PIP standard vs enhanced
The line between standard and enhanced is one extra point. At 11 points you receive the standard rate; at 12 points you receive enhanced. Across both components, scoring enhanced rather than standard means an extra £4,386.20 per year and unlocks Motability.
Weekly gap at a glance
| Component | Standard | Enhanced | Weekly gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Living | £73.90 | £110.40 | £36.50 |
| Mobility | £29.20 | £77.05 | £47.85 |
| Both | £103.10 | £187.45 | £84.35 |
Annual gap
Over a year, enhanced on both components pays £4,386.20 more than standard on both components.
Descriptors that commonly move you from 8 to 12
- Activity 1 (preparing food): descriptor e (4 points) vs descriptor f (8 points) when you cannot prepare food at all.
- Activity 4 (washing and bathing): descriptor f (4 points) for assistance to wash trunk vs descriptor g (8 points) for total dependence.
- Activity 9 (engaging with people): descriptor c (4 points) for social support vs descriptor d (8 points) when engagement causes overwhelming distress.
- Mobility Activity 2 (moving around): descriptor d (10 points) for 20 to 50 metres with an aid vs descriptor e (12 points) for less than 20 metres.
What enhanced unlocks that standard does not
- Motability (enhanced Mobility only).
- Automatic Blue Badge eligibility for enhanced Mobility (Moving Around 8+ points).
- The full Carer's Allowance trigger (Daily Living either tier already triggers, so this is the same; the higher rate means more household income).