Filling in a PIP review form involves thoroughly describing how your condition affects your daily life and mobility, detailing any changes since your last assessment to help the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) understand your current needs.
A Personal Independence Payment (PIP) review form, often called an AR1 or PIP review questionnaire, is sent by the DWP to check if your condition and how it affects you have changed. It's an opportunity to update them on your current health challenges and ensure you receive the correct level of support.
Understanding the PIP Review Form's Purpose
The primary goal of the PIP review form is to reassess your entitlement based on your current circumstances. It focuses on how your health condition or disability impacts your ability to perform daily living and mobility activities, rather than the condition itself.
It's crucial to describe how you are now finding each task or activity. You must consider if anything has changed since your last assessment and whether completing these tasks is now harder or easier. The information you provide on this form is essential for the DWP to understand how your situation has evolved since your previous assessment.
Step-by-Step Guide to Completing Your PIP Review Form
Successfully completing your PIP review form requires careful thought and detailed explanations. Here's how to approach it:
1. Gather Essential Information and Evidence
Before you start writing, collect all relevant documents and information. This includes:
- Copies of previous PIP forms: If you have them, refer back to what you said last time.
- Medical evidence: Recent reports, diagnoses, treatment plans, prescriptions, or letters from doctors, specialists, therapists, or mental health professionals.
- A diary of your difficulties: Keep a record for a few weeks, noting specific examples of how your condition affects you on different days.
- Contact details: For any professionals involved in your care.
2. Address Each Activity in Detail
The form will ask about 10 daily living activities and 2 mobility activities. For each activity, you need to explain your difficulties.
Daily Living Activities:
- Preparing food: Can you prepare and cook a simple meal unaided?
- Eating and drinking: Can you cut food, bring it to your mouth, or drink without help?
- Managing treatment: Can you take medication, monitor your condition, and manage therapies?
- Washing and bathing: Can you wash and bathe in a standard unassisted manner?
- Managing toilet needs: Can you get to and from the toilet, clean yourself, and manage continence?
- Dressing and undressing: Can you put on and take off all your clothes?
- Communicating verbally: Can you speak, hear, and understand others?
- Reading: Can you read and understand written information (e.g., signs, labels, letters)?
- Engaging with others: Can you interact with people face-to-face appropriately?
- Making budgeting decisions: Can you manage money, pay bills, and make financial choices?
Mobility Activities:
- Planning and following journeys: Can you plan and follow the route of a journey without assistance?
- Moving around: Can you stand and move a specific distance?
For each activity, think about:
- What has changed? Have things become harder or easier since your last assessment?
- How does your condition affect you? Describe the specific difficulties you experience.
- Do you use aids or appliances? E.g., walking stick, grab rails, adapted cutlery.
- Do you need help from another person? E.g., prompting, supervision, physical assistance.
- Does it take you longer than twice as long as someone without your condition?
- Do your difficulties vary? Explain good days and bad days, and how often bad days occur.
- Is it safe to do the activity? Are you at risk of harm without supervision or assistance?
- Is it reliable? Can you do it repeatedly and to a reasonable standard?
3. Provide Specific Examples
Don't just say "I can't cook." Instead, explain why and how it's difficult.
- "Because of severe fatigue and joint pain, I struggle to stand for more than 5 minutes to chop vegetables, making it impossible to prepare a meal from scratch. I often burn food as I lose concentration or drop pans due to weakness. I now rely on pre-prepared meals or my partner to cook."
- "My anxiety means I cannot use public transport alone. I become disoriented and have panic attacks if I am in crowded spaces, which means I always need my husband to drive me, even for short distances."
4. Detail the Impact of Mental Health Conditions
If you have a mental health condition, it's vital to explain its impact on your ability to perform daily activities. For example:
- Planning and following journeys: Severe anxiety or agoraphobia might prevent you from leaving the house or using public transport.
- Engaging with others: Depression or social anxiety can make it impossible to interact with people face-to-face.
- Managing treatment: Forgetfulness due to depression or medication side effects might impact your ability to take medication consistently.
5. Be Honest and Consistent
- Don't exaggerate, but don't downplay. Describe your worst days, but also mention if you have better days, explaining the frequency and impact.
- Ensure consistency in your answers across the form. For example, if you say you struggle with fatigue, link that fatigue to difficulties in multiple activities (e.g., preparing food, washing, moving around).
6. Utilize Extra Pages and Supporting Letters
If you run out of space, clearly state "See extra pages" and attach additional sheets. Make sure to number these pages and include your National Insurance number. It can also be beneficial to get a letter from someone who knows you well (e.g., a family member, friend, or carer) describing how your condition affects you.
Reviewing and Submitting Your Form
Before sending your form:
- Make a copy: Always keep a complete copy of your filled-in form and all supporting evidence for your records.
- Check for completeness: Ensure all relevant sections are filled, and you've provided enough detail.
- Proofread: Check for any errors or omissions.
- Send by recorded delivery: This provides proof that your form was sent and received.
By following these steps, you can provide the DWP with a comprehensive and accurate picture of your current challenges, supporting your PIP claim effectively. For further guidance, reputable sources like Citizens Advice and GOV.UK offer detailed information and support.
Key Considerations for Your PIP Review Form
| Activity Focus | Key Questions to Ask Yourself |
|---|---|
| Impact | How does my health condition actually prevent or make it harder for me to do this activity? |
| Changes | What is different compared to my last assessment? Is it worse, better, or different in type? |
| Assistance Needed | Do I need help from another person (physical, prompting, supervision)? Do I use aids or appliances? |
| Time & Safety | Does it take me significantly longer? Is it safe to do by myself? |
| Reliability | Can I do this task repeatedly, safely, and to a reasonable standard for the majority of days? |
| Variability | How do "good days" and "bad days" affect this? How often do I experience the difficulties? |
| Examples | Can I give specific, real-life examples of when I struggled with this activity, describing the consequences? |
