A former DWP employee with over 40 years’ experience has shared insider tips to help people making a new claim for Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment, and other disability benefits — and those already receiving them
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that no alterations will be made to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) until a review of the existing eligibility criteria has been finalised. Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms is working alongside disabled groups and charities to co-produce the review, which is anticipated to conclude this autumn.
The SNP Government has stated that individuals receiving devolved disability benefits in Scotland will remain unaffected by modifications to PIP – though this position could shift should Labour secure victory in next month’s election. Adult Disability Payment (ADP) has replaced the DWP benefit for all new and current claimants with a Scottish postcode.
Meanwhile, a former DWP employee with more than 40 years of experience handling State Pensions, working age and disability benefits has offered some insider guidance which may assist people submitting a new claim for PIP, ADP and other disability benefits.
This advice could also prove extremely valuable for current claimants, as the number of individuals receiving disability benefits continues to hit record levels throughout Great Britain.
The most recent statistics from the DWP and Social Security Scotland reveal there are now more than 3.9 million people claiming PIP, 484,055 on ADP, over 1.7 million pensioners receiving Attendance Allowance and more than 175,700 claiming Pension Age Disability Payment. As the number of people claiming disability benefits continues to rise sharply, Sandra Wrench, a former DWP employee with 42 years’ experience in the welfare system, is encouraging new applicants to “keep a copy of the claim form they submit”, as it could prove invaluable when the award comes up for review, reports the Daily Record.
Submitting claims for PIP, ADP and Attendance Allowance online (limited number per week) makes it straightforward to save a copy to your home computer or laptop for future reference, while those completing a paper form should photocopy the original document before sending it off.
If you do not already have a copy of the PIP 2 evidence form – the health questionnaire you completed prior to your assessment – contact the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 and request that one be sent to you.
Retaining a copy will assist you with any future reviews for PIP, or ADP if you have transferred to the Social Security Scotland system.
The form can serve as a useful reminder of the original responses you provided to the daily living and mobility questions, but crucially, it can help you articulate how your condition affects you at present – particularly if your circumstances have changed, your health has deteriorated, or you have developed additional conditions.
The former DWP adviser told the Daily Record: “With PIP, and in some cases Attendance Allowance, the claim is allowed for a certain period of time before it is reviewed, so it is handy to know what you put down on the original claim form.
“One lady I helped with her PIP claim, I got her to keep a copy of her original claim, which made it easier for her to complete her PIP review form when the time came. Your medical condition can sometimes change from the date you submitted your original claim.”
Regarding Attendance Allowance claims, she added: “It is advisable to get all your medical evidence sorted out before you start completing the form.”
This is owing to the length of the application form, and she explained how collating medical notes, information, and relevant dates for appointments or operations in advance can significantly reduce the time needed to complete the claim. She said: “Once you have catalogued your medical history required for the claim you are halfway there.”
Nevertheless, Sandra cautioned: “Do not try and complete the form in one sitting, as it can be mentally draining.”
The former welfare adviser noted that the most crucial reason for retaining a copy of your original claim form is to ensure you “do not give any conflicting evidence when it comes to a review, which may give DWP reason to scrutinise your case further”.
She continued: “Also if your claim is disallowed by DWP and you seek help over this, the person looking at your case can see what you have put on the original form as to why it might have been disallowed.”
Other ways to protect future disability benefit payments
Maintaining a diary is amongst the most valuable tools for all disability benefit claimants, and it need not be a paper-based record. Using your mobile phone, computer, laptop or tablet can provide a straightforward means of documenting ‘bad days’ and recording significant moments connected to your condition.
Establishing a dedicated note, complete with time and date, allows you to capture details you may wish to reference during a future PIP review, or simply adding entries to the calendar function.
This doesn’t require daily input, merely noting matters relevant to how your condition impacts you. This might encompass everyday tasks you struggled to complete independently, instances of forgetting medication, or experiencing low mood or frustration stemming from your condition.
Additional considerations worth documenting would be instances when carrying out everyday activities:
- Were painful for you
- Take you a long time
- Puts you or someone else in danger
- Make you feel breathless
- Make you unsteady
This form of note-taking, or diary maintenance, proves particularly useful for individuals with fluctuating conditions, as it could facilitate explaining to healthcare professionals the contrast between ‘good days and bad days’. It can also help identify the frequency of notable health events, which can sometimes occur so regularly they slip from memory.
It’s equally vital to retain records of any medical appointments connected to your condition, ensuring your documentation remains current. This may also include counselling or physiotherapy sessions. It may also prove beneficial to reach out to a charity with specialist understanding of your condition, even simply to ensure you’re not overlooking additional support available to you.
For those claiming ADP, you can include a charity or organisation from whom you’ve received assistance or guidance regarding your health condition, long-term illness, or disability, as supporting evidence.
These suggestions represent just a handful of the measures people receiving PIP, ADP or Attendance Allowance can adopt to begin safeguarding their future payment award by building a personal evidence trail that can simplify recalling specific instances of how their condition impacts them.
A successful new claim for PIP or ADP is now valued between £30.30 and £194.60, some £121.20 and £778.40 every four weeks throughout the 2026/27 financial year.
A successful new claim for Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment is now valued at either £76.70 (lower rate) or £114.60 (higher rate) each week and as the benefit is typically paid every four weeks, this equates to either £306.80 or £458.40 every pay period. Find out more about making a new claim on GOV.UK.
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