How do you claim PIP?
[ch 3: pages 24-25]New PIP claimants should phone the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to make a claim (0800 917 2222, textphone: 0800 917 7777). (For Northern Ireland contact the PIP Centre: 0800 012 1573, Textphone: 0800 012 1574). The DWP will send a form asking you to describe how your long-term health condition or disability affects you. You can also write asking for a form so that you can send the information by post: Personal Independence Payment New Claims, Post Handling Site B, Wolverhampton WV99 1AH.
To assess the level of help you need, an independent health professional will either invite you to a meeting, or ask your health or social care worker for information, to find out about your ability to carry out activities and how your condition affects your daily life. All face-to-face interviews are suspended until at least 19 June 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The DWP will decide whether you are entitled to PIP and how much you should get, based on the advice of the health professional and any other evidence you supply.
Your claim will be reviewed regularly “to make sure you’re getting the right support”.
You can challenge the decision about your claim by asking for “mandatory reconsideration” (see box at end of chapter).