Can You Claim PIP for Anxiety?

If anxiety affects your ability to manage everyday activities, travel independently, communicate with other people or cope with unfamiliar situations, you may be able to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

PIP is not awarded simply because you have been diagnosed with anxiety.

The important question is:

How does your anxiety affect your everyday life?

Someone with anxiety may experience difficulties with:

• leaving the house
• planning or following journeys
• using public transport
• travelling to unfamiliar places
• mixing with other people
• communicating face-to-face
• managing money
• preparing food
• remembering medication
• attending appointments
• completing everyday activities safely and reliably

Anxiety and PIP mobility

You do not necessarily need a physical mobility problem to qualify for the mobility component of PIP.

The PIP assessment considers your ability to plan and follow journeys as well as your physical ability to move around.

Severe anxiety, panic attacks or overwhelming psychological distress may therefore be relevant when your ability to leave home or undertake journeys is assessed.

What matters is the effect your condition has on you.

Anxiety and daily living

Anxiety can also affect daily living activities.

For example, you might need prompting or support to:

• prepare meals
• take medication
• engage with other people
• make important decisions
• manage money
• attend appointments or complete everyday tasks

Your circumstances need to be considered individually.

Do I need a formal diagnosis?

Medical evidence can help support a PIP application, but PIP is fundamentally based on functional impact rather than the name of a diagnosis.

Evidence might include:

• GP records
• prescriptions
• mental health service records
• counselling or therapy records
• medication history
• statements from people who support you

But your own description of what happens in your everyday life is also extremely important.

How Silverwings Benefits can help

Our PIP process is designed to establish whether your circumstances may meet the PIP criteria before you proceed.

You can complete our initial eligibility checks online.

If appropriate, our service can then guide you through the PIP application process and help gather the information needed to explain how your condition affects you.

Check whether your circumstances may qualify for PIP.

Silverwings Benefits is an independent paid service and is not part of the Department for Work and Pensions. Free routes to claim PIP directly from DWP are available.