Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessment (2024)

FAQs

How to pass a PIP assessment? ›

These general PIP assessment tips will also help you: Don't let the assessor rush you. Try not to just answer 'yes' or 'no' to the questions. Always explain how doing something would make you feel afterwards and the impact it can have on you if you had to do it repeatedly in a short period.

Unless you have a terminal illness you'll usually have to have an assessment to complete your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application. It's an opportunity for you to talk about how your condition affects you - it's not a diagnosis of your condition or a medical examination.

In the comments box you need to express yourself concisely and without room for interpretation. If your back hurts, for example, say 'my back hurts 4 days a week' but do not say 'my back hurts sometimes' or 'my back hurts often'. Words such as 'sometimes' and 'often' are open to interpretation.

Try to give clear, short explanations and examples that are relevant to the activity. You do not have to get treatment or support to meet the criteria for PIP. If you don't get all the support you need, think about how your life could be improved if someone could encourage, help or prompt you with the activity.

There's no set list of medical conditions that make you eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in the UK.

1.1. 12 The assessment for PIP looks at an individual's ability to carry out a series of everyday activities. The assessment considers the overall impact of a claimant's health condition or impairment on their functional ability, rather than focusing on a particular diagnosis.

Psychiatric disorders

With 37% of people receiving PIP having a psychiatric disorder, it is the most common condition people receiving PIP claim for. Psychiatric disorders are mental health conditions that can affect how a person thinks and feels about themselves and/or the world around them.

There is no time frame for when a decision must be made on your PIP claim. The Government has planned processing times for benefit decisions, for a PIP application this is 75 working days, but recent figures published confirm that only 51 per cent of decisions are made within this timescale.

The DWP can refuse your application if it's late, but as long as you applied within 13 months of the date on your decision letter you can still appeal their decision at a tribunal.

What questions will I be asked on my PIP telephone assessment? ›

During the assessment, you will be asked questions about your ability to carry out activities and how your health condition affects your daily life. The assessment can either be at one of our assessment centres, over the telephone, or over a video call. These usually take an hour but can sometimes last a little longer.

To get PIP you must find it hard to do everyday tasks or get around because of a physical or mental condition. You must have found these things hard for 3 months and expect them to continue to be hard for another 9 months.

Always bear in mind the 50% rule. The PIP process needs to know if you have difficulty with, or can't do, daily tasks 50% of the time or more. So that's at least half of the time.

PIP uses a points system. For example, if you need help from another person to wash your hair, you get 2 points. If you need help to get into the shower or bath you get 3 points, etc. You only score one set of points from each activity (for example, washing).

You do not have to have a physical disability to get the mobility part. You might also be eligible if you have difficulty getting around because of a cognitive or mental health condition, like anxiety.

It's useful to include evidence from health professionals on how your condition affects you. It can give the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) a clearer picture of how your condition affects you and give you a better chance of being properly assessed.

Supporting evidence can come in the form of: Statement from a carer, friend or family member. Daily routine diary and personal statement. Medical evidence (records, prescriptions, letters from medical professionals).