The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has made a significant announcement, stating that “in most cases” individuals approaching the end of their decade-long Personal Independence Payment (PIP) awards this year will not be subjected to an in-person assessment. This development is a continuation of the new streamlined PIP review process, which includes a shorter form now being dispatched to recipients with ‘light-touch’ awards, typically lasting between five to ten years.
For those curious about the upcoming changes, the DWP has released a sample ‘PIP AR2’ form on the GOV. UK website as part of the PIP Toolkit, intended solely for reference.
This sample form provides a valuable preview for light-touch award beneficiaries, enabling them to familiarise themselves with the questions they’ll need to address on the six-page document and prepare any necessary information in advance of receiving official correspondence from the DWP.
Since 2019, ongoing awards have been predominantly reserved for individuals requiring the highest level of support or those whose conditions are expected to remain constant or worsen over time. Notably, this also encompasses the majority of people who have attained State Pension age, reports the Daily Record.
The PIP review form spans six pages and includes various sections:
The six-page review form covers:
- Identity and contact details
- Immigration status
- Your main healthcare professional
- Details of any changes to your health condition or disability
- Details of any changes to your daily living needs
- Details of any changes to your mobility needs
- Your consent to allow the DWP to collect further information
The PIP AR2 form poses a total of 16 questions, covering topics such as:
About you
Q1 – Your name
Q2 – Your date of birth
Q3 – Your address
Q4 – Is this a hospital, hospice or other residential or nursing care accommodation?
Q5 – Your correspondence address
Q6 – A phone number DWP can contact you on
Q7 – Have there been any changes to your immigration status? – additional space is provided to write an answer
Q8 – Tell DWP anything they need to know about how they communicate with you – additional space is provided to write an answer
Information regarding the main healthcare professional involved in your care
Q9 – What is their name?
Q10 – What is their job?
Q11 – What is their phone number?
Q12 – What is the address where they work?
Details pertaining to your health condition or disability
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The form also reminds people: “PIP is assessed on how your condition affects you, not the condition itself.”
Questions 13, 14 and 15 are given the most amount of space on the form to write additional information.
Q13 – Have there been any changes in your health condition or disability since DWP last awarded you PIP?
Q14 – Have your daily living needs changed since DWP last made a decision on your PIP?
Q15 – Have your mobility needs changed since DWP last made a decision on your PIP?
Consent for DWP to collect further information.
Q16 – Do you give consent for your doctor or other relevant professionals to give DWP more information about your health condition or disability?
The final question also provides guidance on giving DWP consent to obtain further information on how your health condition affects you.
The form explains: “The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or approved healthcare professionals that work for DWP, might need more information about your health condition or disability and how it affects you.”
“They might ask, with your consent, for relevant information from your doctor, or any other relevant professional you tell them about.”
“DWP can lawfully ask your doctor, hospital consultant or other relevant professionals for information about your health condition and how it affects you. This is because we are asking for the information to help us carry out our official social security functions.”
It further explains, “You do not have to give your consent. If you do not, DWP will make a decision based on the information they have already, as well as any you give DWP yourself.”
The final leaf of the document features a declaration for the claimant to validate with a signature and date. The AR2 award review form can be accessed online.
The reviewing process of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), according to DWP is such that current PIP recipients will continue receiving it throughout the review period. Claimants will receive the form together with an explanatory letter.
Like all review forms, it comes with a deadline usually one month from the dispatch of the letter and form. If completing it within this timeframe is challenging, ring the PIP inquiry line on 0800 121 4433 urgently.
