Evidence needed for PIP claim

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) evidence

PIP is assessed on the basis of how your health condition or disability affects your daily living and mobility, not simply on your diagnosis. The Department for Work and Pensions will look at what you can and cannot do, how reliably you can do it, and whether you need help. The stronger and more detailed your evidence, the better your chances of getting the right award.

What the DWP is looking for:

The assessment is based on a points system across two components: daily living and mobility. For each activity, the DWP considers whether you can carry out the task safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time period. Your evidence needs to show the practical impact of your condition on these activities, not just the diagnosis itself.

Types of evidence that support a PIP claim:

1. Your own detailed account on the PIP2 form ("How your disability affects you"). This is arguably the most important piece of evidence. Be specific, honest, and describe your worst days, not just your best. Explain what happens if you try to do things without help, how long tasks take, and what risks arise.

2. Medical evidence from your GP. A letter or report from your GP setting out your conditions, treatments, and how your condition affects your functioning day to day. Ask them to focus on functional impact, not just the clinical picture.

3. Consultant or specialist reports. Letters or reports from hospital consultants, psychiatrists, psychologists, rheumatologists, pain specialists, or any other specialists involved in your care. Again, the focus should be on how your condition affects daily life and mobility.

4. Mental health evidence. If you have a mental health condition, evidence from community mental health teams, counsellors, therapists, or crisis teams can be very important. PIP assessors often underweight mental health conditions, so detailed evidence here is particularly valuable.

5. Medication and treatment records. A list of your medications, their side effects, and any treatments you are undergoing. Side effects of medication (such as drowsiness, nausea, or cognitive difficulties) can themselves affect your ability to carry out daily activities.

6. Evidence from other professionals. This might include occupational therapists, physiotherapists, district nurses, social workers, support workers, or care coordinators. Anyone who has professional knowledge of how your condition affects you.

7. A buddy statement (also called a companion or supporting statement). A detailed written account from someone who knows you well, such as a partner, family member, friend, or carer, describing what they observe and what help they provide. This is underused but can be very persuasive, especially at appeal.

8. Care plans or support plans. If you have a local authority care plan, a support plan, or receive any form of social care, these documents help to evidence the level of support you need.

9. Hospital discharge summaries or A&E records. These can evidence the severity and frequency of episodes, falls, crises, or flare-ups.

10. A diary or log. Keeping a record over a few weeks of how your condition affects you each day can provide useful evidence. Note what you struggled with, what help you needed, how long things took, and any incidents such as falls or episodes.

Practical tips:

When completing the PIP2 form, describe what happens on a bad day and explain how often you have bad days. Do not just describe your average day or your best day. The DWP should be assessing you on the basis of what applies for the majority of the time, meaning more than 50 per cent of days.

Do not assume the assessor will read between the lines. If you need someone to remind you to eat, or you cannot walk more than 20 metres without severe pain, say so explicitly and explain what happens if you try.

Send copies of evidence, not originals. Keep your own copies of everything you submit.

If you are asked to attend a face-to-face or telephone assessment, you are entitled to take someone with you. That person can also take notes during the assessment, which can be very useful if you later need to challenge the decision.

If the decision is wrong:

If you are refused PIP or given a lower award than you expected, you have the right to request a mandatory reconsideration, and if that is unsuccessful, to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlements Chamber). Success rates at tribunal are significantly higher than at mandatory reconsideration, and you can submit additional evidence at that stage. The tribunal is independent of the DWP.

There is no cost to appeal. You can represent yourself or get help from organisations such as Citizens Advice, welfare rights services, or disability charities.

Key point:

The single most common reason people receive a lower award than they should is that the evidence does not adequately describe the functional impact of their condition. Focus everything on what you cannot do, what you struggle with, what help you need, and what happens when you try to manage without help.