Former DWP employee shares tips on how to protect PIP and other disability benefit payments

A former employee at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with over 40 years experience dealing with State Pensions, working age and disability benefits has shared some insider tips which could help people making a new claim for additional financial support. These might also prove invaluable for existing claimants as the number of people receiving disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP) and Attendance Allowance continues to reach record-breaking highs across Great Britain.

The latest figures from the DWP and Social Security Scotland show there are now 3.6 million people claiming PIP, nearly 315,000 on ADP and over 1.6m receiving Attendance Allowance. New statics are due to be published by the DWP this week (December 17) and forecast to show yet another rise in the number of PIP claimants in England and Wales.

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As the number of disability benefit claimants soars, Sandra wrench, an ex-employee with 42 years experience of the welfare system is urging new applicants to “keep a copy of the claim form they submit” as it could prove invaluable when the award is due to be reviewed.

Online claims for PIP (depending on your postcode), ADP and Attendance Allowance (limited number per week) can make it easier to save a copy to your home computer or laptop for future reference, but people completing a paper-based form should make a copy of the original document before submitting it.

If you don’t already have a copy of the PIP 2 evidence form - the health questionnaire you filled in before getting an assessment - contact the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 and ask them to send you one.

Having a copy of this will help you with any future reviews for PIP, or ADP if you are due to transfer to the Social Security Scotland system before the end of 2025.

The form can help remind you of the original responses you gave to the daily living and mobility questions, but more importantly, it can help you explain how your condition affects you now - especially if your circumstances have changed and your health has declined or you have developed other issues.

The DWP expert 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.”

For Attendance Allowance claims she added: “It is advisable to get all your medical evidence sorted out before you start completing the form.”

This is due to the length of the application form and explained how gathering all your medical notes and information along with relevant dates for appointments or operations beforehand can cut down the time it takes to complete the claim. She said: “Once you have catalogued your medical history required for the claim you are halfway there.”

However, Sandra warned: “Do not try and complete the form in one sitting, as it can be mentally draining.”

The welfare expert said the most important reason for keeping a copy of your original claim form is to ensure that 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

Keeping a diary is one of the most important tools all disability benefit claimants should keep, and it doesn’t need to be a paper-based document. Using your mobile phone, computer, laptop or tablet can be a simple way to make notes of ‘bad days’ and recording key moments when something relating to your condition happened.

Creating a specific note, with the time and date, where you can add things you might want to mention at a future PIP review, or just adding it to the calendar function.

This isn’t something that needs to be done daily, just things that are relevant to how your condition affects you. This could include everyday tasks you found difficult to do on your own, forgetting to take medication, or feeling low or frustrated as a result of your condition.

Other things to consider taking a note of would be if doing everyday things:

• Were painful for you

• Take you a long time

• Puts you or someone else in danger

• Makes you feel breathless

• Makes you unsteady

This type of note-taking, or diary keeping, is also a handy idea for people with fluctuating conditions, as it could make it easier to describe to a health professional ‘good days and bad days’. It can also help you see the frequency of significant health events, which are sometimes so regular that they are quickly forgotten.

It’s also important to keep any medical appointments relating to your condition so that your records are up to date. This can also include counselling or physiotherapy.

It might also be worthwhile getting in touch with a charity that has expert knowledge of your condition, even just to contact them to make sure you’re not missing out on extra support.

For people claiming ADP, you can list a charity or an organisation that you’ve sought help or advice from about your health condition, long-term illness, or disability, as supporting evidence.

These tips are just a few of the ways people on PIP, ADP or Attendance Allowance can take to start protecting their future payment award by creating a personal evidence trail that can make it easier to recall specific examples of how their condition affects them.

A successful new claim for PIP or ADP is worth between £28.70 and £184.30 each week, which amounts to between £114.80 and £737.20 every four-week pay period. Find out more about making a new claim here.

A successful new claim for Attendance Allowance is worth either £72.65 (lower rate) or £108.55 (higher rate) each week and as the benefit is usually paid every four weeks, this amounts to either £290.60 or £434.20 every pay period. Find out more about making a new claim here.