PIP Review

Hi j112009

Make sure you ask for an extension before the due date or else your claim may be closed.

The PIP review form is smaller than a PIP claims form.

There is not a lot of difference between the new guide and your old guide, there have been a few tweaks by the back office, I would use the new guide to guide you through your claim.

The review form does have smaller boxes, we advise claimants to treat the review form as if you were completing a new claims form, if you cannot get all you information in the small boxes then use additional sheets of paper, make sure you reference and number the pages. If you kept a copy of your last form then use it as a template for the new review form.

It is perfectly OK for you to type your answers and attach them as extra pages to the form, just make sure that each page has your full name and NIN at the top and that they are numbered, we recommend "page X of Y" so that it is easy to see if pages are missing. Make sure you clearly mark on the form where your answers are and on the relevant page that you are answering question X.

I would not split your answers across the form and attached pages, do one or the other for each activity (not question), splitting it risks the second part of your answer not being read.

Attach the pages to the back of the form using a staple or make a hole in the top left corner and use a treasury tag, string or ribbon to the form. The pages need to be easily detached so that they can be scanned by the DWP.

Gary

Hi j112009

Yes it does, what happens quite often is that the assessor will read the first section but skip over the second part.

If your answer is quite long then we recommend in the first section write see page x of y and nothing else, then on page x give a full explanation.

The descriptors have not changed, the way they are worded have so use our most recent guide which will help you to give a full answer, remember it is the why, which is important if you cannot or struggle to do a task.

Gary

Hi j112009

Treat the question as you did in 2019, if you kept a copy of that review then use it as your template.

The test under descriptor 1 requires you to be able to cook a simple meal for one prepared from fresh ingredients. The microwave test specifically states that you can prepare the meal, but can not use a conventional cooker but can use a microwave. This does NOT mean ready meals of any description!

I'm not totally sure who, in practice, would only be able to use a microwave and not a normal hob or oven. However you have to be able to peel and chop vegetables and or meat, then put it in the microwave turn the dial and wait for the ping! Food still needs to be cooked to an acceptable standard. If eg you use the microwave to ensure things are really cooked, but your meat comes out as dry as an old boot, then I doubt this comprises being 'acceptable' which means you would then need to consider some form of supervision.

DWP often consider they can award points 'because you use a microwave' when ready meals bought from Tesco are just heated up. This is wrong, as I have explained above, the food needs to be prepared from scratch using fresh ingredients.

You will need to analyse what preparation skills you actually have. Peeling, chopping, understanding packet instructions, knowing when food is cooked, knowing that raw food, especially chicken is dangerous. Stirring food, handling a small saucepan, draining food.

Think about all these tasks. Can you do them? Is it painful, do you have accidents cut or burn yourself, drop items. Burn food, eat lukewarm food, or incinerate it because you are distracted?

How long does it take, do you feel exhausted, or maybe you can't be bothered, you don't feel hungry and seldom go to the kitchen?

If any or all of these events happen, particularly if they happen for the majority of days, then it is likely you might need an aid or appliance. (Think about what help you might need to be more proficient eg a stool by the cooker to sit if you can't stand to stir food? Some sort of automatic peeler, if such thing exists etc?)

If you had the gadget, could you then prep the food and cook it safely, to an acceptable standard, in a reasonable time, repeatedly? If no, then you require physical help. Maybe you just have difficulties with grip, so some help with that is all you need. Or you're OK with the peeling, but need help assessing if food is cooked. Then 1e is your choice. If you need prompting, ie motivation then 1d.

If you can't really do anything in the kitchen, or do it so badly that help is always required then 1f is correct. If you can do a few tiny jobs but an onlooker would describe your helper as the chef and you as a very minor assistant 1f would also apply.

If you require extra time to complete the form, contact DWP and ask before the due date, best time to phone is first thing in the morning.

Gary