The Short Answer
The special rules for end of life are the only route in PIP that bypasses the points assessment. Where a doctor or medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live, GOV.UK states you will automatically get the higher daily living part and "will not need to go to a face-to-face assessment". The claim is made by phone and supported by form SR1.
The Test
A medical professional's view on life expectancy, and being 16 or over. GOV.UK sets out eligibility as being aged 16 or over where "your doctor or medical professional has said that you might have 12 months or less to live", and being under State Pension age if you have not received PIP before.
The word "might" is doing real work. This is not a certainty test, and GOV.UK addresses the difficulty directly: "It can be difficult to predict how long someone might live for. If a medical professional has not talked to you about this, you can still ask them to support your claim under the special rules for end of life."
Last checked: 7 August 2026
What You Get
The table below sets out the position, with each figure taken from the source named beneath it.
| Component | Under the special rules |
|---|---|
| Daily living | The higher rate automatically, £114.60 a week |
| Mobility | Depends on your needs — £30.30 or £80.00 a week |
| Assessment | No face-to-face assessment |
Last checked: 6 August 2026
The mobility component is the one point where the ordinary rules still apply: it "depends on your needs", and the descriptors decide it.
How to Claim
Three steps, and someone else can do them for you. GOV.UK sets them out:
- Call the PIP claims line on 0800 917 2222 and ask to start a "special rules for end of life" claim. The team will ask about the condition and how it affects getting around.
- Ask a medical professional for form SR1. They will either fill it in and give it to you, or send it directly to the DWP.
- If you also claim Universal Credit, sign in to your online account and use the journal to say that you have sent an SR1 to the DWP.
The line is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm for these claims, with Relay UK on 18001 then the same number and a British Sign Language video relay service available.
Last checked: 7 August 2026
Claiming for Someone Else
GOV.UK states plainly: "You can claim for yourself or someone else can do it for you." No appointeeship is needed to make the call, and the same help options apply — another person added to the call, or calling on the claimant's behalf where they are present.
Reporting a Change to the Special Rules
It is on the list of changes that must be reported straight away. GOV.UK includes among reportable changes that "a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live", noting that "you could get PIP at a higher rate under 'special rules for end of life'".
That applies to someone already receiving PIP under the ordinary rules. The report moves the award to the special rules rather than requiring a new claim.
Other Support
GOV.UK notes that other benefits are available to people nearing the end of life, and that its own guidance on those sits alongside this route. The ordinary claim process, which this route replaces rather than supplements, is on how claiming pip works.