What is PIP?

PIP, or Personal Independence Payment, is there to help people who have problems with independent daily living due to a disability or health problem, to become more independent. That might be through the purchase of equipment, therapy services, adaptations or someone to assist them. PIP helps towards the extra costs incurred by these additional expenses. 

 

Who Is Able To Apply For PIP?

PIP is not related to...

a) Specific Conditions /illnesses /disabilities

b) Employment status - whether you work or not

c) How much money you have in income or savings

d) Marital status

e) Other benefits (such as Universal Credit, Child Benefit, Tax Credits etc...) - although being in reciept of PIP may* open up eligibility to other benefits for you. (*there are no guaruntees, each application is based on personal circumstances).

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This means that, regardless of what your illness is, how much money you have, or how much money you earn, you are still able to apply for Personal Independence Payment. The level of payment that you receive will be determined by the extent to which your illness is impeding your life on a daily basis.. Having said that, if you are employed, the questions on the PIP application form are not related to your ability to work or perform your job. PIP is just about your ability to take care of yourself and your personal care needs on a daily basis.

 

Brief Overview of the Form (How Your Disability Affects You)

Following your initial phone or online application, the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) will send you a booklet called 'How Your Disability Affects You'. This is your opportunity to show the DWP why you think that you are eligible for PIP.  On the form, after the bit about your name, address, medication etc... there are 2 sets of questions. The first of these (questions 3-12) the PIP form is to do with your daily living personal care tasks (such as washing, dressing, going to the toilet, feeding yourself, and communication), and the second set (questions 13 and 14) relate to your mobility; how far you are able to walk, and how your illness impacts you in relation to going out and about. 

 

How Should I Give The Best, Most Accurate Answer?

For each question that is asked, you need to choose the answer that most accurately applies to how you can perform a task. However, often the descriptor does not accurately fit your personal circumstances, so it is important that you fill in the 'additional information' section for each question (use extra paper if you need to; just remember to write your national insurance number at the top of every page!).

 

In the 'additional information' sections for each answer, make sure to think about...

• Can you perform this task reliably, repeatedly and to a reasonable standard? - if not, what is preventing you from doing so?

• What physical or mental condition it is that causes you difficulty with this task, and what sort of problems does that condition cause for you (in relation to this particular task)?

• Do you use any 'aids or appliances' to help you to perform this task? If you need to use one, but don't have it, explain that too. Remember to think of everything that you use - even certain digital programs, like an e-reader, or a text to speech converter count. If you use alarms to prompt you, include those too.

• Do you need another person to help you to perform this task? You might not need someone to physically feed you, for example, but you might need someone to prompt you or to help you prepare food. That counts too. If this kind of help is needed, explain it, using examples from your own experience.

• How often do you struggle with this task in the way that you have outlined? Using your diary that you have kept, give a  specific approximation, such as "2 days out of 7". (I know 'specific approximation' sounds like a contradiction, however, you will need to make an estimation, but make it as clear as possible - rather than using more vague words like 'sometimes').

 

What Evidence Should I Send?

You will need to provide evidence of how your condition affects you. The more evidence you can provide, the better. Good sources of evidence to include are things like...

• A Patient Summary from your GP (you should be able to request this via your GP's reception)

• A personal diary where you have kept records of your difficulties over the course of a few weeks, reports from assessments where your condition has been diagnosed (if it has been - although a formal diagnosis is not always necessary for PIP to be awarded)

• Letters, diagnoses or reports from other health care professionals who have treated you 

• Statements from friends, family members, colleagues, neighbours, etc, who know you and can testify to the difficulties you experience.

 

Don't send them prescription lists, or generic information about conditions - this won't help your application. In the case of all evidence, only ever send copies, not original documents, as they will not be returned to you.

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Mental Health As Well As Physical

Don’t forget, PIP covers both mental, as well as physical health and includes any sensory difficulties you may have. Your ability to perform some of the activities asked about, might be affected in different ways by your mental and physical health. Make sure to cover information about both if that's relevant to you. 

 

Get Someone To Check It

Lastly, it can be helpful to have someone (a friend, family member or support worker) to sit with you and go through each question objectively, as they might notice things about your needs and abilities that you have not recognised yourself. It sounds silly to say it, but we often don't notice how much we have adapted our behaviours due to our health problems, as it usually happens gradually. Someone else might be more objective and be able to see things differently.

 

Don't Be Embarrassed!

Many of us have a tendency to 'play our difficulties down', for fear of embarrassment and feeling ashamed that we can't do certain things. The PIP form is NOT the place to play your problems and limitations down! No one who knows you is going to see it, but it is important that you show the DWP the true picture so that they can award you the level of PIP that you are entitled to.

 

Don't feel ashamed about needing to ask for help.  As a wise person one told me: 

If you like helping others, but never allow others to help you,

you are robbing others of the joy of helping others! 

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Some Other Resources You Might Find Helpful:   (click on the button to go directly to the link)