How to claim PIP if you have a terminal illness

If you have a terminal illness, you'll usually get PIP automatically. The DWP will fast-track your application - this means:

• you won’t have to fill out as many forms

• you won’t have to go to a face to face assessment

• you should get your first payment sooner

Eligibility rules if you have a terminal illness

To get PIP:

• you need to be at least 16 years old when you apply

• you usually need to be living in England or Wales when you apply

• your doctors must say you could die within 12 months 

There are extra rules you need to meet if you’re not a UK citizen.

If you’ve reached State Pension age

There are extra rules if you’re making a new claim for PIP after you’ve reached State Pension age. You can check your State Pension age on GOV.UK.

Check if you can get PIP after State Pension age.

How to claim

To make your claim, call the PIP claim line and organise for your doctor or consultant to send the DWP a medical form called a SR1.

You won’t need to have a health assessment or complete the ‘How your disability affects you’ form describing how your condition affects you.

You'll be entitled to the enhanced rate of the daily living component of PIP straight away. You don't have to wait 3 months for the PIP qualifying period to end.

You won't automatically get the mobility component of PIP. So make sure you tell the DWP if you have problems most of the time when moving around or going out. For example, tell them how far and how fast you can walk before these problems start.

You should tell the DWP if:

• you can’t walk without pain, breathlessness or help

• you need a wheelchair, a walking stick or other aid

• stress and anxiety make it difficult for you to go out

You can find out about what DWP wants to know about problems with:

• moving around

• going out

Worth knowing

Someone else can claim on behalf of a person who is terminally ill. For example, because the person doesn’t know that they have a terminal illness. If you do this, let the person know that the claim for PIP is being made, even if they don’t know it is because they’re terminally ill.

Information you need before you call

It should take less than 20 minutes to complete the call. You'll need to provide the following information:

• your full name, address and phone number

• your national insurance number

• your bank or building society account details

• your nationality or immigration status

• contact details of your GP or other health professionals you deal with

• if you’ve stayed in a hospital or other type of residential care, the dates and details

• if you’ve been abroad for 4 weeks or more in the last 3 years (the dates and reason)

• if you’ve had Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - they may not need to see the SR1 if you’ve sent this for your ESA claim

When you call, the adviser will ask you some questions about how difficult you find it to get around - for example, your ability to follow a route, and whether you need help to get to where you’re going. This is to see whether you can get an extra amount of PIP to help you with your mobility needs. 

Getting your SR1 medical report

You’ll need to send the DWP a medical report called an SR1. This can only be completed by your doctor. You don’t have to pay for it.

If you’re in England, ask your GP or consultant to email the SR1 to the DWP to save time.

If you need to post the SR1 to the DWP, call the PIP claim line to check what address to use.

Worth knowing

Don’t delay your claim by waiting for the completed SR1 report. Make your claim as soon as possible and send the SR1 report later. If you’ve used a SR1 for an ESA claim then tell the DWP because they may not need to see another SR1.

Next steps

Once the DWP has your SR1 report, they will make a decision on your claim. You’ll normally get your first payment within 2 weeks of applying.

If you are turned down for PIP under the terminal illness rules you can apply in the standard way - read how to claim PIP.