PIP Knowledge 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does it mean when a PIP award is described as 'ongoing' with a 'light-touch review'?
- The claimant never needs to be reassessed
- The award is permanent and cannot be changed
- The DWP will review it periodically but expects the condition to remain stable (Correct answer)
- The claimant must report any change within 7 days
Correct answer: The DWP will review it periodically but expects the condition to remain stable
An 'ongoing' award with a light-touch review means the DWP considers the condition stable but will still carry out periodic checks, typically every 10 years.
Question 2: If a PIP claimant disagrees with a decision, what is the first formal step they must take before appealing to a tribunal?
- File a complaint with the Parliamentary Ombudsman
- Request a Mandatory Reconsideration (Correct answer)
- Contact their local MP
- Submit a subject access request
Correct answer: Request a Mandatory Reconsideration
Before appealing, a claimant must first ask DWP for a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR), which is an internal review of the decision.
Question 3: Which of the following correctly describes the 'reliability' criteria used in PIP assessments?
- Tasks must be completed without any assistance
- Tasks must be done safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time (Correct answer)
- Tasks must be completed faster than the average person
- Tasks must be performed in a clinical setting
Correct answer: Tasks must be done safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time
PIP guidance states that an activity is only considered achievable if it can be done safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and within a reasonable time period.
Question 4: How frequently does DWP typically pay PIP to claimants?
- Weekly
- Monthly
- Every 4 weeks (Correct answer)
- Every 2 weeks
Correct answer: Every 4 weeks
PIP is normally paid every four weeks directly into the claimant's bank, building society, or credit union account.
Question 5: Which activity under the PIP Daily Living component relates to a claimant's ability to communicate with others?
- Engaging with other people face to face (Correct answer)
- Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
- Making budgeting decisions
- Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
Correct answer: Engaging with other people face to face
Activity 9 ('Engaging with other people face to face') assesses whether a claimant can initiate and sustain verbal or non-verbal social interactions.
Question 6: A claimant moving from Disability Living Allowance to PIP under managed migration is reassessed. If their new PIP award is lower, what protection applies?
- No protection; the new rate applies immediately
- Transitional protection payments to make up the difference temporarily (Correct answer)
- Permanent top-up payments for life
- They revert to DLA automatically
Correct answer: Transitional protection payments to make up the difference temporarily
Claimants who receive a lower award following DLA-to-PIP migration are entitled to a transitional protection top-up that is gradually reduced as their PIP award increases.
Question 7: Under PIP rules, what is meant by 'psychological distress' when evaluating the planning and following journeys activity?
- A formal psychiatric diagnosis must be provided
- Severe anxiety or overwhelming distress that prevents the claimant from undertaking a journey (Correct answer)
- Mild travel anxiety that the claimant can manage with effort
- Distress caused solely by physical pain during travel
Correct answer: Severe anxiety or overwhelming distress that prevents the claimant from undertaking a journey
Significant psychological distress that would prevent a journey counts toward the claimant's score, even in the absence of a physical condition.
PIP Knowledge 4
What does it mean when a PIP award is described as 'ongoing' with a 'light-touch review'?