Activity 6: Dressing and undressing

Scores putting on and taking off clothing. Includes selecting socially appropriate clothing; depression that prevents dressing typically scores at descriptor d (prompting).

All figures on this page are taken from Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (DWP, published April 2026) and the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Act 2025. Author: Oliver Wakefield-Smith. Last full review: 22 June 2026. Next scheduled review: April 2027 (post-uprating). See the full sources register.

Descriptors and points

A. Can dress and undress unaided.
0 pts
B. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to dress or undress.
2 pts
C. Needs either prompting to be able to dress, undress or determine appropriate circumstances for remaining clothed, or prompting or assistance to be able to select appropriate clothing.
2 pts
D. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their lower body.
2 pts
E. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their upper body.
4 pts
F. Cannot dress or undress at all.
8 pts

Worked example: Rheumatoid arthritis in hands

Buttons and zips are impossible; you wear pull-on clothes and use a dressing stick. Descriptor b (aid or appliance) applies, scoring 2 points.

Descriptor scored: B, 2 points.

Reliability test

Whatever descriptor you pick must apply to you safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time. If you can only manage the activity on a good day, the next-higher descriptor usually applies. This is the single most common reason claimants are under-scored on assessment.

Source

Descriptors and points are taken from Schedule 1 of the Social Security (PIP) Regulations 2013. Interpretation guidance is in the PIP assessment guide (DWP, Feb 2026).

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