What happens in a PIP assessment Easy Read

What happens in a Personal Independence Payment assessment

A leaflet saying Personal Independence Payment next to the Houses of Parliament and a hand holding cash

What is Personal Independence Payment (PIP)?

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition get.

The money is to pay for extra help to look after yourself and to get around.

This Easy Read tells you what happens in a PIP assessment.

A doctor with a stethoscope around his neck is sitting at a desk writing a report

After you have applied for a PIP your form will be looked at by a health professional like a doctor or a nurse.

A doctor is reading something and writing things down

The health professional will look at other things too - like statements from your social worker and your care plan.

A woman holds a piece of paper whilst talking to someone at a table

Most people will be asked to go to a meeting with the health professional.

This could be over the phone or face-to-face.

A man using a walking frame is standing outside his house

A face-to-face meeting might take place:

in your own home.

a picture of a big medical building with ambulances in the car park

at an assessment centre.

A friend puts her arm around a woman in a wheelchair whilst a man with a clipboard is writing something down

A family member, carer, or friend can come to your assessment with you.

The meeting can take about 1 hour but might go on for longer.

A man sitting at a desk ready to write down the answer to his question about how much change you would get

You may be asked some simple questions like:

"How much money would you get back if you bought something for 80p using a £1 coin?"

A man is pictured in four different positions as he dances around with his hands in the air

The health professional may also want to see how you move.

They may ask you to do things like put your finger on your nose.

You may also be asked about how you do activities like cooking.

A book called Assessment with a picture of a man writing things in a note book and a page of ticks and crosses

The health professional asks you all these questions so they can find out how much help you need.

This is called having an assessment.

A woman is standing up, writing with a pen in a file and smiling

They give you points for each thing you find difficult to do.

Someone cooking at an oven with 0 points. A microwave with 2 points. A man helping a woman cook at an oven 4 points. A confused man next to an oven 8 points

For example:

If you can make a meal you get 0 points
If you can only make a meal using a microwave you get 2 points
If you need someone to watch or help you make a meal you get 4 points
If you are unable to make a meal you get 8 points.

A small pile of pound notes equals 8 points

People need 8 points before they can get PIP at the normal rate.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) call the normal PIP rate the 'standard' rate.

A large pile of pound notes equals 12 points

People with 12 points get a higher rate of PIP.

The DWP call the higher rate, the 'enhanced' rate.

A young man with his hand raised asking about a video recording

If you want, you can ask for a recording of your assessment appointment.

A woman holds a red telephone against her ear

If you want a recording of your assessment you will need to phone the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments a few days before your appointment.

Telephone: 0800 288 8777

For more information visit their website at: https://chdauk.co.uk/

A man with his hand over his mouth as he has forgotten to go to an appointment

If you miss your assessment appointment you will be asked why you did not make it.

If you have a good reason you may be given another date for your assessment.

A man with shrugging his shoulders and a picture of an envelope of money

If you do not give a good reason for missing your assessment, you may not get PIP.

A doctor is sitting at a desk writing a report thinking about what help someone needs

After the assessment, the health professional will make a report for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that tells them how much help you need.

A report beside a magnifying glass over a man in a wheelchair being given a cup of coffee by a supporter

The DWP will look at the report, and any other information, to see if you should get PIP.

Different denominations of pound notes sit next to an arrow which points down towards a calendar month

If they think you should get PIP, they will also decide:

how long you should get PIP for.
if you should get the standard PIP rate, or the enhanced PIP rate.

A woman with a clipboard is writing things down as a man explains something to her

If you are not happy about any decision made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), you can appeal .

Appeal means saying you want someone to think about a decision again.

A man looks at his watch stood in front of a stopwatch and a red tick

If you want to make an appeal about your PIP decision, you need to do it very quickly before the time to appeal runs out.

Different denominations of pound notes sit next to an arrow which points down towards a calendar month which shows an arrow doing backwards on the dates

If you are told you will get PIP, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will make payments to you from the date you first applied for PIP.