PIP assessment: what happens and how to prepare

An assessment may be arranged if more information is needed for your PIP claim. It is intended to explore how your health conditions affect your daily living and mobility needs.

What happens in an assessment

Assessments can take place by telephone, video call, at an assessment centre or sometimes at home.
A health professional may ask about ordinary daily activities, treatment, mobility and the help you need. Simple movements may be discussed or observed when relevant.

Prepare with your own examples

Revisit the answers and evidence you supplied with your original claim. Make short notes about actual experiences and the support you receive.
Think about whether you can manage an activity safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and in a reasonable time.

Support during the appointment

You may have a friend, relative or support worker with you. Check your invitation for accessibility arrangements and contact information.
If you need adjustments, contact the assessment provider rather than assuming the format cannot change.

After the assessment

DWP makes the benefit decision and sends a decision letter. The health professional does not award PIP during the appointment.
Our assessment preparation guidance is educational; it does not supply scripted answers or guarantee any award.

Questions an assessor might explore

How do you usually prepare and cook food? Can you do it safely without supervision?
Do you need prompting to wash, dress, take nutrition or manage treatment? Who provides it?
Can you communicate and engage with people face to face? What support is actually required?
How do you plan and follow journeys, and what distance can you move around reliably?

Write an example before the appointment

Record one or two real incidents for each activity that causes difficulty.
Include what happened before, during and after the task, any aids or person helping and how frequently this happens.
Consider the four reliability factors: safely, acceptable standard, repeatedly and reasonable time.

If you need adjustments

Check the appointment details for accessibility requests, a companion or interpreter.
If you struggle with a scheduled format, contact the named assessment provider as soon as possible rather than simply missing it.
Ask for a question to be repeated or clarified if needed and explain when an answer varies across days.

What the appointment cannot tell you

An assessor gathers evidence; DWP makes the award decision.
A brief appointment may not show a fluctuating difficulty. Explain accurately how often a problem occurs and the consequences.
Do not rehearse someone else's account or exaggerate. The aim is an accurate record, not a particular score.

Check the official guidance

PIP information and official contact details can change. These are relevant GOV.UK resources.

You may also find these guides useful

Want more confidence before your assessment?

Compare PIP support packages, including personalised assessment preparation with Enhanced PIP Support.

Compare assessment support packages

Independent paid support is optional. We are not the DWP and cannot guarantee an award.

We help you explain your difficulties clearly and correctly. We cannot guarantee award outcomes — those decisions are made by the DWP.