Claiming PIP for FND depends on how functional neurological disorder affects your daily life and getting around, not on the name of the diagnosis. The current rules still apply in full, even though a government review published proposals in September 2026 about how fluctuating conditions are assessed.
Families in Hertfordshire often ask us about this, because FND rarely looks the same two days running. This guide sets out what the rules say today, how to describe the difficult days, and where to find free help with the forms. We are a home care provider, not a benefits adviser, so we point you to the right people for advice on your own claim.
What did the Timms Review update say in September 2026?
The Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is looking at how the benefit works. In September 2026 the Department for Work and Pensions published a Timms Review co-chair update setting out emerging proposals. One proposal is to change how PIP assesses fluctuating conditions, so that it captures the impact of conditions that vary over time and "does not just take a snapshot view".
The update also proposes improving the PIP2 form and its guidance, so that it is easier to complete and better captures fluctuating conditions. The co-chairs state that "these are not our final recommendations", and a final report is expected later this autumn. The update gives no date for any change, so anyone claiming now is assessed under the current rules.
Who can claim PIP, and what is it based on?
According to GOV.UK, PIP can help with extra living costs if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, and difficulty with everyday tasks or getting around. You must be 16 or over, and you usually need to be under State Pension age to make a new claim. You must expect the difficulties to last at least 12 months from when they started.
Working or having savings does not stop a claim. GOV.UK says you can get it "even if you're working, have savings or are getting most other benefits". The DWP assessment guide describes PIP as focused on the functional impacts of a condition, "rather than focusing on a particular diagnosis".
That matters with FND. FND Hope describes FND as a problem with the functioning of the nervous system, and notes that "symptoms typically wax and wane, including complete remissions and sudden recurrences." Two people with the same diagnosis can have very different days, and PIP looks at yours.
How are fluctuating symptoms assessed in PIP for FND?
Two rules from the DWP's assessment guide shape most claims of PIP for FND. The first is about reliability. You only count as able to do an activity if you can do it reliably, which the guide defines in four parts:
- Safely: in a way that is unlikely to cause harm to you or anyone else.
- To an acceptable standard: described in the guide as "good enough".
- Repeatedly: as often as the activity is reasonably needed.
- In a reasonable time: no more than twice as long as the maximum time a person without a disability would normally take.
The second rule is about how often difficulties happen. The assessor looks across a 12-month period. A descriptor applies if your condition affects you that way on more than 50% of days. Where no single descriptor reaches that level, the one that applies on the highest proportion of days should be chosen.
So a morning when you managed to wash, but only after a long rest and with a fall risk, may not count as managing at all. Being able to describe that clearly is often the heart of a good form.
How do you claim, and what helps on the form?
GOV.UK says to start a new claim by phoning the PIP new claims line on 0800 917 2222, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. If you cannot hear or speak on the phone, use Relay UK on 18001 then 0800 917 2222. Have your National Insurance number, bank details and your doctor or health worker's details ready.
You will then receive the "How your disability affects you" form, also known as the PIP2. GOV.UK says to return it within one month, and to contact the PIP enquiry line if you need more time. You might also be asked to attend an assessment.
A few practical habits help when symptoms change from day to day:
- Keep a symptom diary. Citizens Advice suggests a diary if you have good and bad days, as a way to record your bad days and how they affected you. It also says someone can help you write it.
- Describe a typical week, not your best day. Note how often each difficulty happens, how long tasks take and what goes wrong.
- Explain the reliability test in your own words. Say if a task is unsafe, takes much longer than it should, or cannot be repeated later.
- Include supporting documents. GOV.UK mentions prescription lists, care plans and information from your doctor or others involved in your care.
Where can you get free help in Hertfordshire?
Citizens Advice says your local office might be able to help with the form or find somewhere that can. Citizens Advice St Albans District can be reached on 01727 811118, and the Hertfordshire Advice Line is 0800 144 8848.
HertsHelp, on 0300 123 4044, helps people find independent support, guidance and information across Hertfordshire. Its lines are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am to 5pm, Wednesday 9am to 7pm, and at weekends 10am to 4pm.
How home care fits around difficult days
Care at home has nothing to do with whether a PIP claim succeeds, and we never suggest otherwise. What it can do is make the hard days more manageable. Our FND care at home is planned around how symptoms change, with carers who know the person and the routine.
On a bad day, a carer might help with washing and dressing, prepare meals, or go with someone to an appointment. Our personal care service is agreed in a care plan with the family, and adjusted as needs change. For more on the condition itself, see our guides to FND support in Hertfordshire and supporting someone with FND at home.
Talking to our local team
Our head office is in St Albans, and our team supports families across Hertfordshire, from Harpenden to the villages around the city. You can call us on 01727 324 127 or email [email protected].
Visiting care starts from £34 an hour, and live-in care from £255 a day, or from £295 a day for couples. These are starting rates, and a price is agreed after an assessment of what support is needed.
Common questions about PIP for FND in Hertfordshire
Do I need a formal FND diagnosis to claim PIP?
PIP looks at how a condition affects daily living and mobility, not the label. Citizens Advice puts it plainly: PIP is based on how your condition affects you, not the condition itself. Medical evidence still helps to show what your difficulties are.
How much is PIP for FND?
The amount depends on the award, not the condition. GOV.UK lists weekly rates of £76.70 or £114.60 for the daily living part, and £30.30 or £80 for the mobility part, which are the 2026 to 2027 rates. PIP is usually paid every four weeks.
Has the Timms Review changed PIP yet?
No. The September 2026 update sets out emerging proposals, and the co-chairs say they are not final recommendations. A final report is expected later this autumn, and the current rules apply to anyone claiming now.
Can Starling help me fill in the PIP form?
We are not benefits advisers, so we do not complete or advise on claims. Citizens Advice and HertsHelp are the right places to start for help with forms. Our role is practical support at home, whatever the outcome of a claim.
Claiming any benefit while living with a condition that changes from day to day can feel tiring. Taking it one section at a time, with a diary to hand and an adviser alongside, usually makes the form feel smaller. The support at home can be planned separately, at whatever pace suits the family.
Details checked against the DWP PIP assessment guide part 2, GOV.UK PIP pages and the Timms Review co-chair update on 12 October 2026. Our prices are starting rates, checked on the same date.
Arranging Care Is Simple
Starting care can feel like a big step. We keep it calm and straightforward, and we are here to guide you from your very first call.
1. Talk to us
Get in touch by phone or request a callback. We will listen, answer your questions and help you understand the options, so you can decide what feels right in your own time.
2. A home visit and initial consultation
We arrange a visit to understand your routines, your home and what matters most to you. Together we agree an initial consultation and shape the support that feels right.
3. Your care begins
A small, familiar team starts your care, arriving at the agreed times and staying involved as your needs change. We remain your trusted adviser throughout.
Whenever you are ready, we are here to help.