What is PIP and who is eligible?
PIP is a benefit for people aged 16 or over who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. It helps with extra costs if you need support with daily living or getting around.
You do not need a formal diagnosis to apply. What matters is how your condition affects your ability to do everyday tasks.
How to start a claim
To start a PIP claim, call the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 0800 917 2222. You can also apply by post or textphone. You’ll be sent a form to fill in about how your condition affects you.
Citizen’s Advice have some guidance on how to complete the form here:
What information you will need to include
Personal details, such as
- Name, address, date of birth, National Insurance number
- Contact details: phone, email
- Bank or building society details
- Your health issues: list every condition or disability you have, with the year it began – include any supporting evidence you have
- Medications: name, dosage, and frequency
- Treatments or therapies: including surgeries, mental health support, physiotherapy, etc.
- Name, role, and contact information of every professional involved in your care (such as: GP, specialist, therapist)
- Date of your most recent appointment with each
Information about your difficulties with any activities of daily living without any extra support
For each activity (e.g. cooking, eating, getting dressed), include:
- Whether it’s difficult or impossible, and tick the relevant box.
- Explain clearly how your condition affects you: the help you need, how often, and whether it’s safe, in a reasonable time, and reliable
- Provide real-life examples including how often this happens and how severely it affects you
Information about your mobility
You’ll need to explain any difficulties with the following.
- Planning or following a route
- Physically moving around
- Consider adding extra information regarding the impact an activity might have – for example if you walk to the shop one day then you will have to rest for the next 3 days
Describe how often this happens, the help you need – and give examples.
Evidence to support what you write, such as:
- Doctor or therapist letters
- Medication summaries
- Care plans
- Statements from carers, family, or friends
- Diaries/journals tracking your difficulties
What to do if your PIP application is refused
If your application is refused or you get a lower award than expected, you can challenge the decision. There are two steps:
Step 1: Mandatory reconsideration
This is a formal request for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to look at their decision again.
- You must ask for this within one month of the date on your decision letter
- You can do this by phone, but it’s better to do it in writing
- Include:
- Your name, address and National Insurance number
- The date of the decision letter
- A statement saying you want a mandatory reconsideration
- A short explanation of why you disagree with the decision
- A request for copies of the evidence used
You can use this free tool to help write your letter:
Step 2: Appeal to tribunal
If the DWP doesn’t change their decision, you can appeal to an independent tribunal.
- You’ll need a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice from the DWP
- You must appeal within one month of the date on that notice
- You can appeal online or by completing form SSCS1
For more information, click this link:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/mandatory-reconsideration-pip/
Tribunals are independent. You can attend by phone, video or in person. You don’t need a solicitor, but support from a friend, advocate or organisation can help. Over half of PIP appeals are successful
Local and national support
There are organisations that can help you with your PIP application or appeal.
Click the following link to find some:
Activities of daily living – Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Summary
A successful PIP application can get you financial support to help with the costs of daily living. If you have mobility issues, you can get financial support for getting around. Applying for PIP can be challenging. It takes time and effort, and the questions can be difficult to answer. As it is not easy to reflect on the form how autism affects daily life. If your application is refused, don’t give up. Many decisions are overturned after appeal.
