Describe how the activity is done, not only whether it is done
PIP and Adult Disability Payment look at the effect of a condition on specified daily-living and mobility activities. A cancer diagnosis alone does not describe that effect.
A seven-day reliability diary
Use real examples and include help that is needed but not currently available.
- The activity attempted, what happened and how long it took.
- Pain, fatigue, breathlessness, confusion, distress or risk during and after it.
- Prompting, supervision, physical help or an aid that was needed.
- Whether it could be done safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time.
- What happened on a better day and the recovery or consequences afterwards.
- Which person, letter or clinical record supports the example.
- Changes caused by treatment cycles, fluctuating symptoms or hospital stays.
Check the claim route before sending it
Scotland uses Adult Disability Payment and different review and challenge language.
- Which benefit and form apply where I live?
- How should fluctuating treatment effects be explained?
- Can the Special Rules route apply, and who completes the clinical form?
- What evidence adds detail rather than repeating the diagnosis?
- What is the deadline and correct route if the decision is wrong?
A useful example
Compare this with writing only “I get tired cooking”.
“I can prepare a simple meal once, but after ten minutes standing I become dizzy and must sit. On treatment weeks I need another person to supervise because I have twice left the hob on, and I cannot repeat the task later that day.”
Describe what daily life actually requires
PIP in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Adult Disability Payment in Scotland, look at the effect of a condition on daily living and mobility. A diagnosis is relevant evidence, but it is not the whole claim.
Use the application route for the nation where you live. The two systems have different forms, decision processes and terminal-illness routes. If you live in Scotland and currently receive PIP, follow any transfer correspondence rather than starting a duplicate claim without advice.
For each activity, explain what happens when you attempt it. Include pain, breathlessness, fatigue, cognitive difficulty, distress, falls, infection risk, prompting, supervision, physical help and aids. Describe whether you can do it safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and within a reasonable time.
Evidence should illuminate function. A treatment plan confirms context, while a diary, carer account or occupational-therapy report may show the help needed between appointments. Explain needs that are unmet as well as help you currently receive.
A practical way through it
Use the parts that fit your situation and leave the rest.
- Confirm the correct schemeUse PIP for England, Wales or Northern Ireland and Adult Disability Payment for Scotland. Check current official guidance before choosing the claim route.
- Keep a short functional diaryFor several representative days, record the task attempted, help or aid needed, time taken, after-effects and whether it could be repeated.
- Answer activity by activityGive one real example for each difficulty. Avoid writing only “it varies”; explain how often better and worse days occur and why.
- Explain invisible assistanceInclude reminders, encouragement, supervision for safety, food preparation, medicine management and help that family provides without calling themselves carers.
- Match evidence to the accountLabel documents and say which part each supports. Do not delay the whole form indefinitely while waiting for perfect medical evidence.
- Check before sendingKeep a complete copy, confirm receipt and ask a welfare-rights adviser to review gaps or contradictions if possible.
What this can look like
When a person can sometimes cook
Aisha writes that she can prepare a meal, but after chemotherapy she cannot stand long enough, forgets pans and needs her partner nearby. She worries this sounds inconsistent.
A clearer account
She explains what she can prepare on a better day and how long recovery afterwards prevents her repeating the task.
She gives a recent example of abandoning a hot pan because of dizziness and describes the supervision now used.
She records how many treatment-cycle days are affected rather than presenting one exceptional good day as typical.
Check the correct benefit
- Work, savings and most income do not by themselves rule out these payments.
- Use the claim route for the nation where you live.
Describe real function
- Explain whether tasks can be done safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and in a reasonable time.
- Include prompting, supervision, aids and help that is needed but unavailable.
Use the right process
- Return forms and evidence by the deadline or request more time before it passes.
- PIP uses SR1 and the 12-month test. Adult Disability Payment uses BASRiS and Scotland’s separate clinical-judgement definition. Ask which Special Rules route applies.
A manageable next step
What you could do now
- Start a short diary of better and worse days.
- Keep a copy of the form and evidence.
- Ask a welfare-rights adviser to check the claim.
Checked sources
Read the original guidance
We summarise carefully and link to the source so you can check the full, most current information. Sources were checked 9 September 2026.