safely
To an acceptable standard
Repeatedly
Within a reasonable time

Daily living activity 2 of 10

Taking nutrition

GOV.UK’s plain wording: “eating and drinking”.[1]

Schedule 1 defines “take nutrition” as cut food into pieces, convey food and drink to one’s mouth and chew and swallow food and drink; or take nutrition by using a therapeutic source.[7]

What do you do for this activity? Describe how it usually goes.

How often does it come up?

How long does it take you?

What help, aids or reminders do you use? If another person helps: who, why, how often and for how long?

Does it vary from day to day? What changes, and on how many days?

When you try, can you do it in each of these ways? (yes, sometimes or no, and what happens)

Safely
To an acceptable standard
Repeatedly
Within a reasonable time

Daily living activity 3 of 10

Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition

GOV.UK’s plain wording: “managing your medicines or treatments”.[1]

Schedule 1 defines “manage medication” as take medication, and “manage therapy” as undertake therapy, in each case where a failure to do so is likely to result in a deterioration in the person’s health. It defines “monitor a health condition” as detecting significant changes in the person’s health condition that are likely to lead to a deterioration in their health, and taking action advised by a registered doctor, a registered nurse, a health professional regulated by the Health Professions Council, or a physician associate registered under the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024, without which their health is likely to deteriorate.[7]

What do you do for this activity? Describe how it usually goes.

How often does it come up?

How long does it take you?

What help, aids or reminders do you use? If another person helps: who, why, how often and for how long?

Does it vary from day to day? What changes, and on how many days?

When you try, can you do it in each of these ways? (yes, sometimes or no, and what happens)

Safely
To an acceptable standard
Repeatedly
Within a reasonable time

Daily living activity 4 of 10

Washing and bathing

GOV.UK’s plain wording: “washing and bathing”.[1]

Schedule 1 says “bathe” includes get into or out of an unadapted bath or shower.[7]

What do you do for this activity? Describe how it usually goes.

How often does it come up?

How long does it take you?

What help, aids or reminders do you use? If another person helps: who, why, how often and for how long?

Does it vary from day to day? What changes, and on how many days?

When you try, can you do it in each of these ways? (yes, sometimes or no, and what happens)

Safely
To an acceptable standard
Repeatedly
Within a reasonable time

Daily living activity 5 of 10

Managing toilet needs or incontinence

GOV.UK’s plain wording: “using the toilet”.[1]

Schedule 1 defines “toilet needs” as getting on and off an unadapted toilet; evacuating the bladder and bowel; and cleaning oneself afterwards. It defines “manage incontinence” as manage involuntary evacuation of the bowel or bladder, including use a collecting device or self-catheterisation, and clean oneself afterwards.[7]

What do you do for this activity? Describe how it usually goes.

How often does it come up?

How long does it take you?

What help, aids or reminders do you use? If another person helps: who, why, how often and for how long?

Does it vary from day to day? What changes, and on how many days?

When you try, can you do it in each of these ways? (yes, sometimes or no, and what happens)

Safely
To an acceptable standard
Repeatedly
Within a reasonable time

Daily living activity 6 of 10

Dressing and undressing

GOV.UK’s plain wording: “dressing and undressing”.[1]

Schedule 1 says “dress and undress” includes put on and take off socks and shoes.[7]

What do you do for this activity? Describe how it usually goes.

How often does it come up?

How long does it take you?

What help, aids or reminders do you use? If another person helps: who, why, how often and for how long?

Does it vary from day to day? What changes, and on how many days?

When you try, can you do it in each of these ways? (yes, sometimes or no, and what happens)

Safely
To an acceptable standard
Repeatedly
Within a reasonable time

Daily living activity 7 of 10

Communicating verbally

GOV.UK’s plain wording: “talking, listening and understanding”.[1]

Schedule 1 defines “basic verbal information” as information in a person’s native language conveyed verbally in a simple sentence, and “complex verbal information” as information in a person’s native language conveyed verbally in either more than one sentence or one complicated sentence.[7]

What do you do for this activity? Describe how it usually goes.

How often does it come up?

How long does it take you?

What help, aids or reminders do you use? If another person helps: who, why, how often and for how long?

Does it vary from day to day? What changes, and on how many days?

When you try, can you do it in each of these ways? (yes, sometimes or no, and what happens)

Safely
To an acceptable standard
Repeatedly
Within a reasonable time

Daily living activity 8 of 10

Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

GOV.UK’s plain wording: “reading”.[1]

Schedule 1 says “read” includes read signs, symbols and words but does not include read Braille. It defines “basic written information” as signs, symbols and dates written or printed standard size text in a person’s native language, and “complex written information” as more than one sentence of written or printed standard size text in a person’s native language.[7]

What do you do for this activity? Describe how it usually goes.

How often does it come up?

How long does it take you?

What help, aids or reminders do you use? If another person helps: who, why, how often and for how long?

Does it vary from day to day? What changes, and on how many days?

When you try, can you do it in each of these ways? (yes, sometimes or no, and what happens)

Safely
To an acceptable standard
Repeatedly
Within a reasonable time

Daily living activity 9 of 10

Engaging with other people face to face

GOV.UK’s plain wording: “socialising and being around other people”.[1]

Schedule 1 defines “engage socially” as interact with others in a contextually and socially appropriate manner; understand body language; and establish relationships.[7]

What do you do for this activity? Describe how it usually goes.

How often does it come up?

How long does it take you?

What help, aids or reminders do you use? If another person helps: who, why, how often and for how long?

Does it vary from day to day? What changes, and on how many days?

When you try, can you do it in each of these ways? (yes, sometimes or no, and what happens)

Safely
To an acceptable standard
Repeatedly
Within a reasonable time

Daily living activity 10 of 10

Making budgeting decisions

GOV.UK’s plain wording: “managing your money”.[1]

Schedule 1 defines “simple budgeting decisions” as decisions involving calculating the cost of goods and calculating change required after a purchase, and “complex budgeting decisions” as decisions involving calculating household and personal budgets, managing and paying bills, and planning future purchases.[7]

What do you do for this activity? Describe how it usually goes.

How often does it come up?

How long does it take you?

What help, aids or reminders do you use? If another person helps: who, why, how often and for how long?

Does it vary from day to day? What changes, and on how many days?

When you try, can you do it in each of these ways? (yes, sometimes or no, and what happens)

Safely
To an acceptable standard
Repeatedly
Within a reasonable time

Mobility activities (Schedule 1, Part 3)

Mobility activity 1 of 2

Planning and following journeys

GOV.UK’s plain wording: “working out a route and following it”.[1]

Schedule 1 defines an “orientation aid” as a specialist aid designed to assist disabled people to follow a route safely.[7]

What do you do for this activity? Describe how it usually goes.

How often does it come up?

How long does it take you?

What help, aids or reminders do you use? If another person helps: who, why, how often and for how long?

Does it vary from day to day? What changes, and on how many days?

When you try, can you do it in each of these ways? (yes, sometimes or no, and what happens)

Safely
To an acceptable standard
Repeatedly
Within a reasonable time

Mobility activity 2 of 2

Moving around

GOV.UK’s plain wording: “physically moving around”.[1]

Schedule 1 defines “stand” as stand upright with at least one biological foot on the ground.[7]

What do you do for this activity? Describe how it usually goes.

How often does it come up?

How long does it take you?

What help, aids or reminders do you use? If another person helps: who, why, how often and for how long?

Does it vary from day to day? What changes, and on how many days?

When you try, can you do it in each of these ways? (yes, sometimes or no, and what happens)

Safely
To an acceptable standard
Repeatedly
Within a reasonable time

Sources for this part

  1. [1] GOV.UK: Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Guide last publicly changed 6 November 2024; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/pip
  2. [7] Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013, Schedule 1 (legislation.gov.uk). Latest available (revised) text; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/377/schedule/1
  3. [8] GOV.UK: PIP assessment guide for assessment providers, Part 1 (the assessment process). Public update 31 August 2026; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-1-the-assessment-process
  4. [9] Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013, regulation 4 (legislation.gov.uk). Latest available (revised) text; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/377/regulation/4
  5. [10] GOV.UK: PIP assessment guide for assessment providers, Part 2 (the assessment criteria). Public update 31 August 2026; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

Part 3

Over time: most days, and a bad day

The rules look at how an activity affects you across a period of time, not on a single day. The “Most days” box and the bad-day page are blank: use them to keep a record of the usual pattern and of the days that go badly.

  • DWP’s guide tells assessors to ask what you can do on “good” days and “bad” days, and how many of each you have over a period of time.[8]
  • DWP’s guide says a “snapshot” view of a person’s condition on a particular day at a particular time is not an adequate assessment.[8]
  • DWP’s guide tells assessors that where there is variability, they should consider what the need is on the majority of days.[10]
  • Regulation 7 decides what applies to a person for each activity by looking at what is the case on “over 50% of the days of the required period”. It has further rules for when more than one description fits.[11]
  • Where entitlement is being decided, the “required period” is the 3 months ending on a set date, together with the 9 months beginning with the day after it (regulation 7 calls that date the “prescribed date”). Regulation 7 words it differently for a claim made after an interval and for someone who already has an award.[11]
  • DWP’s guide describes this broadly as a person’s likely ability in the 3 months before the assessment and in the 9 months after.[10]

Most days

A reminder of the usual pattern. Fill it in from your activity sheets.

On most days, in my own words:

On most days, the help, aids or reminders I use:

Days that are different: roughly how many in a typical week or month, and what is different on them:

Has the usual pattern changed over the last 3 months? If so, how?

Sources for this part

  1. [8] GOV.UK: PIP assessment guide for assessment providers, Part 1 (the assessment process). Public update 31 August 2026; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-1-the-assessment-process
  2. [10] GOV.UK: PIP assessment guide for assessment providers, Part 2 (the assessment criteria). Public update 31 August 2026; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria
  3. [11] Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013, regulation 7 (legislation.gov.uk). Latest available (revised) text; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/377/regulation/7

A bad day

Fill this in on a day that goes badly, ideally that day. Only fill in the activities the day affected.

Date:

What was different about this day:

Activities affected on this day: what happened, what help or reminders, how long it took

  • Preparing food
  • Taking nutrition
  • Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
  • Washing and bathing
  • Managing toilet needs or incontinence
  • Dressing and undressing
  • Communicating verbally
  • Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
  • Engaging with other people face to face
  • Making budgeting decisions
  • Planning and following journeys
  • Moving around

How did the next day go?

Roughly how many days like this in a typical week or month?

Part 4

Before your appointment

One sheet to take to a GP or other health professional who knows you, and to any assessment. These are things to ask and to have to hand, not advice on what to say.

What GOV.UK and DWP say to expect

  • GOV.UK says you might be invited to an assessment with a health professional if more information is needed.[12]
  • GOV.UK says the health professional will ask how your condition affects your daily living and mobility tasks and about any treatments you have had or will have, and might ask you to do some simple movements to show how you manage some activities.[12]
  • GOV.UK says an assessment can take place at an assessment centre, at your home, over the phone or by video call, and usually takes 1 hour.[12]
  • GOV.UK says the audio of your assessment will be recorded, and that if you do not want it recorded you should contact your health assessment provider using the details in your invitation letter.[12]
  • DWP’s guide tells assessors to make clear that the assessment is not a medical involving diagnosis and treatment of your condition, and that it focuses on the effects of your condition on your day-to-day life.[8]
  • GOV.UK says to return the “How your disability affects you” form by post or online within 1 month, and to contact the PIP enquiry line if you need more time or have questions.[4]

Who can come with you

  • GOV.UK says you can have someone else with you at the assessment, for example a friend or support worker. DWP’s guide says claimants have a right to be accompanied, that the person chosen might be a parent, family member, friend, carer or advocate but is not limited to those, and that companions may help claimants answer questions where the claimant or the assessor wishes them to.[8][12]
  • On the claim phone call, GOV.UK says you can ask for someone to be added to your call, or ask someone else to call on your behalf if you are with them when they call. You cannot add someone to the call if you use a textphone. You may also be able to get a home visit from a DWP officer to help with your claim, which you ask the advisor about on the call.[4]

Who is coming with me:

How to contact them:

What I would like them to help with:

Notes:

Questions for a GP or another health professional who knows you

  • Could you give me information about my condition and how it affects me, to send with my PIP form?

  • Is there anyone else involved in my care who could give information?

Questions for the assessment provider or DWP

  • Which format is my assessment: an assessment centre, my home, the phone or a video call?

  • How long should I expect it to take?

  • Can the person I have chosen come with me, and can they help me answer?

  • Will the audio be recorded, and what do I do if I do not want that?

  • Who do I contact if I need more time or have questions?

  • How will I be told the decision?

Things it may help to have with you

  • Your invitation letter. GOV.UK says it has your health assessment provider’s contact details.[12]
  • Your notes from this pack: the activity sheets, the “most days” page and any bad-day pages.
  • A list of any treatments you have had or will have, because GOV.UK says the health professional will ask about them.[12]
  • A list of the aids or appliances you normally use. The regulations assess your ability with any aid or appliance you normally wear or use, or could reasonably be expected to.[9]
  • Supporting documents, if you have them. GOV.UK says to include them with your claim form and gives care plans and information from your doctor or others involved in your care as examples.[4]
  • Your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number. GOV.UK lists them among what you need to start a claim by phone.[4]

Sources for this part

  1. [4] GOV.UK: PIP, how to claim. Guide last publicly changed 6 November 2024; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/pip/how-to-claim
  2. [8] GOV.UK: PIP assessment guide for assessment providers, Part 1 (the assessment process). Public update 31 August 2026; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-1-the-assessment-process
  3. [9] Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013, regulation 4 (legislation.gov.uk). Latest available (revised) text; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/377/regulation/4
  4. [12] GOV.UK: PIP, after you’ve applied. Guide last publicly changed 6 November 2024; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/pip/after-youve-applied

Part 5

This benefit is under review

A government review of PIP is not finished

In a September 2026 update the Timms Review’s co-chairs said their emerging recommendations “are not our final recommendations” and that the final report is due “later this autumn”. The Review reports and the government decides what follows. As at 7 October 2026 no final report had been found on GOV.UK. Whether any outcome would apply to Scotland’s Adult Disability Payment or to Northern Ireland’s PIP has not been checked. The rules in this pack are those read on 7 and 8 October 2026.[13][14]

Before you rely on a rule in this pack, check the official page for your nation, listed in part 1.

Our guide: PIP for ADHD
Our guide: Is ADHD a disability?

Informational only: not medical or legal advice.

Sources for this part

  1. [1] GOV.UK: Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Guide last publicly changed 6 November 2024; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/pip
  2. [13] GOV.UK: The Timms Review, co-chair update, September 2026. Updated 11 September 2026; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-timms-review-co-chair-update-september-2026/the-timms-review-co-chair-update-september-2026
  3. [14] GOV.UK: Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment, terms of reference. Published 30 October 2025; read 7 and 8 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/timms-review-of-pip-terms-of-reference/timms-review-of-personal-independence-payment-terms-of-reference

Informational only: not medical or legal advice. adhdprivate.co.uk/tools/pip-diary. Rules and sources read 7 and 8 October 2026.