New calls to scrap PIP assessments for people due a review for a lifelong degenerative physical condition

Campaigners are calling for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to put an end to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reassessments for people with a lifelong, degenerative condition in two separate online petitions. The first, created by Daniel Rayner, proposes the removal of assessments for those with a physical health condition where an improvement during their lifetime is unlikely.

The petition states: “We want the DWP to remove the need for individuals to have their benefit claims (such as Personal Independence Payment) reassessed where the individual suffers from life-limiting degenerative physical health conditions in which there will never be an improvement during their lives.”

The second e-petition has been created and posted by Tamara Louise Owen. The ‘End PIP reassessments for people with life-long conditions’ petition states: “I want the Government to end PIP reassessments for people with life-long conditions, so that once this benefit has been granted, it cannot be removed. I think it is unfair that people with life-long conditions can lose PIP.”

Both petitions have been posted on the petitions-parliament website. At 10,000 signatures the petitions would be entitled to a written response from the UK Government.

You can read the ‘Remove benefit reassessments for people with degenerative physical conditions’ petition in full here.

You can read the ‘End PIP reassessments for people with life-long conditions’ petition in full here.

PIP reviews for a long-term health condition

The DWP recently announced “in most cases” people coming to the end of their 10-year award for PIP this year will not be required to attend an assessment.

This follows on from the introduction of a new, shorter PIP review form that is now being sent out to those with a ‘light-touch’ award, which is typically for 10 years.

The DWP has published a sample copy of the ‘PIP AR2’ form - for reference use only - as part of the PIP Toolkit on GOV.UK. However, it’s a great way for people with a light-touch award to understand what questions they will need to answer on the six-page document, before the letter arrives from the DWP, allowing them to gather any specific information needed ahead of time.

Ongoing awards are primarily for those with the highest level of support or whose needs will not change or will only deteriorate - since 2019, this also includes most people who have reached State Pension age.

Sections on the PIP review form

The six-page review form covers:

• Identity and contact details

• Immigration status

• Your main healthcare professional

• Details of any changes to your health condition or disability

• Details of any changes to your daily living needs

• Details of any changes to your mobility needs

• Your consent to allow the DWP to collect further information

Questions on the review form

Here are all 16 questions on the PIP AR2 form.

About you

• Q1 - Your name

• Q2 - Your date of birth

• Q3 - Your address

• Q4 - Is this a hospital, hospice or other residential or nursing care accommodation?

• Q5 - Your correspondence address

• Q6 - A phone number DWP can contact you on

• Q7 - Have there been any changes to your immigration status? - additional space is provided to write an answer

• Q8 - Tell DWP anything they need to know about how they communicate with you - additional space is provided to write an answer

About the main healthcare professional that supports you

The form explains this may be your GP, hospital consultant or a specialist nurse and asks you to provide their details.

• Q9 - What is their name?

• Q10 - What is their job?

• Q11 - What is their phone number?

• Q12 - What is the address where they work?

About your health condition or disability

Questions 13, 14 and 15 are given the most amount of space on the form to write additional information. It also reminds people: “PIP is assessed on how your condition affects you, not the condition itself.”

Q13 - Have there been any changes in your health condition or disability since DWP last awarded you PIP?

Q14 - Have your daily living needs changed since DWP last made a decision on your PIP?

• The form states: “By daily living we mean preparing food and cooking, eating and drinking, managing treatments and taking medication, washing and bathing, managing toilet needs, dressing and undressing, communicating, reading, mixing with other people and managing money.”

Q15 - Have your mobility needs changed since DWP last made a decision on your PIP?

• The form states: “By mobility we mean getting around and planning and following a journey.”

Consent for DWP to collect further information

Q16 - Do you give consent for your doctor or other relevant professionals to give DWP more information about your health condition or disability?

The final question also provides guidance on giving DWP consent to obtain further information on how your health condition affects you.

The form explains: “The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or approved healthcare professionals that work for DWP, might need more information about your health condition or disability and how it affects you.

“They might ask, with your consent, for relevant information from your doctor, or any other relevant professional you tell them about.

“DWP can lawfully ask your doctor, hospital consultant or other relevant professionals for information about your health condition and how it affects you. This is because we are asking for the information to help us carry out our official social security functions.”

It adds: “You do not have to give your consent. If you do not, DWP will make a decision based on the information they have already, as well as any you give DWP yourself.”

The final page is a declaration for the claimant to sign and date. You can view the AR2 award review form online here.

PIP review process (DWP)

DWP guidance states you will continue to get PIP while your claim is being reviewed. Claimants will receive the form along with a covering letter.

The letter from DWP will:

• Confirm you have a long-term health condition/disability or you are over State Pension age

• Confirm your current awards for daily living and/or mobility

• Set out the needs or difficulties you have been assessed under for daily living and/or mobility for your current award

• Explain the reason for the review

• Give clear instructions about what you need to do next

• Explain what to do if you have problems completing the form

• Explain what the DWP will do once they receive the form

As with all review forms, there is a time limit in which to return the form - usually one month, the date will be on the letter and the review form. However, if you need more time to complete it, contact the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 as soon as possible.

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