A former DWP employee with 42 years’ experience has shared insider PIP claim tips that could help people avoid losing their disability benefits during reviews
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently confirmed that no alterations will be made to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) until a review of the current 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 due to conclude this autumn.
Meanwhile, a former DWP employee with more than 40 years’ experience handling State Pensions, working age and disability benefits has offered some insider guidance which could assist people submitting a new claim for PIP and other disability benefits.
This advice may also prove extremely useful for current claimants, as the number of people receiving disability benefits continues to hit record levels across Great Britain.
The most recent statistics from the DWP reveal there are now over 3.9 million people claiming PIP, more than 1.7 million pensioners receiving Attendance Allowance and over 175,700 claiming Pension Age Disability Payment. As the number of people claiming disability benefits continues to rise, 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 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-based 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 – get in touch with the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 and request that one be sent to you.
Having this to hand will assist you with any future reviews for PIP. The form can serve as a reminder of the original responses you provided to the daily living and mobility questions, but more crucially, it can help you explain how your condition currently affects you – particularly if your circumstances have changed, your health has deteriorated, or you have developed additional issues.
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 gathering all medical notes and information, along with relevant dates for appointments or operations beforehand, 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 stated 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 went on: “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.”
PIP Payment rates 2026/27
The new payment rates will start on April 6.
Daily Living component
- Enhanced: £114.60 (from £110.40)
- Standard: £76.70 (from £73.90)
Mobility component
- Enhanced: £80.00 (from £77.05)
- Standard: £30.30 (from £29.20)
Other ways to protect future disability benefit payments
Maintaining a diary stands as one of the most valuable tools for anyone claiming disability benefits, and it needn’t be a traditional paper-based record. Your mobile phone, computer, laptop or tablet offers a straightforward method for noting down ‘bad days’ and documenting significant moments connected to your condition.
Setting up a dedicated note with the time and date allows you to jot down points you might wish to raise at a future PIP review, or simply adding entries to your calendar function.
This doesn’t require daily entries, just details that are relevant to how your condition impacts you. This might encompass everyday tasks you struggled to manage independently, instances of forgetting to take medication, or experiencing low mood or frustration stemming from your condition.
Additional things worth recording would be if carrying out everyday activities:
- was painful for you
- takes you a long time
- puts you or someone else in danger
- makes you feel breathless
- makes you unsteady
This form of note-taking, or diary maintenance, proves particularly useful for those with fluctuating conditions, as it could make describing ‘good days and bad days’ to a health professional considerably easier. It can also help you identify the frequency of notable health events, which are sometimes so routine they slip from memory.
It’s equally vital to keep records of any medical appointments connected to your condition so your documentation remains current. This can also encompass counselling or physiotherapy sessions. It may also be worth contacting a charity with specialist knowledge of your condition, even if it’s simply to ensure you’re not missing out on additional support.
These suggestions represent just a few of the steps people on PIP or Attendance Allowance can take to begin safeguarding their future payment award by building a personal evidence trail that can make it simpler to remember specific examples of how their condition impacts them.
A successful new claim for PIP is now worth between £30.30 and £194.60, some £121.20 and £778.40 every four weeks over the 2026/27 financial year. A successful new claim for Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment is now worth either £76.70 (lower rate) or £114.60 (higher rate) each week and as the benefit is typically paid every four weeks, this amounts to either £306.80 or £458.40 every pay period. Find out more about making a new claim on GOV.UK.
