PIP form question 12: managing money

This two-part question asks how hard it is for you to make decisions about spending money. This covers everyday spending, as well as being able to pay your bills on time and budget for more expensive items.

How to answer question 12a

This tick-box question asks if your condition affects how you handle money.

If you need help when paying in shops or restaurants, you should answer ‘yes’

You should also tick ‘yes’ if you need help with any of the following:

understanding how much things cost
making sure you have enough money
paying your bills on time
saving for a particular item e.g. a new sofa
understanding what happens if you don’t pay your bills

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How to answer question 12b

This part of the question is the most important as it gives you a chance to explain how your condition affects the way you make decisions about money. What you say will help DWP decide if you should be awarded PIP.

If you need help but don’t currently get it, mention that here. Be clear about what happens without the help you need e.g. you may get into financial difficulty or become confused when handling money.

What to include

You should answer this question in as much detail as possible. Cover:

any help you get to help you manage your money

how long it takes to carry out tasks involving money

if your condition fluctuates, meaning some days it’s harder to deal with money than others

Mention if managing your money causes confusion or tiredness. Explain how often these symptoms affect you, how long they tend to last and if they mean you struggle to do any other day-to-day tasks on your PIP form.

What if someone helps me?

If someone helps you manage your money, explain who helps you and their relationship to you – it might be a carer, family member or friend.

Mention:

why they help you
what they do to help
how often they assist you

Helping you might involve:

reminding you to pay a bill
telling you how to pay a bill
paying the bill for you

They may only need to be there to help you if you get confused e.g. paying an unfamiliar bill.

What if my condition means I have good and bad days?

Be clear if you have good and bad days, explaining how these are different for you and what you do to cope.

You should also mention how often you have bad days and if you have more bad days than good.

The decision on whether to award PIP will be based on how your condition affects you most of the time.

Consider how long it takes you to make decisions about money, including how long it takes you to pay for something.

Your condition might mean it takes longer for you to pay for something than someone without your condition. Explain if it takes you longer on a bad day.

Example answer

I have a severe learning disability which means I struggle to set a budget because I don’t understand how to make things add up. When I try to work out a budget without help, I get really distressed and confused.

I live with my parents, so they set my budget and pay bills for me. I can’t add up my shopping or work out change when buying something with cash, even with help. When I buy something, my parents pay for me.

I don’t understand how much money I have available to spend or how much things cost. So, without help, I might overspend and get myself into financial difficulties. I don't understand how to budget for bills and forget when they need to be paid.

If you need help filling in the rest of your PIP form, continue to our guide on question 13.