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Fibromyalgia is one of the most common conditions among people who get Personal Independence Payment (PIP). But PIP is never given just for having a diagnosis. It depends on how your condition affects you.
Which benefits might I get?
| Benefit | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| PIP | People aged 16 up to State Pension age who need help with daily living or getting around |
| Attendance Allowance | People over State Pension age who need help with personal care |
| DLA for children | Children under 16 (for example, young people with juvenile fibromyalgia) |
| Universal Credit or New Style ESA | People who cannot work, or can only work a little, because of their health |
| Carer's Allowance | Someone who cares for you for 35 hours a week or more, if you get certain benefits |
PIP and Attendance Allowance are not means-tested, so your income and savings do not count. They can also lead to extra help, such as a Blue Badge, a Motability car, or more money in other benefits.
The two rules that matter most
Many people with fibromyalgia are turned down because their form describes what they can do once, on a good day. Two rules in the law are there to stop this.
1. The "majority of days" rule
PIP looks at how you are on most days, meaning more than half of the days over a year. If your symptoms change from day to day, describe what is true more than half of the time, not your best days.
2. The "reliability" rule
You can only be counted as able to do a task if you can do it:
- safely
- to an acceptable standard
- as often as you reasonably need to
- in a reasonable time, no more than about twice as long as someone without your condition
This matters a lot for fibromyalgia. For example, you might be able to walk 100 metres, but if it leaves you in so much pain that you cannot do it again that day, you cannot do it "as often as you need to".
How fibromyalgia can affect the PIP activities
Here are some common examples. They will not all apply to you.
| PIP activity | How fibromyalgia can affect it |
|---|---|
| Preparing food | Pain lifting pans, weak grip for chopping, needing to sit, burning yourself because of fibro fog, too tired to finish |
| Eating and drinking | Pain or weakness cutting up food, forgetting to eat when fog or low mood is bad |
| Managing treatment | Forgetting medicines because of fibro fog, needing reminders or a pill organiser |
| Washing and bathing | Pain lifting arms to wash hair, trouble getting in and out of the bath, feeling dizzy in the shower |
| Using the toilet | Needing grab rails or a raised seat, pain getting up, IBS |
| Dressing | Trouble with buttons, socks and shoes, needing to sit down, pain raising arms |
| Talking and listening | Fibro fog making it hard to follow or remember complicated information |
| Reading | Trouble taking in letters and forms because of fog or fatigue |
| Mixing with people | Anxiety or low mood linked to living with pain |
| Managing money | Fog making it hard to plan a budget or keep track of bills |
| Planning journeys | Anxiety about going out, or fog making it hard to follow a route |
| Moving around | Pain, stiffness and fatigue limiting how far you can walk, reliably and repeatedly |
Read the 12 PIP activities explained for the full list of statements and points.
PIP points self-check
Go through the 12 PIP activities one at a time and see roughly how many points may apply to you.
About 10 minutes. Your answers never leave your device.
Tips for a strong claim
- Describe a bad day and a typical day, not your best day.
- Say what happens afterwards. If a task leaves you in pain or exhausted, say so, and for how long.
- Give examples. "I dropped a pan of boiling water last month" is stronger than "I have trouble cooking".
- Mention aids, even ones you do not have yet but need.
- Send evidence, such as letters from your GP or specialist, a list of your medicines, a symptom diary, and a short statement from someone who helps you.
- Keep a copy of everything you send.
- Get free help from Citizens Advice or a local welfare rights service if you can.
Other help linked to benefits
- Blue Badge: in England, you usually get one automatically if you score 8 points or more in the PIP "moving around" activity. Otherwise you can apply to your council.
- Motability: if you get the enhanced rate of the PIP mobility part, you can use it to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair.
- Prescriptions: prescriptions are free in Wales. In England, a prescription prepayment certificate can save money if you need a lot of medicines.
- Council tax: you may be able to get a council tax reduction. Ask your council.
Common questions
Does having a fibromyalgia diagnosis mean I will get PIP?
No. PIP is based on how your condition affects your ability to do 12 everyday activities. Two people with fibromyalgia can get very different results. What matters is showing clearly how it affects you on most days.
I can do things sometimes. Should I say I can do them?
Only say you can do something if you can do it safely, to a good enough standard, as often as you need to and in a reasonable time. If doing it causes a lot of pain, takes you much longer, or leaves you exhausted afterwards, explain that. This is the law, not a trick.
Can I work and get PIP?
Yes. PIP does not depend on whether you work, and it is not affected by your income or savings.
Sources we used
- GOV.UK, Personal Independence Payment
- The Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013
- GOV.UK, Blue Badge eligibility
- DWP, Personal Independence Payment statistics
We check this page at least once a year, and sooner when the rules change. Read how we check our facts, or tell us if something looks wrong.