Activity 2: Taking nutrition

This activity covers the act of cutting, putting food into the mouth, chewing, swallowing, and using a therapeutic source (tube or IV feed). Glasses and dentures are NOT scored as aids; weighted cutlery and adapted cups are.

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 take nutrition unaided.
0 pts
B. Needs an aid or appliance, or supervision, to be able to take nutrition; or needs assistance to cut food.
2 pts
C. Needs a therapeutic source to be able to take nutrition.
2 pts
D. Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition.
4 pts
E. Needs assistance to be able to manage a therapeutic source to take nutrition.
6 pts
F. Cannot convey food and drink to their mouth and needs another person to do so.
10 pts

Worked example: Severe Crohn's with TPN feed

You manage your own TPN line at night but need a district nurse to connect and disconnect it. Descriptor e (needs assistance to manage a therapeutic source) applies, scoring 6 points.

Descriptor scored: E, 6 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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