Understanding the PIP assessment
The PIP assessment is conducted by a health professional — usually a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, nurse, paramedic, or doctor — who works for an assessment provider contracted by the DWP. They are not a DWP decision-maker. Their role is to write a report about how your condition affects you, which the DWP then uses to make the final decision. The assessment is usually face-to-face at a local assessment centre, but can sometimes be done by telephone or video call — particularly if you have difficulty travelling. It typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes, though it can be shorter or longer. The assessor will ask questions about each of the PIP activities (daily living and mobility) and may make observations about your behaviour and abilities during the appointment. It is important to understand that the assessment is not a medical examination. The assessor is not diagnosing you or treating you. They are assessing how your condition affects your ability to carry out everyday activities. Their report includes a recommended score for each activity, but the DWP decision-maker can disagree with their recommendation.
Before the assessment: gather your evidence
Preparation is key to a successful PIP assessment. Bring copies of any medical evidence you have: GP letters, consultant reports, prescription lists, hospital discharge summaries, physiotherapy or occupational therapy reports, and mental health assessments. Having this evidence to hand means you can reference specific diagnoses, treatments, and professional opinions. If you keep a care diary showing the help you need day-to-day, bring that too. A care diary is a record of what help you needed each day, who provided it, how long it took, and what difficulties you experienced. Even a week or two of diary entries can provide powerful, concrete evidence. Make a list of all your medications (including dosages and what each is for), any aids or appliances you use (walking sticks, grab rails, shower seats, pill organisers, hearing aids), and any adaptations to your home. Write down notes about how each PIP activity affects you — this helps you remember important details during the assessment, especially if anxiety or cognitive difficulties affect your memory.
Describe your worst days
The assessment should reflect how your condition affects you at its worst, not on a good day. This is standard DWP guidance and is the correct approach. Everyone with a health condition has variation — some days are better than others. The assessor needs to understand the full range, particularly your worst days. Be specific rather than general. Instead of saying "I struggle to walk", say "On bad days (approximately 3–4 days per week), I can only walk about 20 metres before needing to stop due to pain in my knees. Without my walking stick, I would be at risk of falling." Instead of "I find cooking difficult", say "I can only stand for about 5 minutes before the pain becomes too severe. I have burned food three times in the past month because I forget it is cooking due to my medication side effects." Always include three key details: frequency (how often the difficulty occurs — for example, "approximately 4 days per week"), duration (how long the task takes you compared to someone without your condition), and consequences (what would happen without help or if you pushed through — for example, "I would fall", "the food would burn", "I would have a panic attack").
Cover all the activities
PIP assesses 12 activities in total: 10 daily living activities and 2 mobility activities. The daily living activities are: preparing food, taking nutrition (eating and drinking), managing therapy or monitoring a health condition, washing and bathing, managing toilet needs, dressing and undressing, communicating verbally, reading and understanding signs, engaging with other people face-to-face, and making budgeting decisions. The 2 mobility activities are: planning and following journeys, and moving around. Think carefully about each one before your assessment. It is common to overlook difficulties with activities you have adapted to over time. For example, if you no longer cook because it is too difficult and rely on microwave meals instead, that is a relevant difficulty with "preparing food". Even if some activities feel embarrassing to discuss (such as toileting or washing), being honest is essential. The assessor deals with these topics regularly and needs the full picture. Mental health conditions can affect many activities — for example, severe anxiety can affect engaging with others, planning journeys, and managing money. Cognitive difficulties can affect managing medication, reading signs, and budgeting.
Bring someone with you
You have the right to bring a companion to your PIP assessment — a friend, family member, support worker, or anyone you choose. This person can play several valuable roles during the assessment. They can remind you of things you might forget to mention — particularly important if you have memory problems, cognitive difficulties, or anxiety that makes it hard to recall details under pressure. They can provide their own perspective on how your condition affects you — for example, "She says she manages, but I see her struggling with the stairs every day." They can also provide emotional support, which can make the experience less stressful. Let the assessor know your companion is there at the start of the assessment. The companion should not answer questions for you, but the assessor may ask them directly for their observations. If you have a written statement from a carer or family member, you can hand this to the assessor.
You can record the assessment
You have the right to make an audio recording of your PIP assessment. To do this, it is recommended to let the assessment provider know in advance — usually at least 3 working days before the appointment. You would typically provide your own recording equipment, and the recording must be made on two devices so that both you and the assessment provider each keep a copy. Having a recording can be extremely useful if you later want to challenge the decision. You can compare what was said during the assessment with what appears in the assessor's report. Inaccuracies in the report are one of the most common grounds for a successful Mandatory Reconsideration or appeal. If you are unable to record, consider writing down everything you can remember immediately after the assessment — the questions asked, the answers you gave, and any observations the assessor made. This contemporaneous note can be useful evidence if you need to challenge the decision later.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most common mistake is minimising your difficulties. Many people instinctively say "I manage" or "I'm fine" when they actually struggle significantly. This is particularly common among people who have lived with their condition for a long time and have adapted to their limitations. If you "manage" but it takes you three times as long, causes significant pain, or puts you at risk, that is not truly "managing" — explain the full reality. Do not focus only on physical health if you also have mental health conditions. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions can significantly affect daily living and mobility activities. For example, severe anxiety can make it impossible to plan or follow a journey alone, and depression can make it extremely difficult to wash, dress, or prepare food. Do not assume the assessor knows your medical history — they may have limited information about you. Explain everything clearly, even if it feels repetitive. Do not rush your answers — take your time. If you need a break during the assessment, ask for one. If you arrive on a "good day", make sure to explain that today is not representative of your usual condition.
After the assessment
After the assessment, the health professional writes a report and sends it to the DWP. A DWP decision-maker reviews the report alongside all other evidence (your PIP2 form, medical evidence, any supporting letters) and makes the final decision. This process usually takes 4 to 6 weeks after the assessment. You will receive a decision letter explaining whether you have been awarded PIP and, if so, at which rate for each component. The letter should include the number of points scored for each activity and the evidence the decision was based on. Read this letter carefully — understanding how points were allocated helps you decide whether to challenge the decision. If you are not satisfied with the decision, you can request a Mandatory Reconsideration within 1 month of the decision date. In your request, explain specifically which activities you believe were scored incorrectly and why. Include any new evidence. Around 25% of reconsiderations result in a changed decision. If the reconsideration is unsuccessful, you can appeal to an independent tribunal — around 60% of PIP tribunal appeals are successful.
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Important: Benefits Robin is not affiliated with the DWP or UK Government. We provide information and assistance, not legal or financial advice. These are estimates based on your answers. Final decisions are made by the DWP.