PIP decision without face-to-face assessment

Yes, you can ask for a PIP decision to be made on the basis of the paper evidence alone, without attending a face-to-face assessment. Here is how this works in practice.

The general position:

The Department for Work and Pensions can make a decision on your PIP claim based solely on the paper evidence, which includes your PIP2 "How your disability affects you" form, any supporting evidence from medical professionals, and the information gathered by the assessment provider. There is no legal requirement that a face-to-face consultation must take place in every case.

When a paper-based assessment is more likely to be accepted:

1. Where there is already strong and detailed evidence from your GP, consultant, or other treating professionals that clearly sets out your functional limitations.
2. Where your condition is well-documented, stable, and the effects on daily living and mobility are clear from the written evidence.
3. Where attending an assessment would cause you serious difficulty due to your physical or mental health condition, for example severe anxiety, agoraphobia, or a condition that makes travel dangerous or extremely painful.

How to request this:

1. When you complete your PIP2 form, state clearly that you are requesting a paper-based assessment and explain why.
2. Provide as much detailed supporting evidence as you can, including letters from consultants, GPs, community mental health teams, occupational therapists, or social workers. The stronger the paper evidence, the more likely the assessor will feel able to make a recommendation without seeing you.
3. If your reason for requesting a paper-based assessment is health-related, get a letter from your GP or treating clinician explaining why attending an assessment would be harmful or unreasonable.

Important practical points:

The assessment provider, currently Atos or Capita depending on your area (though the system is being reformed under the Health Assessment Advisory Service), has discretion over whether to accept a paper-based assessment. If they decide the written evidence is insufficient, they may still invite you to a consultation, which could be by telephone, video call, or face-to-face. You cannot compel them to decide on paper alone, but you can make a strong case for it.

If you cannot attend a face-to-face assessment but a consultation is still considered necessary, you can ask for a telephone or video assessment as an alternative. You can also request a home visit if your condition prevents you from travelling to an assessment centre.

If you fail to attend an assessment without good reason, your claim can be refused on the basis that you have failed to engage with the process. So if a face-to-face assessment is requested and you feel unable to attend, always communicate your reasons promptly and in writing, and ask for a reasonable alternative.

One further thing worth knowing: if your claim is decided on paper and you are unhappy with the outcome, you have the right to request a mandatory reconsideration and, if that is unsuccessful, to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber). At tribunal, you can present fresh evidence and the panel will make its own independent assessment of your entitlement.

The key practical advice is to front-load your evidence. The more comprehensive and specific the paper evidence is about how your condition affects you on a day-to-day basis, the better your chances of a fair decision being made without a consultation at all.