Free PIP Help & Templates

Questions I get asked all the time.

If you’re feeling confused, unsure, or just need things explaining properly — you’re in the right place.

For more quick answers, you can also watch my video here.

These answers are based on real experience and what I see every day.

What’s Covered on This Page?

We’ve organised our Frequently Asked Questions into the following topics to help you find the information you’re looking for more quickly.

  • Bookings & Choosing a Service

  • Eligibility & Can I Claim?

  • Claim Process, Forms & Timelines

  • Assessments

  • Points, Scoring & Awards

  • Evidence & Aids

  • Work, Daily Life & Circumstances

  • Payments & Backdating

  • Appeals, Mandatory Reconsiderations & Tribunal

  • Previous Claims & Reclaims

  • UK Nations & Location Rules

  • Strategy & Best Chance of Success

Bookings & Choosing a service

  • You can find a brief description of all of the services on our services page. You can click on each service and it will take you to Calendly where you can read a more detailed version of each service. If you are still unsure, email us at charliesjourney2024@outlook.com and explain you need help with making a booking.

  • Charlie has experience helping people with all sorts of conditions apply for PIP. The most important thing to know is it does NOT matter what your condition is, it is how the condition impacts your daily life. This means that no matter what your condition, if you qualify for PIP, Charlie can help you with the process.

  • Yes. While it’s called ADP in Scotland and PIP in the rest of the UK, the assessment and criteria are based on the same activities — so all of our guidance and services apply.

Eligibility & Can I Claim?

  • No. Although PIP is not awarded based on a specific condition or diagnosis, you must have a diagnosed health condition or disability that is affecting your daily life.

    If you’re currently undergoing investigations but haven’t yet received a diagnosis, you should wait until your condition has been diagnosed before making a claim.

    Remember, PIP is based on how your diagnosed condition affects your ability to carry out the daily living and mobility activities, not on the diagnosis itself.

  • It’s not about the medical condition, it’s about the impact to your daily living and mobility. If your life is being impacted by your chronic illness that you have had for more than 3 months and will continue for more than 9 months, prevents you from living a ‘normal’ life, then you are entitled to PIP. No specific condition means you will automatically get PIP, this is a MYTH!

  • Yes. PIP is designed for those of us with physical conditions, mental health conditions or a combination of the two.

  • Yes, you can still win PIP if you are able to drive

  • Yes, you can still win PIP if you are able to work

  • Yes, you can still win PIP if you have a pet. You will get asked questions about how you look after your pets but you can still win.

  • If you submitted your claim before you came of pension age, then yes. If it was after, then no.

  • You must be living in Great Britain when you claim PIP, and you generally need to have lived in Great Britain for at least two of the last three years.

Claim Process, Forms & Timelines

  • It takes ages! PIP is a marathon not a sprint. From claim form, to mandatory reconsideration to logging a tribunal and finally being treated fairly I recommend planning it to take 12-14 MONTHS. The funding is then back dated to when you logged your claim. When you log your claim the form normally arrives within 4 weeks, you then submit it and assessments tend to happen about 2 months later. Then its about 4-6 weeks to get your outcome letter.

  • You log with DWP that you want to make a PIP claim. First you get a 28 page form that is address and GP information. Then they send a 44 page form out for you to complete and return back to them. Then you will be given a date and time for the assessment. Don’t worry if you don’t get your date and time straight away. It takes them ages to book it and send you a letter. After the assessment they will send the report to you (again, it might be a while before you receive this). You will probably disagree with the report, in which case you will send them a Mandatory Reconsideration (appeal) letter. You have 30 days to do this (ideally, but with reason you can send this in late). Then you might get a phone call but most often you simple get a 'no change' letter. If you still disagree with the report, you will submit a tribunal submissions pack, you could receive an 'offer' before attending a tribunal. From logging your claim form to completing the tribunal section can take 12-14 months.

  • Don’t worry about it. PIP is all about the assessment. Whatever you think you have missed or whatever you want to expand on can be discussed in the assessment. The assessment is your key time to get all your important information across.

  • There are two types of review form out there, It's nothing to worry about

Assessments

  • Charlie has some very good videos on her channel that can help here. Charlie offers Practice Sessions for returning clients (if she has already done your claim/review/MR).

    Please contact us if you would like to book one in.

  • Charlie has experience helping people with all sorts of conditions apply for PIP. The most important thing to know is it does NOT matter what your condition is, it is how the condition impacts your daily life. This means that no matter what your condition, if you qualify for PIP, Charlie can help you with the process.

  • Yes.

  • Personally, I would not take the call, I am vulnerable and my brain fog can be severe. This isn't just with PIP, its any numbers I do not recognise. It is a reasonable request that they give you notice. If you misword something or you are panicking and say something that is not right, they will document it. My advice is to explain it is not a good time, you are not feeling well but if they send you a letter with a time and date you will try your best to you plan your medication/fatigue levels/mental health for the new date and time. Or, explain that you would prefer to have someone with you (partner/friend) so if they send you a letter with a time and date you will make the appropriate arrangements.

  • PIP look at how you present yourself. If on a normal day you cannot put makeup on then DON’T put it on for the assessment. If on a normal day you cannot wear certain clothes (zips/buttons/laces/tight fitting etc) then DON’T wear them for the assessment. During the assessment if you are trying to explain that you cannot cook for yourself but you turn up with a blow dry and mascara, they are not going to believe youand you won’t get the points. From the moment you park your car, you are under assessment. They are taking note of how you get into the building, how long it takes you, how you manage getting through doors, how you stand up from the chair you sit in and how you manage to leave after your assessment.

  • In my experience the majority have been lovely! The ones I have met have mostly been nurses and I found them helpful and full of advice. Some might be inexperienced in some areas but on the whole, they are helpful. I have only had 1 who wasn’t very nice.

  • Yes! You cannot record a tribunal though. We recommend you record your assessment yourself and let them know at the beginning of your assessment. Refer to urgent video here for more information

  • Yes! We recommend you record your assessment yourself and let them know at the beginning of your assessment because we hear too often that their recordings have gone missing/not worked.

  • Yes, they like to know in advance. However, if you didn’t know in advance you could record or hadn’t planned on it then make sure you inform them at the beginning of your meeting.

Points, Scoring & Awards

  • 8 Points

  • 12 Points

  • There are two Components to PIP; Daily Living and Mobility. Daily Living is made up of 10 activities (Preparing Food, Taking Nutrition, Washing & Bathing, Dressing & Undressing, Managing Therapy or Monitoring a Health Condition, Managing Toilet Needs & Incontinence, Making Budget Decisions, Engaging with Other People Face to Face, Reading & Understanding Signs, Symbols and Words, andCommunicating Verbally). To be awarded PIP in Daily Living, you need to score a total of 8 points for standard or 12 points for enhanced across all 10 activities. It doesn't matter how the scores are spread out. Mobility is made up of 2 activities; Planning & Following a Journey and Moving Around. Again, you need to score a total of 8 points for standard or 12 points for enhanced across the 2 activities in this component. For more information on the points watch this video.

Evidence & Aids

  • Please watch this video.

  • Please watch this video.

  • Please watch this guide.

  • Please watch this guide.

  • When you do the parts of the form like, preparing food and you do NOT have an aid as you can't afford it.(Use the following example and change to your situation) Write something like this in that part of the form: My thumbs are a big problem for me because of (put condition). I cannot afford any aids but I know I need them, if I get PIP I will buy them. Because of this I can only prepare a meal (explain how you manage to eat meals). Also, if you contact your local council they have an Occupational Therapy team. They can come and do a visit with you and if they are agree you are entitled to the aids you will get them for FREE!

Work, Daily Life & Circumstances

  • Nothing. There is NO section on ANY PIP forms about employment. PIP is about how you manage the 12 daily activities from Daily Living and Mobility. There is NO section on employment as it is NOT what they are assessing. Yes, they will ask you on the assessment and if you are employed (as many of us are) they will focus on how you manage your job with your condition. But on the form, there is NO area to discuss employement. Focus on the activities on the form and how you manage them.

  • They are interested in prescribed medication that you ARE taking. If you are not receiving treatment, for many conditions they will see this as an indicator that you are OK. The treatment we are receving shows the severity of our conditions. There are some conditions where treatment is limited and they will understand that. If you are prescribed medication and you are not taking it, please speak to your medical professional urgently and discuss this.

  • Yes this counts!

  • When you receive PIP if you go away for more than 4 weeks, if its not due to medical reasons it can impact your claim.

  • It might trigger specific questions on your assessment, for example: walking through the airport, carrying bags, etc. Just be honest, don't forget PIP is about CURRENT DAILY life....and the 12 activities is what they focus on.

  • Every person’s situation is different, so we can’t advise on individual Change of Circumstances enquiries through our website or by email.

    Charlie has created a video explaining the things she recommends people consider when deciding whether to report a Change of Circumstances. We hope you find it helpful.

    🎥 Watch the video here

    As every claim is unique, you’ll need to consider the information in the video alongside your own circumstances to decide what is right for you.

    We hope the video helps answer your question.

    Please note: Charlie is unable to advise on individual Change of Circumstances decisions by email, as every situation is unique.

Payments & Backdating

  • PIP is normally backdated to the date you made your initial claim. This is because it can take months for your application to be processed and for you to receive a decision.

Appeals, Mandatory Reconsideration & Tribunal

  • Charlie has some very good videos on Tribunal that can help here & here. You can find Charlie’s free submission pack on our free stuff page. Also make sure you practice as if you were having an assessment and watch Charlie’s Trickery videos here.

    If you still require further support, we also offer a range of Tribunal services, including Tribunal Feedback & Action Points (0–5 Points), Tribunal Feedback & Action Points (6+ Points), and a Tribunal Document Check for new clients. Full details can be found on our Services page.

  • It is unlikely you will get the correct points! This is why most people need to do a Mandatory Reconsideration (appeal) to get the right points. It is not personal, it just seems to be the way it is. It is important that you do not give up!

  • You need to follow the appeal process, to start with it's a Mandatory Reconsideration and if this does not work the next step is a Tribunal.  Please check out the guides we have on the YouTube channel and please remember you have access to our free templates.

  • Its totally your choice. If you start a new claim, it means you will lose the back dated money if you are given an award. I tend to work with clients through the whole process until they are treated fairly or until the client feels happy and wants to stop. Everything links back to you understanding the points, how they assess you and how your life is reflected in the PIP Points. If you do not understand this, unfortunatly it probably won't matter what you do as you may not win again. I would say: do you understand where you score? That is the most important question. If no, study and then look at your claim again; are you now able to communicate more clearly during Mandatory Reconsideration or Tribunal? If yes, go this route. If you watch the guides and realise you did not have good evidence, you need more help with your conditions. I would say do that, then start a claim again when you have your ducks in a row. Sorry its not a straight forward answer on this one. Only you understand YOUR life.

  • Yes! Annoying I know!

  • If you submit your Mandatory Reconsideration BEFORE coming of pension age then yes, if it was after, then no.

  • You are allowed a further 12 months if you have a reason for being late. Your reason can be that you need more time to collate your evidence or that you are feeling unwell.

  • Don't worry, you have time to still submit it but you need to explain why it was late.

  • They do not often give life time awards, even my non-verbal, autistic clients do not get lifetime awards. Its more normal to get an award for 3 or sometimes 5 years. This is normal.

  • If you have an open Tribunal/MR, I am very sorry but we cannot advise what is best to do as Charlie would need to understand your whole claim. At this time Charlie is not taking on new Tribunal cases. If you do chose to start a new claim you are more than welcome to book with Charlie

  • Charlie has made this video to help answer this question, please take a look.

Previous Claims & Reclaims

  • No.

Strategy & Best Chance of Success

  • The assessment! How you answer the questions is key! It doesn’t matter how good/bad your form is, it is all about how you communicate in the assessment.

  • My main advice is just be honest. All we are doing is being honest about how our life is impacted. Yesyou have to explain it in a way that meets to the PIP points, but you need to be honest in your answers. I do not agree with lying to win PIP. You also need to know your averages. Please check out the guides on YouTube.

UK Nations & Location Rules

  • In Scotland its called ADP, it’s a different booklet (not a form) for a claim. But what they assess us against, the 12 activities is the SAME for all of us. PIP is only available to those in Northern Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland the have Disability Allowance.

Please note: Answers are based on personal experience and real client situations.