Making a claim for PIP involves:
- completing a PIP1 Personal Independence Payment claim form, normally by phone
- completing a PIP2 How your disability affects you form
- possibly having a face-to-face assessment with a health professional.
PIP1 form
Your initial claim for PIP will usually be made by telephone to:
Telephone: 0800 917 2222
Textphone: 0800 917 7777
Calls are free from landlines and mobiles.
If you are not able to use a phone, you can write for a claim form to
Personal Independence Payment New Claims
Post Handling Site B
WOLVERHAMPTON
WV99 1AH
For more information, see www.gov.uk/pip/how-to-claim
PIP2 form
You will need to fill in a form which will ask you about problems you have with activities like cooking, bathing, dressing and undressing, moving around and all the other activities for which you can score points in the PIP test.
In March 2020 it was announced that the time limit for returning the PIP2 had been extended from a month to 90 days, as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Please check our Coronavirus updates page for the latest on this, as it could change back at any time.
You will also be given the opportunity to submit supporting evidence from health professionals, care workers and others. The company carrying out the assessment – Atos or Capita – may also contact your GP or specialist for evidence.
Face-to-face assessment
Most face-to-face assessments have currently been suspended due to coronavirus, though they are being reintroduced from May 2021 for some claimants. You are most likely to have a telephone assessment instead, though some assessments will be on paper only and video assessments are being introduced.
This assessment will be based mostly on asking you questions, with a minimum of physical examination.
All the evidence, including the medical report from your face-to-face assessment, will then be passed to a decision maker to make a final decision. If you are unhappy with the decision, you will have the right to appeal, although there will be a mandatory reconsideration process before you will be allowed to actually lodge an appeal.
