Here we explain what you should expect from a PIP assessment, how you can best prepare for it, and how long you should expect to wait for a decision
In order to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) you usually have to go through an assessment which will decide how much money you will get.
PIP is a benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and it is given to people with long-term mental or physical health problems or disabilities.
The benefit is made up of two components, a daily living rate and a mobility rate, these are then split again, into the standard rate and the enhanced rate.
If eligible to claim, the amount you get depends on how your condition affects your daily life and to work that out, the DWP may need to conduct an assessment as part of your application.
Here we explain what you should expect from a PIP assessment, how you can best prepare for it, and how long you should expect to wait for a decision.
You normally don't need an assessment if you're terminally ill.
What is a PIP assessment?
A PIP assessment is not a medical examination, instead, it is an opportunity for you to talk about how your condition affects you.
A healthcare professional usually carries out your assessment, writes a report and sends it to the DWP who will make a decision whether you are able to claim or not - and how much you can get.
The assessor will use the information you gave on your original PIP claim form but will also draw opinions from what you say and do in your assessment.
Assessments can be conducted in person, over the phone and through a video call, and you are able to have someone with you during it.
How to prepare for any type of PIP assessment?
Citizens Advice says it is "important" that you prepare for your assessment and one way you can do this is by collecting the relevant medical evidence of your condition such as doctor's notes and letters.
This also includes a list of the aids or appliances you use, and the help you may receive - for example, if you pay for someone to clean your home because you are unable to move and do it.
During the assessment, you will need to go into detail about how your condition affects you day to day, even though you have already detailed it in your PIP evidence form - this is called the PIP2 document.
Citizens Advice says that it is a good idea to have a copy of your PIP evidence form with you whilst you do your assessment so you can refer back to it.
What should you do in your PIP assessment?
During your assessment, you should detail the kind of things you have difficulty with, or can’t do at all - for example, walking up steps without help or remembering to go to appointments.
Citizen's Advice says you should explain what a bad day is like for you such as you are unable to walk at all one day because your injured leg hurts so much.
The assessor will also draw opinions from what you say and do on the day.
They could ask you how you got to the centre for a face-to-face assessment and if you say you came on the bus, without further clarification, they could make a note stating that you can travel alone on public transport - unless you highlight otherwise.
You could also be asked to carry out some physical tasks during a face-to-face assessment.
Citizens Advice reiterated that people should not feel that they have to do things that they wouldn’t normally be able to do and should say if they are not comfortable doing something.
This is because if a person can do something on the day, then the assessor may think that they can always do it which could lead to an unsuccessful claim.
If the consultation is over the phone or on a video call, the assessor may ask you to explain how you complete tasks such as preparing and cooking food, getting washed and dressed, and how you move around outside their home.
When answering, you should break it down and take them through how you complete tasks step-by-step to paint an accurate picture of how your disability or health condition affects you.
Although it may feel like a drawn-out process, your answer should demonstrate exactly how you accomplish tasks - so you shouldn't try to speed up or simplify how you get things done.
You should also 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 of time.
How long do you have to wait to hear the results of your PIP assessment?
Once your assessment is done and your application complete you will need to wait for the decision from the DWP.
As of April 2023, it takes 13 weeks "end to end" - this is from registration to a decision being made.
According to recent data, the average time between the assessment and a decision being made is nine weeks.
This is shorter than the same period last year which had an end-to-end waiting time of 20 weeks and 14 weeks respectively.
How much does PIP currently pay?
From April 2023, the PIP rates are:
Daily living component
- Standard weekly rate - £68.10
- Enhanced weekly rate - £101.75
Mobility component
- Standard weekly rate - £26.90
- Enhanced weekly rate - £71
You can be entitled to both or just one of these - according to the DWP, 35%, or one in three cases of PIP claimants, receive the highest level of benefit.
