For most PIP claims, after you return your form you are invited to an assessment with a health professional. The assessment worries many people, but knowing what to expect and preparing well makes a real difference. This guide explains what the PIP assessment is, how it is carried out, what you will be asked, and how to give an accurate picture of how your condition affects you.
What the assessment is for
The assessment is a chance for a health professional to gather more information about how your condition affects your daily living and mobility. It is carried out by an assessor working for a company contracted by the DWP, not by the DWP itself, and not usually by your own doctor. The assessor does not decide your claim; they write a report, and a DWP decision maker uses that report alongside your form and evidence to decide your award.
How the assessment is carried out
Assessments can take place in different ways: by telephone, by video call, or face to face at an assessment centre or sometimes at your home. Some claims are decided on the paperwork alone, without any assessment, if there is enough evidence. You will be told which type of assessment you are having. If a particular format would be difficult for you, for example if a phone call is hard because of a hearing or mental health condition, you can ask for a different arrangement.
What you will be asked
The assessor will ask about your conditions and how they affect the daily living and mobility activities PIP looks at. Expect questions about a typical day, how you manage tasks such as cooking, washing, dressing and getting around, what help or aids you use, and how you feel. They may ask you to describe specific recent examples. Some assessments include simple physical movements, but you should never do anything that causes you pain, and you can say if something is too difficult.
Informal observations
Assessors also note what they observe, such as how you sit, move, or cope during the assessment. This is why it is important to be honest and not to push yourself: if you force yourself to sit still through pain, or manage one task on the day, it can be recorded as evidence that you function better than you usually do. Be yourself, and if you are having a better or worse day than usual, say so.
How to prepare
Good preparation makes a real difference. Re-read the copy of your PIP2 form so your account is consistent, and think of clear examples for each activity. Make notes you can refer to during the assessment. Have your list of medications and any evidence to hand. If your assessment is by phone or video, find a quiet place where you can talk freely. It is also worth noting down how a typical bad day goes, as nerves can make people forget important details.
Bring someone with you
You are allowed to have someone with you, whether the assessment is in person, by phone or by video. A friend, relative or carer can give you confidence, help you remember points, and add their own observations about how your condition affects you. They cannot answer for you, but their support can make the process much less stressful, and an assessor can take account of what they say.
During the assessment
Take your time and answer fully. The most common mistake is to play down difficulties out of pride or habit, by saying you are fine or that you manage. Instead, describe what tasks actually cost you: the pain, the time, the help you need, the days you cannot manage at all. If a question only lets you say yes or no, add the detail, for example by explaining that you can walk a short distance but only slowly, with a stick, and with pain that stops you afterwards.
Avoiding common pitfalls
Watch out for the trap of describing your best day, or answering as if the question is about whether you can ever do something rather than whether you can do it reliably and repeatedly. Do not exaggerate, but do not minimise either. If you do not understand a question, ask the assessor to explain it. And remember that managing a task with great difficulty, or only sometimes, is not the same as being able to do it.
After the assessment
Once the assessment is done, the assessor sends their report to the DWP, and a decision maker decides your claim, usually within a few weeks. You will get a decision letter explaining your award, the rate, and how long it lasts. If you disagree with the decision, you can challenge it, starting with a Mandatory Reconsideration. You can also ask the DWP for a copy of the assessment report to see what was recorded.
If you cannot attend
If you cannot make an appointment, contact the assessment provider as soon as possible to rearrange, and explain why. Missing an assessment without a good reason can lead to your claim being turned down, so never simply fail to attend. If the format does not suit your condition, you can ask for a change, such as a home visit if travelling is genuinely too difficult, supported by evidence where possible.
Home assessments
In some circumstances a face-to-face assessment can take place at your home rather than at a centre, usually where there is medical evidence that you cannot travel. If you think a home assessment is necessary, ask, and provide a letter from your GP or specialist explaining why. A home setting can also let the assessor see the aids and adaptations you use day to day, which can support your account.
Can you record it?
Many people find it reassuring to have a record of what was said. The rules on recording assessments can be strict, often requiring advance notice and particular equipment, so if you want to record, ask the assessment provider in advance what their current requirements are. At the very least, you or the person with you can take notes during and straight after, while the detail is fresh, which is useful if you later need to challenge the report.
Bring your evidence and notes
Have your key documents and notes within reach during the assessment, whether it is in person, by phone or by video. A short written list of your main difficulties, your medications, and an example for each activity helps you stay on track if nerves take over. You do not have to rely on memory, and referring to notes is perfectly acceptable. Being organised also helps you give consistent answers that match your form, which makes your account more convincing to the decision maker who reads the report afterwards.
Stay calm and take breaks
An assessment can be tiring, so it is fine to ask for a short break if you need one, to have a drink of water, or to take a moment to gather your thoughts. There is no need to rush your answers. Speaking slowly and clearly, and pausing to think, helps you give a full and accurate account rather than a hurried one that leaves out something important.
Where to get help
Free help to prepare for your assessment is available from Citizens Advice, welfare rights services and disability charities, and some can even support you on the day. If your claim is turned down, do not give up, as many decisions are overturned on challenge. Our guides to requesting a Mandatory Reconsideration and the points and descriptors explain your next steps.
