PIP Application and Assessment Process 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: If a claimant disagrees with a PIP decision, what is the FIRST step they must take before appealing to a tribunal?
- Submit a complaint to their MP
- Request a Mandatory Reconsideration from the DWP (Correct answer)
- Apply directly to Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service
- Contact the assessment provider to dispute the report
Correct answer: Request a Mandatory Reconsideration from the DWP
Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) must be requested from the DWP before a claimant can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal — it is a mandatory gateway step.
Question 2: What is the time limit for requesting a Mandatory Reconsideration of a PIP decision?
- 14 days from the decision date
- 1 month from the date of the decision letter (Correct answer)
- 3 months from the decision date
- 6 weeks from the decision date
Correct answer: 1 month from the date of the decision letter
Claimants have 1 month from the date on the decision letter to request a Mandatory Reconsideration, though late requests can sometimes be accepted with good reason.
Question 3: When a PIP award is given, what is the minimum length of a short-term award?
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 1 year (Correct answer)
- 2 years
Correct answer: 1 year
PIP awards are given for a fixed period reviewed at intervals, and the minimum award period is typically 1 year, though most ongoing conditions attract longer awards.
Question 4: What document does DWP issue confirming the outcome of a PIP award, including the component rates and dates?
- A SR1 form
- A decision notice / award letter (Correct answer)
- A PIP2 response form
- An assessment report (AR1)
Correct answer: A decision notice / award letter
The decision notice (award letter) sets out whether PIP is awarded, the component (daily living and/or mobility), the rate, and the award period.
Question 5: Under the PIP assessment scoring system, what does a descriptor score of '0' signify for a given activity?
- The claimant cannot perform the activity at all
- The claimant can perform the activity unaided, safely, reliably and within a reasonable time (Correct answer)
- The claimant needs supervision but no physical assistance
- The data was insufficient to score that activity
Correct answer: The claimant can perform the activity unaided, safely, reliably and within a reasonable time
A score of 0 for an activity means the claimant can complete it independently, safely, to an acceptable standard, and in a reasonable time period without aids or appliances.
Question 6: A claimant's condition worsens substantially after their PIP award is made. What should they do?
- Wait until their scheduled review date
- Contact the DWP to report the change in circumstances, which may trigger a reassessment (Correct answer)
- Submit a brand-new PIP claim from scratch
- Ask their GP to write directly to the assessment provider
Correct answer: Contact the DWP to report the change in circumstances, which may trigger a reassessment
Claimants are obliged to report changes in circumstances to the DWP; a worsening condition may result in a supersession decision and a higher award.
Question 7: Which of the following correctly describes a 'reliability' criterion used in PIP assessments?
- The activity must be completed within twice the normal time it would take someone without the condition
- The activity must be completed within three times the normal time and on at least three days per week
- The activity must be completed safely, to an acceptable standard, as often as reasonably required, and within a reasonable time (Correct answer)
- The activity must be completed unaided every single day of the week
Correct answer: The activity must be completed safely, to an acceptable standard, as often as reasonably required, and within a reasonable time
PIP's reliability criteria state that an activity is only considered achievable if it can be done safely, to an acceptable standard, as often as needed, and in a reasonable time — failure on any of these means the claimant cannot reliably do it.
PIP Application and Assessment Process 4
If a claimant disagrees with a PIP decision, what is the FIRST step they must take before appealing to a tribunal?