PIP & Disability Benefits  ·  September 2026

Can You Claim PIP While Living Abroad? A Guide for UK Expats

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is often assumed to stop the moment you leave the UK. In reality, it can continue to be paid to British nationals living in the EU, EEA, Switzerland and certain other countries — worth up to £749.80 a month, tax-free. Here's how the exportability rules actually work.

What is PIP?

Personal Independence Payment is a UK benefit for people aged 16 to 64 (at the time of first claiming) who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability that makes everyday life or getting around significantly harder. It is made up of two parts — a daily living component and a mobility component — and you may qualify for one or both, depending on your needs.

Can I claim PIP while living abroad?

Yes, in many cases. PIP can be "exported" — meaning it continues to be paid, or a new claim can be made — if you live in:

• An EU or EEA country
• Switzerland
• A country with a UK social security agreement that covers this benefit

The rules are genuinely complex, and eligibility can turn on details like exactly when you moved, whether you were already receiving the benefit before leaving the UK, and which component you're claiming — which is why so many expats wrongly assume they simply don't qualify and never apply.

How much is PIP worth?

If you qualify for the enhanced rate of both components, that's up to £194.60 a week — around £843 a month — completely tax-free and paid regardless of your income or savings.

Who is likely to qualify?

PIP is based on how your condition affects you day-to-day, not on the diagnosis itself. You may qualify if you regularly need help or find it significantly harder to manage things such as:

• Preparing or eating food
• Washing, bathing or managing toilet needs
• Dressing and undressing
• Managing your medication or monitoring a health condition
• Communicating, reading or making decisions
• Planning and following a journey, or moving around physically

How do I apply from abroad?

The application process involves detailed forms about how your condition affects you, supported by medical evidence, and is assessed by the DWP's international team. How the evidence is presented has a very real effect on the outcome — claims that under-describe the day-to-day impact of a condition are one of the most common reasons for an unnecessarily low award or refusal.

Reginald Barry Benefits Support handles the whole process for you: assessing your eligibility based on where you live, helping gather the right medical evidence, completing and submitting the claim, and supporting you through a mandatory reconsideration if one is needed — all on a No Win, No Fee basis.