What the PIP claim form is and where to get it

The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim form is the document you submit to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to request an assessment for PIP. You do not pick it up in person — the DWP sends it to you by post after you make an initial claim by phone or online.

To start the process, you contact the DWP's PIP claim line at 0800 917 2222 (textphone 0800 917 7777). During this call, you provide basic information: your name, address, date of birth, and National Insurance number. The DWP then posts the full claim form to your address within a few days. You cannot read the form in advance or request it by email; the postal form is the official version the DWP will accept.

If you are explore on behalf of someone else — as a parent, guardian, or representative — you still call the same number, but you will need to provide their details and your relationship to them. The form will be addressed to the person claiming PIP, not to you.

Key Takeaways

  • The PIP claim form arrives by post after you call the DWP, not before, so you must phone 0800 917 2222 to start your claim.
  • The form asks detailed questions about how your condition affects your daily activities and mobility, and your answers determine whether you are invited for an assessment.
  • You have one month from the date the form arrives to return it; missing this important date can delay your claim or result in it being rejected.
  • The form accepts handwritten answers, but typed or printed responses are clearer and less likely to be misread by the assessor.
  • Sending the form by recorded delivery protects you if the DWP claims it never arrived, and you should keep a copy for your own records.

What information the form asks for

The PIP claim form has two main sections: one about your health condition or disability, and one about how it affects your daily life. The first section asks when your condition started, what it is called, what treatment you receive, and which healthcare professionals you see. You will need the names and addresses of your GP and any specialists (such as a consultant or physiotherapist) because the DWP will contact them to verify your medical history.

The second section is longer and asks you to describe how your condition affects ten specific areas: preparing food, eating and drinking, managing toilet needs, washing and bathing, managing continence, dressing and undressing, communicating, reading and understanding, engaging with other people, and moving around. For each area, you describe what you can and cannot do, how often you need help, and whether you use aids or equipment. This is where your detailed account matters most — the assessor uses your answers to decide whether to invite you for a face-to-face assessment.

You are also asked about your support network: who helps you, how often, and what they help with. The form asks whether you have had a PIP assessment before, whether you are currently receiving other benefits, and whether you have any appointments with healthcare professionals coming up (because the DWP may want to time your assessment around them).

How to fill out the form accurately

Write or type your answers clearly and in as much detail as you can. The form has space for your answers, but if you need more room, you can attach extra pages — number them and write your National Insurance number on each one so the DWP knows which claim they belong to. Do not assume the assessor knows your condition; explain what happens on a typical day and what your worst days look like.

Be specific about timings and frequency. Instead of writing "I have difficulty walking," write something like "I can walk about 50 metres before I need to sit down for 10 minutes. On bad days I cannot walk more than 20 metres." Instead of "I need help with cooking," write "My partner prepares all my meals because I cannot stand for more than a few minutes and I am afraid of dropping hot pans." Concrete examples are harder to dismiss than general statements.

If you receive support from a carer, a family member, or a support worker, describe exactly what they do and how often. If you use equipment — a walking stick, a wheelchair, a hearing aid, a kitchen aid — mention it and explain what you can do with it and what you still cannot do. The form is asking the DWP to understand your life as it actually is, not as it might be in ideal circumstances.

Do not leave sections blank. If a question does not explore to you, write "Not applicable" or "N/A" rather than leaving the space empty. A blank space can be read as a missing answer, which may delay processing.

important date and what happens if you miss them

You have one month from the date printed on the form to return it to the DWP. The date is usually on the front page. If you return it after this important date, the DWP may reject your claim and you will have to start over. There is no automatic extension, though you can contact the DWP and explain if you have a good reason for the delay — illness, bereavement, or a postal service failure — and ask them to consider your late form. Whether they agree depends on their assessment of your circumstances.

Send the form by recorded delivery or special delivery so you have proof it arrived. Keep the receipt and a photocopy of the completed form for yourself. If the DWP later says they never received it, you have evidence to dispute that. Standard first-class post is not tracked, so if it goes missing, you have no proof you sent it.

After you return the form, the DWP reviews your answers. This can take several weeks. They may contact your healthcare providers to ask for medical evidence. If they think they need more information, they will write to you and ask you to provide it within a set timeframe — usually two weeks. If you miss that important date, your claim can be closed.

What happens after you submit the form

Once the DWP has reviewed your form and any medical evidence, they decide whether to invite you for an assessment. Not everyone is assessed; if your form shows clear evidence that you meet the PIP criteria, the DWP may award you PIP without an assessment. If they think an assessment is needed, they will write to you with a date, time, and location. The assessment is usually carried out by a healthcare professional (not a DWP employee) at a local assessment centre.

If you are not invited for an assessment and you disagree with the decision, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month of the decision letter. This means the DWP reviews the decision again. If you still disagree after that, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber), which is an independent body that hears PIP disputes.

The whole process from submitting the form to receiving a decision typically takes three to four months, though it can be longer if the DWP needs additional medical evidence or if there are delays in contacting your healthcare providers.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not downplay your condition or assume the DWP knows how bad things are. Many people write vague answers because they feel uncomfortable describing their difficulties in detail, but the assessor can only work with what you tell them. If you struggle with something, say so clearly.

Do not describe your best-case scenario. The form asks how your condition affects you on a typical day. If you have good days and bad days, describe both, but focus on what is realistic for you most of the time. The DWP is not interested in the rare occasion when you manage something; they want to know what you can reliably do.

Do not forget to mention aids or equipment you use. Some people worry that using a walking stick or a hearing aid will count against them, but it does not. The form asks what you can do with support and equipment, so mentioning them is important — it shows the DWP what you need to function.

Do not submit the form without keeping a copy. If there is a dispute later about what you wrote, you need your own record. Also do not send the original form by standard post without tracking; use recorded or special delivery.

Getting help with the form

If you find the form difficult to complete, several organisations offer free support. Citizens information has local offices that can help you fill it out. Disability Rights UK and the Equality and Human Rights Commission both have guides and can point you toward local support. Your local council may have a welfare rights service that helps with benefit forms. Some charities that work with your specific condition also offer form-filling support.

You can also ask someone to help you complete the form — a family member, a friend, a support worker, or an adviser. They can help you put your experience into words, but the answers must be yours. If you want someone to represent you in later stages (such as an appeal), you can appoint them as your representative, but that is a separate step.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can request a textphone number (0800 917 7777) when you call to start your claim. If you need the form in a different format — large print, Braille, audio — tell the DWP when you call and they will send it in that format.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I do not have a GP or I have not seen a doctor recently?

Tell the DWP this on the form. If you have not seen a healthcare professional in a long time, the DWP may ask you to see your GP so they can get up-to-date medical evidence. You are not required to have a GP to claim PIP, but the DWP needs some way to verify your condition, so they may contact other people who know about your health — a support worker, a social worker, or a hospital consultant if you have seen one.

Can I submit the form online or by email?

No. The DWP only accepts the official form by post. You cannot scan and email it, and there is no online submission option for the claim form itself. You must return the physical form by post. However, you can start your claim online or by phone, and you can manage some aspects of your claim through your online DWP account once it is set up.

What if my condition changes while I am waiting for a decision?

Tell the DWP in writing. Send a letter to the address on your claim form explaining what has changed and how it affects you. Include the date of the change. The DWP will add this to your file and the assessor will see it. Do not wait until the assessment to mention it.

Do I need to provide medical evidence with the form?

No, you do not attach medical evidence to the form. The DWP contacts your healthcare providers themselves to request your medical records. However, if you have recent test results, scan reports, or letters from specialists that you think are important, you can send them separately with a covering letter explaining why you are sending them. Include your National Insurance number on everything.

What if I cannot return the form within one month?

Contact the DWP as soon as you know you will miss the important date. Explain why — illness, hospital admission, bereavement, or a postal delay — and ask them to extend the important date. They may agree, especially if you have a genuine reason. If you do not contact them and you miss the important date, your claim will likely be rejected and you will have to start over.