PIP Knowledge 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How many points must a claimant score on the Daily Living activities to qualify for the standard rate of the Daily Living component?
- 4 points
- 8 points (Correct answer)
- 12 points
- 16 points
Correct answer: 8 points
A claimant needs 8 to 11 points on Daily Living activities to receive the standard rate of that component.
Question 2: Which government agency is responsible for carrying out PIP assessments in Great Britain?
- Jobcentre Plus
- HMRC
- The Pension Service
- Independent assessment providers contracted by DWP (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Independent assessment providers contracted by DWP
DWP contracts independent healthcare assessment providers (such as Capita or Atos) to conduct face-to-face or paper-based PIP assessments.
Question 3: Under the PIP rules, what happens to a claimant's award when they reach State Pension age?
- The award automatically ends
- The award continues but cannot be increased (Correct answer)
- The claimant must reapply under Attendance Allowance
- Nothing changes; PIP continues indefinitely
Correct answer: The award continues but cannot be increased
Existing PIP claimants can keep their award past State Pension age, but they cannot make a new or additional claim once they reach that age.
Question 4: Which of the following is NOT one of the ten daily living activities assessed for PIP?
- Managing toilet needs
- Preparing food
- Reading and understanding signs
- Driving a motor vehicle (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Driving a motor vehicle
Driving is not an assessed activity; PIP focuses on activities such as preparing food, washing, dressing, and communicating.
Question 5: What is the minimum period a claimant must expect their condition to last before they can qualify for PIP?
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 12 months (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 12 months
To be eligible for PIP, the claimant must have had their health condition or disability for at least 3 months and expect it to last at least 9 more months (the 'prospective test'), but the total qualifying period is 12 months.
Question 6: In a PIP assessment, what does the term 'descriptor' refer to?
- A medical diagnosis submitted by a GP
- A statement describing a level of difficulty with a specific activity (Correct answer)
- A list of aids and adaptations the claimant uses
- A written report produced by the assessor
Correct answer: A statement describing a level of difficulty with a specific activity
Descriptors are predefined statements that describe how much difficulty a person has with each activity; each carries a specific point value.
Question 7: Which of the following statements about the PIP 'mobility' component is correct?
- It covers only the ability to drive
- It covers difficulties planning or following journeys and moving around (Correct answer)
- It applies only to wheelchair users
- It is paid at a single flat rate
Correct answer: It covers difficulties planning or following journeys and moving around
The mobility component covers two activities: 'planning and following journeys' and 'moving around,' and is paid at standard or enhanced rates.
PIP Knowledge 2
How many points must a claimant score on the Daily Living activities to qualify for the standard rate of the Daily Living component?