PIP form question 6 washing and bathing

This is a yes or no tick-box question that asks if your condition affects you when washing and bathing.

You should tick ‘yes’ if:

• you use things like a grab rail, shower seat, long-handled sponge or hoist
• someone helps you get in and out of the bath or shower
• someone helps you to wash specific areas of your body
• you wash too much as the result of a condition like OCD
• you can’t tell if you’ve cleaned yourself properly

A wet room shower is classed as having been adapted. This can be proof that you can’t use a bath or shower that haven’t been adapted.

This is the most important part of the question as it gives you space to explain how your condition affects your ability to wash or bathe. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will take this into consideration when deciding if you’ll get PIP.

What to include

You want to include as much information as possible about how your condition affects you when washing or bathing. Remember to mention if you use any aids, if someone else helps you, if you’re at risk of hurting yourself and if you have good and bad days. 

Aids

List everything you use to help you, even if you think it’s obvious. 

If you’ve been told to use them by a health professional, be sure to mention this.

Explain how each item helps you and what would happen if you didn’t use them. For example, a grab rail might stop you from falling and hurting yourself if you’re unsteady on your feet. 

Remember to include any aids and appliances you can’t use because of your condition. 

Help from someone else

If you need help from another person, say who helps you and explain what they do. 

They might remind you to wash or bathe, or physically wash specific parts of your body. 

You should mention which parts they help you wash, and if they assist you all or some of the time.

If someone supervises you to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, or you need them to be there in case of an emergency, make this clear in your answer. 

If you need help but don’t get it, mention this here. Explain what would happen without help e.g. you’re more likely to have an accident or injure yourself.

Good and bad days

Your condition might mean you have good and bad days. If this is the case, explain what a good and bad day look like for you and how you manage over a longer period, such as a week. 

Remember to mention how often you have bad days and if these happen more often than good days. 

If your symptoms are different on good and bad days, explain the difference.

DWP will base its decision on whether to award PIP on how your condition affects you most of the time.

Consider how long it takes you to wash compared to someone without your condition and include this. It’s okay to guess how long it takes but be clear it’s an estimate and explain why you couldn’t be more precise e.g. because your condition fluctuates.

What if I’m at risk of hurting myself?

If you’ve ever hurt yourself, such as slipping or falling when getting in or out of the bath or shower, make sure you mention it. 

Explain what happened and why e.g. you didn’t have supervision.

You should mention how often you’re at risk of hurting yourself, even if it’s rare, and how badly you could be injured. 

Remember to mention if there’s anything you can do to reduce this risk.

I have a lot of pain and mobility issues so I can’t get in the shower by myself. My carer has to help me get in the shower every day when she visits. 

I usually use a long-handled sponge to wash my entire body so I don’t have to move too much. My carer supervises me every day but has to help me wash on days I’m experiencing a lot of pain. They watch me to make sure I don’t fall.

On the bad days – which are usually two or three times a week – my carer has to wash my lower body and my hair. 

Before I had a carer, I slipped and fell. I was unable to get up because of my restricted movement and had to ring 999. 

Because I live alone, I could have been left on the floor for hours until a family member visited and let themselves in with a key. 

Although I didn’t hurt myself that time, I could have banged my head or broken a bone.

If you need help filling in the rest of your PIP form, continue to our guide on question 7. 

Filling in the PIP claim form

Question 1: your condition

Question 2: health professionals

Question 3: preparing & cooking food

Question 4: eating & drinking

Question 5: managing treatments

Question 6: washing & bathing

Question 7: managing toilet needs

Question 8: dressing & undressing

Question 9: communicating verbally

Question 10: reading

Question 11: mixing with others

Question 12: managing money

Question 13: planning & following journeys

Question 14: moving around

Question 15: additional information