Most Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments are now carried out remotely by phone or video call, but the number of face-to-face reviews is set to rise under new welfare reform plans. If you are due an assessment, preparation can make a real difference to the outcome.
How PIP assessments are conducted
According to the latest Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) data, in September last year 68,000 (77.5%) PIP assessments were done over the phone, 12,000 (13.8%) were paper-based, 4,400 (5%) in person, and 3,300 (3.7%) by video call.
PIP awards are not permanent and come with a set review period, ranging from as little as nine months to up to 10 years for a 'light touch' review. The DWP includes the review date on the award letter all successful claimants receive. A reassessment is usually triggered when an award is due to expire or a change in circumstances has been reported.
What to expect during the assessment
The PIP assessment is an opportunity to talk about how your condition affects you - it is not a diagnosis or a medical examination. A health professional will carry out the assessment, write a report, and send it to the DWP decision maker, who will decide if you should be awarded PIP.
If you are waiting on a review, it is a good idea to have a copy of your PIP evidence form (the PIP2 document) with you for phone, video, and face-to-face assessments, so you can refer back to it, especially if it was completed a few years ago.
Citizens Advice guidance says you should be prepared to talk about how your condition affects you, even if you've already detailed it on your form. This can be hard, but it helps to talk about the kind of things you have difficulty with or can't do at all, how your condition affects you from day to day, and what a bad day is like for you.
Observations and practical tips
The assessor will draw opinions from what you say and do on the day. For example, if you say you came to the centre by bus without further clarification, they might note that you can travel alone on public transport. During face-to-face assessments, you may be asked to carry out physical tasks - don't feel you have to do things you wouldn't normally be able to do, and say so if you're not comfortable.
During telephone assessments, you may be asked to describe how you complete simple tasks like preparing food, getting washed and dressed, and moving around outside the home. Don't rush to respond - break your answer down and take them through how you complete tasks step-by-step. The assessor will also note your mental state, such as whether you look or sound depressed or happy, tense or relaxed.
Remember: don't let the assessor rush you, avoid just answering 'yes' or 'no', and explain how doing something would make you feel afterwards. You can have someone with you during the assessment - put the call on loudspeaker and advise the assessor who is with you.
Preparing for a face-to-face assessment
You can take someone aged 16 or over into the actual assessment, such as a friend, relative, or carer, who can take part in discussions and make notes for you. Check with your assessment provider that the centre has everything you need - for example, ask if you will have to go upstairs, whether there's a lift that can accommodate a wheelchair, how roomy the centre is if you get anxious in enclosed spaces, and ask for an interpreter or signer if needed, at least two working days before.
All health assessments are now audio recorded as standard. If the location of your face-to-face assessment is more than 90 minutes away by public transport and you have difficulty travelling long distances, you might be offered an alternative location or home visit. Full details, including travel restriction advice for Scotland, England, and Wales, are available in the published guidance on GOV.UK.
