PIP - Personal Independence Payment Providing Supporting Evidence Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A claimant has a severely fluctuating condition. Which of the following pieces of evidence would be most effective for demonstrating the day-to-day impact of their condition to a DWP decision-maker?
- A one-off letter from a GP confirming the diagnosis.
- A diary kept by the claimant for two to four weeks detailing their difficulties with specific PIP activities on good and bad days. (Correct answer)
- A prescription list showing the medication they take for the condition.
- A standard hospital discharge summary from six months ago.
Correct answer: A diary kept by the claimant for two to four weeks detailing their difficulties with specific PIP activities on good and bad days.
For fluctuating conditions, a diary is highly effective evidence. It provides a detailed, contemporaneous record of how the claimant's abilities change over time, directly linking their condition to the specific PIP activities. This helps the decision-maker understand the concept of what the claimant can do on the majority of days.
Question 2: When a health professional, such as a specialist or GP, provides a supporting letter for a PIP claim, which of the following elements makes the evidence most useful for the assessment?
- A detailed explanation of the medical diagnosis and its etiology.
- A list of all medications prescribed, including dosages.
- A focus on the functional impact of the condition, explaining how it affects the claimant's ability to perform the specific PIP activities reliably. (Correct answer)
- A strong statement simply confirming that the claimant should be entitled to PIP.
Correct answer: A focus on the functional impact of the condition, explaining how it affects the claimant's ability to perform the specific PIP activities reliably.
PIP is awarded based on functional limitation, not the diagnosis itself. Therefore, the most valuable evidence from a health professional is that which clearly explains how the claimant's health condition impacts their ability to carry out the daily living and mobility activities safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard, and in a reasonable time.
Question 3: A claimant submits their PIP2 'How your disability affects you' form, a recent report from their Occupational Therapist (OT), and a letter from their carer. How should a DWP decision-maker weigh these different types of evidence?
- The OT report is the only piece of evidence that should be considered as it is from a medical professional.
- The claimant's own account on the PIP2 form is considered the main evidence, with the other reports used to support and corroborate it. (Correct answer)
- The carer's letter should be disregarded as it is likely to be biased.
- Only evidence that has been specifically requested by the DWP should be given any weight.
Correct answer: The claimant's own account on the PIP2 form is considered the main evidence, with the other reports used to support and corroborate it.
The information the claimant provides is the primary source of evidence detailing their specific, personal difficulties. Evidence from health professionals (like an OT) and others who know the claimant (like a carer) is crucial for providing additional detail, context, and corroboration for the claimant's own account. All evidence should be considered together to form a complete picture.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of strong supporting evidence for a claim involving significant mental health difficulties affecting the 'Engaging with other people face to face' activity?
- An MRI scan of the claimant's brain.
- A letter from a Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) describing observed instances of the claimant's overwhelming distress in social situations. (Correct answer)
- A list of cancelled hospital appointments.
- A statement from the claimant saying they 'don't like crowds'.
Correct answer: A letter from a Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) describing observed instances of the claimant's overwhelming distress in social situations.
A letter from a CPN provides a professional, third-party observation of the claimant's functional difficulties in the specific context of the activity being assessed. It moves beyond a simple statement of diagnosis or preference to provide concrete examples of the impact of the mental health condition, which is highly valuable to an assessor.
Question 5: A decision-maker is reviewing a case where a report from a consultant neurologist, dated a year ago, states the claimant's condition is stable. However, a more recent letter from the claimant's GP, who sees them regularly, details a significant deterioration and provides specific examples of new functional limitations. How should the decision-maker proceed?
- Disregard the GP's letter as the consultant is a specialist and their opinion holds more weight regardless of date.
- Automatically accept the most recent evidence from the GP without question.
- Only consider the evidence that would lead to the lowest possible award.
- Weigh both pieces of evidence, considering their relevance, detail, and particularly the recency of the GP's letter which reflects the claimant's current state. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Weigh both pieces of evidence, considering their relevance, detail, and particularly the recency of the GP's letter which reflects the claimant's current state.
Decision-makers must consider all available evidence. While a specialist's opinion is important, the age of evidence is a key factor. A more recent report from a professional who has regular contact with the claimant and can describe their current functional ability is highly relevant and must be weighed carefully against older, potentially outdated, information.
Question 6: A claimant is advised not to delay returning their PIP2 form while waiting for a supporting letter from their consultant. What is the correct procedure in this situation?
- The claimant must wait for all evidence before submitting the form, even if it means missing the deadline.
- The claimant should submit the PIP2 form by the deadline and send the supporting evidence separately as soon as it is received. (Correct answer)
- The claimant should ask the DWP for an indefinite extension until all evidence is gathered.
- The claim will be automatically decided without the consultant's letter if it is not sent with the PIP2 form.
Correct answer: The claimant should submit the PIP2 form by the deadline and send the supporting evidence separately as soon as it is received.
Claimants are advised not to delay the return of their 'How your disability affects you' (PIP2) form while waiting for supporting evidence. They should return the form on time and forward the additional evidence to the DWP as soon as they receive it, ensuring it is considered before a decision is made.
PIP - Personal Independence Payment Providing Supporting Evidence Questions and Answers
A claimant has a severely fluctuating condition.
Which of the following pieces of evidence would be most effective for demonstrating the day-to-day impact of their condition to a DWP decision-maker?