Activity 4: Washing and bathing

Covers the ability to wash and bathe safely. Aids include grab rails, bath seats, and shower stools. The descriptor 'cannot wash and bathe at all' is rare and reserved for total dependence.

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 wash and bathe unaided.
0 pts
B. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe.
2 pts
C. Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe.
2 pts
D. Needs assistance to be able to wash either their hair or body below the waist.
2 pts
E. Needs assistance to be able to get in or out of a bath or shower.
3 pts
F. Needs assistance to be able to wash their body between the shoulders and waist.
4 pts
G. Cannot wash and bathe at all and needs another person to wash their entire body.
8 pts

Worked example: Lower-back pain with limited mobility

You can wash your upper body but cannot reach to wash below the waist without your partner's help. Descriptor d applies, scoring 2 points.

Descriptor scored: D, 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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