PIP Eligibility Criteria 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A claimant's condition fluctuates day to day. How should the PIP assessor account for this?
- By considering how the condition affects the person over a 12-month period, including good and bad days (Correct answer)
- By only assessing the person on their worst recorded day
- By averaging only the last 30 days of symptoms
- By disregarding fluctuation and scoring only the assessment day
Correct answer: By considering how the condition affects the person over a 12-month period, including good and bad days
Assessors must consider the claimant's typical experience across a 12-month period, weighting both good and bad days rather than focusing on a single point in time.
Question 2: When transferring from DLA to PIP, if a claimant does not respond to the invitation to claim PIP, what typically happens?
- Their DLA payments stop (Correct answer)
- Their DLA is automatically converted to PIP at the same rate
- They are referred directly to Attendance Allowance
- Their case is deferred for two years
Correct answer: Their DLA payments stop
If a DLA claimant invited to claim PIP does not respond within the deadline, their DLA award ends and they lose their disability benefit.
Question 3: What form is a medical professional required to complete to support a terminal illness PIP claim under special rules?
- SR1 (formerly DS1500) (Correct answer)
- ESA113
- PIP2
- RM7
Correct answer: SR1 (formerly DS1500)
The SR1 form (renamed from DS1500 in 2022) is completed by a GP or specialist to certify a terminal prognosis and trigger expedited PIP processing.
Question 4: A claimant disagrees with a PIP decision. What is the FIRST mandatory step before they can appeal to a tribunal?
- Request a Mandatory Reconsideration from the DWP (Correct answer)
- File a complaint with their MP
- Submit evidence to the First-tier Tribunal directly
- Contact the Citizens Advice Bureau for a ruling
Correct answer: Request a Mandatory Reconsideration from the DWP
Claimants must first request a Mandatory Reconsideration, giving DWP the opportunity to review the decision internally, before an appeal to an independent tribunal is allowed.
Question 5: Scotland is gradually replacing PIP with a new benefit called what?
- Adult Disability Payment (ADP) (Correct answer)
- Scottish Disability Benefit (SDB)
- Inclusion Payment Scotland (IPS)
- Enhanced Disability Grant (EDG)
Correct answer: Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is the Scottish Government's replacement for PIP, administered by Social Security Scotland rather than the DWP.
Question 6: A PIP award is described as a 'fixed-term' award. What does this mean for the claimant?
- The award lasts for a set period after which the claimant must be reassessed (Correct answer)
- The award never changes once granted
- The claimant must reapply every month
- The award is paid as a lump sum, not weekly
Correct answer: The award lasts for a set period after which the claimant must be reassessed
Fixed-term awards expire on a set date, requiring the DWP to review the claim and the claimant's condition before renewing the payment.
Question 7: Which of the following claimants would most likely receive an 'ongoing' (indefinite) PIP award rather than a fixed-term one?
- A person with a severe, lifelong condition unlikely to improve (Correct answer)
- A person recovering from a temporary sports injury
- A person who scored exactly 8 points at first assessment
- A person who is also claiming Universal Credit
Correct answer: A person with a severe, lifelong condition unlikely to improve
Ongoing awards are reserved for claimants whose condition is severe and there is no expectation of improvement, removing the need for regular review.
PIP Eligibility Criteria 5
A claimant's condition fluctuates day to day.
How should the PIP assessor account for this?