If you apply for PIP, you must complete a form that asks personal questions about how your health problems affect your daily life. Once the DWP have reviewed the form, you will have an assessment over the phone or face-to-face, with a health professional.
The form asks you questions about day-to-day activities, such as preparing food. Your answers are assessed against a list of descriptors. These are statements that describe:
- how much support you need
- what type of help you need to do the activity.
An example of a descriptor is ‘Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker, but is able to do so using a microwave’.
Each descriptor has a point score. The number of points you get depends on how much help you need. Your scores for the activities are added together and the total affects how much benefit you get.
You are only considered able to do an activity if you can do it:
- safely
- to an acceptable standard
- as often as you need to
- within a reasonable period of time
- without any help.
For example, sometimes people who have had chemotherapy experience tingling, pain or numbness in their hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy).
This can make it difficult to grip things, which can affect ability to use a vegetable peeler, twist the lids off jars, lift a heavy saucepan or kettle, or test the temperature of something by touch.
They may not be able to stand for long enough to cook a meal from beginning to end. This might satisfy the descriptor ‘Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker, but is able to do so using a microwave’.
This would be because they cannot do it:
- safely - they are at risk of dropping a pot or pan of boiling water or food
- to an acceptable standard - they may not be able to tell if something is heated all the way through
- as often as you need to - they may not have the strength in their hands to cook every day
- within a reasonable period of time - struggling with can openers, peelers or knives may take much longer
- without any help - they may be able to cook but only if someone does some of the heavy jobs for them.
Points are also awarded if you need to use aids or adaptations in order to accomplish the task. For example, if you need to use a perching stool in order cook a simple meal, you would be allocated 2 points on the cooking descriptor.
How to fill in the PIP form
The claim form is 33 pages long. You will need to make sure you have plenty of time to fill it in. You may find it helpful to read the form first. Then you can get all the information you need before you start. The form also comes with notes to explain and help you answer the questions.
Try to include as much detail as possible about how your condition affects your daily life. For the range of activities, you should explain how you manage on both good and bad days. You should also be specific about how often good and bad days occur.
It is usually helpful to keep a diary making a note of your daily needs. This is especially important if your condition fluctuates.
For example, you might want to record how long it takes to have a shower, or how often you have days when showering is not possible due to fatigue or sickness. It is also helpful to record why this is impacting you.
For example, if you can't have a shower because there is nobody present to make sure you don't slip getting in or out of the shower
It may be helpful to get evidence about your illness from the people looking after you. You should submit this evidence with your claim, or soon afterwards.You could also ask for evidence from your:
- cancer specialist
- carer
- support worker
- GP
- consultant.
It is also helpful to retain a copy of the information you put in your PIP form, especially if your award is reviewed.
How long do I have to complete the PIP form?
You have 1 month to complete and return the form in England, Scotland and Wales. You have 4 weeks if you are in Northern Ireland. If you cannot complete the form within this time, you can:
- call the PIP helpline on 0800 121 4433 and ask for an extension – in England, Scotland and Wales
- call the Department for Communities (DfC) PIP Centre on 0800 012 1573 and ask for an extension – in Northern Ireland.
Recording the problems you have every day can also help show how your condition affects your daily life. We have diary you can use to do this.
