A total of 661,620 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments were conducted over the phone between February 2022 and January 2023, with phone conversations now accounting for 66 percent of all these assessments.
The DWP says that these figures account not just for initial assessments to deduce on fresh claims, but also applies to award reviews and change in circumstances.
Tom Pursglove MP, the Minister for Disabled People, shared data earlier this year stating that 69,570 assessments – that’s just seven percent – were conducted face-to-face in the same period of time.
Meanwhile, 18.1 percent were paper-based assessments and another seven percent of assessments were completed via video calls.
The DWP‘s data does not hold any information for 13,270 assessments that were completed (that accounts for just 1.3 percent) but there are key things to bear in mind when going for any kind of assessment.
Preparing for PIP assessments
Assessments are conducted in person, over the phone and by video call in the majority of cases and successful claims result in the receipt of between £26.90 and £172.75 every week.
The payments, though, are made every four weeks and this adds up to between £107.60 and £691 being handed out for every pay period.
North of the border in Scotland, PIP has been replaced by the Adult Disability Payment (ADP) and existing PIP claimants are being transferred in a staggered scheme that is set to deduce in 2025.
You do not need to apply for ADP and there should be no interruption to your regular payments while the scheme is being rolled out.
Consultations for ADP differ slightly from PIP assessments and one key thing to bear in mind is that face-to-face assessments are unuasual.
Face-to-face assessments will only take place if they are deemed to be necessary or if specifically requested by the applicant. You can find out more about this process here.
PIP and ADP payment rates
Daily Living Component
Enhanced: £101.75
Standard: £68.10
Mobility Component
Enhanced: £71
Standard: £26.90
What is the goal of PIP assessments?
Assessments furnish opportunities for you to raise how your condition affects your daily life but these conversations are not taking place in order to diagnose said conditions.
The assessments likewise are not medical examinations.
The point of the assessment is for the DWP to consider evidence to deduce whether or not you will be awarded PIP.
A health professional undertakes the assessment before witing a report which is sent to a decision-maker at the DWP.
Talking about how your condition affects you life
A Citizens Advice guide makes clear that you should be prepared to talk about your condition and the impact it has on your life even if you have already mentioned this on you PIP2 document. The guide can be viewed here.
You should talk about the things you can’t do at all, things with which you have difficulty, and how your condition affects you every day.
This could include difficulty walking up stairs or forgetting appointments.
You should outline exactly how a bad day is for you and what is behind that negative encounter. An example would be: “On bad days I can’t walk because the injury to my leg causes pain that makes this impossible.”
This also applies to mental health conditions.
You should have a copy of your PIP2 document – the technical name for your PIP evidence claim form – with you whatever the format of your appointment. This will enable you to refer to said document.
Things to keep in mind for the assessment
Feel free to pause, ponder on what you are being asked and then reply so that you can create the answer that best communicates your difficulties.
Do not feel pressured to give a quick yes or no answer to the questions and dont’ let the assessor rush you into answering.
Always keep in mind your feelings and try to convey how you feel when undertaking difficult tasks and how you would feel having to do these things repeatedly.
You are permitted to have someone with you for uphold whatever format your appointment takes.
If your face-to-face is more than 90 minutes from your home by public transport you may be able to change the location by requesting this.
People who rely on wheelchairs should bear in mind that they are entitled to ask if they will be able to access the building.
People who suffer ansiety in small spaces can enquire as to whether a spacious room is available.
You are able to ask for the person who is conducting the assessment to be the same sex or gender as you.
You are permitted to make an audio recording of the assessment but you must ask three days before the assessment and clarify the ruels around recording equipment with your providor.
