PIP planning and following journeys: how to describe your difficulties
A calm, practical guide to the PIP planning and following journeys activity (Question 13 on the PIP2 form). Understand the difference between familiar and unfamiliar journeys, how to describe your difficulties, and see example notes. This is reference-only and not legal, medical, or benefits advice.
What this activity covers
Activity 11 is the first of the two mobility activities on the PIP assessment. It covers your ability to plan a journey, follow a route, and get to where you need to go. This is not about physical ability to walk (that is covered by Activity 12, moving around). It is about the cognitive, psychological, and sensory aspects of making a journey.
The DWP distinguishes between familiar journeys (routes you know well and travel regularly) and unfamiliar journeys (routes you do not know, including using public transport). The descriptors also specifically consider whether you can use public transport and whether you experience overwhelming psychological distress when travelling.
An “orientation aid” means something that helps you find your way, such as a guide dog, a GPS device, or a satnav. An “assistance dog” includes guide dogs, hearing dogs, and dual-sensory dogs.
How the DWP scores this activity
| Descriptor | Points |
|---|---|
| Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided | 0 |
| Needs prompting to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress | 4 |
| Cannot plan the route of a journey, for an unfamiliar journey only | 4 |
| Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, an assistance dog, or an orientation aid | 10 |
| Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress | 10 |
| Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog, or an orientation aid | 12 |
This activity has some of the highest point values in the entire PIP assessment. If you cannot follow even a familiar journey without help, that scores the maximum 12 points and qualifies for enhanced rate mobility on its own.
Writing your notes for this activity
Examples: describing journey difficulties
Below are examples of how you might describe your difficulties with this activity. These are for illustration only and should not be copied into your own form. Always describe your own experience.
“I cannot leave the house alone. Even thinking about going outside causes a panic attack. My partner has to come with me to every appointment. I have not used public transport in over three years because the last time I tried I had a severe panic attack on the bus and had to get off. I cannot go to new places at all. Even going to my local GP requires my partner to drive me and come inside with me. On bad days I cannot leave the house even with my partner.”
“I cannot see well enough to navigate on my own. I cannot read street signs, bus numbers, or information boards. I use a guide dog for all journeys outside my home. Even familiar journeys are difficult if anything changes, like temporary roadworks or a new pedestrian crossing layout. I cannot cross busy roads safely without my dog or another person with me. I cannot use public transport alone because I cannot see where I am or read the information I need.”
“I can manage familiar journeys that I do regularly, like walking to the shop, as long as nothing changes. If there are roadworks or a different bus timetable I become very distressed and confused. I cannot plan or follow an unfamiliar journey at all. I do not understand bus or train timetables and the sensory environment on public transport (noise, crowds, unexpected stops) causes me to have meltdowns. My mum takes me to all appointments because I cannot manage the journey alone.”
“Since my brain injury I get lost even on routes I used to know well. I have got lost walking to the local shop twice in the last six months and had to phone my wife to come and find me. I cannot plan a journey to a new place at all. I do not understand maps or satnav instructions. My wife drives me everywhere and if she is not available I do not go. I cannot use buses because I would not know when to get off.”
Using GuidedPIPs
GuidedPIPs walks you through the planning and following journeys activity with guided prompts tailored to your conditions. It helps you describe your difficulties step by step, so you do not have to figure out the structure on your own.
You can start for free and decide whether full access is right for you.