Applying for Personal Indpendence Payment (PIP) can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to explain how your condition affects your everyday life. To help make the process clearer, we’ve created this quick-read guide with practical tips and suggestions based on the experiences of people we support.
These tips are designed to sit alongside our main PIP Guide, which goes into more detail about eligibility, the assessment process, and how to complete each part of the form.
You can read the full guide here: Personal Independence Payment Eligibility Explained.
Whether you’re completing the form yourself or supporting someone else with theirs, we hope these insights help you feel more confident and informed throughout the process.
PIP Tip 1. Read the question, then read it again
Reading the questions and taking the time to make sure you understand what they are asking you is vital. The questions can be vague and rushing through could cause you to miss out on the amount you are entitled to.
PIP Tip 2. Answer the question based on your worst day
PIP is there to support you with the things you need in order to live comfortably. Answering the questions based on your worst day means that you will have the support available for the days you really need it.
PIP Tip 3. You can have someone fill out the form on your behalf
If you know you would struggle to read and fill in the form you can get someone to fill it out on your behalf. This does not have to be a professional it can be a family member or friend or services designed to help if you need them. Although the form will need to be signed off by the person claiming PIP.
PIP Tip 4. Know and use the resources available if you need to
There is a wide variety of services available for you to use both for giving advice and for helping you complete forms. The following is a short, non-exhaustive list, there is much more out there if you need it.
- Citizens Advice – advice and people who can fill out forms
- OpenSight – advice and support
- RNIB benefits advice – advice and support
- Disability Rights UK – detailed guides and advice
- Mental health and money advice service – detailed guides and advice
PIP Tip 5. Always use the “extra information” boxes
Each question will have a box for extra information. Make sure you fill in that box for as many of the questions as you can. It allows you to give more examples and more details about the way your condition affects your ability to do daily tasks.
PIP Tip 6. Add multiple examples
Try to give several examples especially for the tasks that are more difficult, the more examples you give the better understanding they have of how your condition affects you.
PIP Tip 7. Don’t assume they know your condition and how it affects you
Explain your condition in detail even if it seems obvious, every condition affects different people in different ways. Assuming the accessor knows about your condition could mean you lose out on something you’re entitled to.
PIP Tip 8. Think about what support you want not what support you get
You don’t need to get the support or treatment currently in order to be eligible for PIP. Think about the support you could be getting and how it would benefit your life if you had it. Make sure to mention the how and why what you receive at the moment is insufficient.
PIP Tip 9. Be accurate
When asking if you can do the task what they are asking is if you can do the task safely, repeatedly, without help and to the same standard as everyone else. Likewise, if a task causes you pain or causes an abnormal amount of fatigue make sure to mention it.
PIP Tip 10. Be honest
PIP forms can be difficult to complete as it often involves talking about the things you cannot do in great detail. It can be a very emotional and demoralising experience. However being honest about what areas you struggle with will help you receive what you should receive. Do not feel ashamed at what you can’t do, that’s what PIP is there for.
Need more information?
Need more information on Personal Independence Payment? Check out the following links from the government and RNIB websites.
Government website
RNIB website
We are aware that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are planning to make some changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP). We want to reassure you that these changes should not affect your eligibility for PIP if you are registered Sight Impaired or Severely Sight Impaired. However, it is now more than ever important that you answer questions based on your worst day and do not try and downplay the struggles you face as this may affect whether you are eligible. It is also important to inform you of the positive changes that are coming which will increase the amount of time people will have PIP for before having to reapply. For more tips on how to apply for PIP please see are Tips for PIP guide or call the office and book an appointment with one of the team
