Understanding the DWP PIP 'light touch' review questions for claimants

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has recently confirmed that reviews for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) awards are currently taking an average of 38 weeks to complete. According to new DWP data, between May and the end of July, 150,000 award reviews were completed, with priority being given to new claims to ensure swift support.

Existing claimants awaiting a review will have their award automatically extended by up to 12 months, ensuring no interruption in payments until the review is completed. Currently, over 3.8 million people are claiming PIP, with approximately 1,000 new awards issued daily.

Those with an ongoing health condition will receive a 'light touch' review after 10 years to ensure they are receiving the correct support. In most cases, these claimants may not need to attend an assessment and will only need to complete a six-page form.

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Ongoing awards are primarily issued to people requiring the highest level of support from both the daily living and mobility components of PIP, whose needs will not change or will only deteriorate - since 2019, this also includes most people who have reached State Pension age.

For reference use only, the DWP has published a sample copy of the 'PIP AR2' form as part of the PIP Toolkit on GOV.UK., reports the Daily Record.

However, it's a brilliant method for people with a light-touch award to comprehend the queries they'll have to respond to on the review document before the DWP's letter arrives, enabling them to compile any specific data required in advance.

Sections on the PIP review form

The six-page review form includes:

• 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 that 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 guidance states that 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 that you have a long-term health condition/disability or that you are over State Pension age
• Confirm your current awards for daily living and/or mobility
• Set out the needs or difficulties that 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.