PIP form question 8: dressing and undressing

Question 8 is a two-part question where you can explain how hard it is for you to dress or undress.

This covers putting on and taking off unaltered clothes, including socks and shoes, that are appropriate for the weather, occasion and time of day.

Find out what to include when answering this question.

How to answer question 8a

The first part of this question is a tick-box yes or no answer that asks if your condition affects you when dressing or undressing.

If you can’t wear certain things, like clothing with buttons, or need to wear modified clothing, such as front-fastening bras, you should tick ‘yes’.

Also tick ‘yes’ if you need crutches to support you or items like shoehorns.

If someone else helps you dressing or undressing, you should tick yes too. They might:

remind you to get dressed or undressed
keep an eye on you to make sure you can manage
help you put your clothes on and/or remove them

If you're not currently getting the help you need, whether that’s from an aid or another person, you should also tick ‘yes’.

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How to answer question 8b

This part of the question gives you a chance to explain how your condition makes dressing and undressing difficult.

Say if getting dressed or undressed makes you tired or causes you pain.

If getting dressed or undressed takes you a long time, mention that here. It may be helpful to say how long it takes you compared to a typical healthy person.

Remember to include details of any help you need that you’re not currently getting.

Appropriate clothing

Part of this question considers your ability to wear appropriate clothing.

This means choosing clothes that are suitable for the weather, time of day or occasion. If you’re not changing your clothes regularly enough so that you’re wearing dirty clothes or clothes with holes in them, this also counts as being inappropriate.

Mention if someone helps you choose suitable clothes. This includes being reminded or encouraged to dress appropriately.

If you have ever undressed in public – or on another occasion where it was judged to be inappropriate – you should provide details explaining why you think it happened e.g. because of a condition like dementia.

I can’t get dressed or undressed by myself

Be clear if someone helps you when dressing or undressing – explain who they are, what they do and why. Mention which items of clothing they help you with; this might be just a few things or everything.

I’m at risk of hurting myself

Explain if difficulties dressing or undressing put you at risk. For example, you might become too hot or cold because you can’t put on or take off your clothes.

This might cause you to overheat and faint, meaning you’re at risk of banging your head. Or if you were to get too cold, you could be at risk of developing serious health problems associated with hypothermia.

Mention occasions when difficulties dressing or undressing have resulted in health problems or injuries in the past. Remember to include how you try to reduce these risks.

Some items of clothing are hard for me

Your condition might mean you avoid wearing certain clothing.

For example, you might choose clothes with zips because you struggle with buttons.

Consider if you could repeatedly change your clothes if you needed to e.g. if you spilled something.

Say if doing this would make you tired or cause pain.

You should mention if the only footwear you can manage is slip-on shoes and if you need help to put them on or take them off.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) might decide you don’t need help if you can manage slip-on shoes by yourself.

Aids or adapted clothing

Remember to mention if you use any aids when getting dressed or undressed, such as:

button hooks or magnetic buttons
hook and loop fastenings, such as Velcro
a shoehorn
front-fastening bras
clothing with side or back openings
a dressing stick

Example answer

I have severe arthritis and struggle to dress and undress myself. My arthritis means I have good and bad days. My condition varies a lot so it’s hard to be precise about how many bad days I have but in a typical week I probably have four bad days and three good days. I’m always in some pain.

I struggle with small fastenings, wear front-fastening bras and choose clothing with velcro fastenings. I can manage these by myself on good days (although it might take me twice as long as someone without arthritis) but I can’t put my shoes on. Someone needs to help me with this even though I only ever wear slip-on footwear.

On bad days, my arthritis means I can’t put on or take off my bra. I can’t raise my arms to wear one without fastenings because of my arthritis so my husband helps me. I also find it difficult to put on and take off my underwear, socks, trousers and skirts, even though I choose velcro and elasticated waistbands. My husband helps me with these on bad days.

If you need help filling in the rest of your PIP form, continue to our guide on question 9.