How to Apply for PIP With an Immune Condition: Top Tips
Why this matters
How the form is completed can have an effect on the outcome, and some people with chronic immune conditions report not being able to receive PIP simply because the form doesn’t accurately reflect the functional impact of their condition. The process rewards detail, specificity, and evidence, not clinical diagnosis.
Please note that the steps below summarise a typical claim process, but variations may occur depending on your circumstances.
Step 1: Call DWP to start the claim
Call the PIP application line, find the current number and relevant opening times at https://www.gov.uk/pip/how-to-claim. Basic details will be taken and a PIP2 form will be sent within 2 weeks. There’s one month from the date on the letter to return the completed form.
Step 2: Complete the PIP2 form thoroughly
This form is a critical part of the application. For each activity, answer the question truthfully, describe the difficulty clearly, including how the condition affects the ability to do it safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and within a reasonable time. Note what aids or adaptations are needed and how often difficulties occur.
Key tips for completing the form:
- Focus on bad days and fluctuation. Assessors consider the worst-case picture, not the average. If symptoms vary, describe what happens during a flare
- Be specific and use real examples. "I cannot stand long enough to cook a full meal without needing to sit down or rest" is more useful than "cooking is difficult"
- Don’t minimise. Many people understate the impact of their condition, so answer the questions honestly, especially regarding areas of difficulty.
- Consider safety, repetition, and time. PIP assesses whether activities can be done safely, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time, not just whether they can be done at all
- Attach supporting evidence. Consider attaching letters from a GP, specialist, occupational therapist, or social worker significantly strengthen the claim
- Get help completing the form. Citizens Advice and disability charities may be able to help ensure the form accurately reflects the full impact of the condition
Step 3: The assessment
Assessments can be face-to-face, by telephone, or as a home visit. The assessor asks about the condition and daily activities. It isn’t a medical examination. The focus is entirely on functional impact.
Step 4: The decision and what to do if refused
A decision typically arrives within several weeks. The letter states whether PIP has been awarded, which components, at what rate, and for how long. If refused or awarded a lower rate than expected, request a Mandatory Reconsideration within one month. If still unsuccessful, an appeal to an independent tribunal can be made. A significant proportion of appeals that reach tribunal result in a changed decision, making it worth pursuing if a mandatory reconsideration is unsuccessful.
What you could do
- Consider getting help completing the form. Citizens Advice and condition-specific charities such as Versus Arthritis, Lupus UK, and MS Society all offer free guidance
- Request a copy of the assessment report if refused, as it often reveals inaccuracies that can be challenged
- Don’t give up after an initial refusal. Many are overturned at reconsideration or appeal
This article is for general information purposes only and doesn’t constitute legal, financial or benefits advice. For advice specific to your situation, please speak to a qualified professional or contact an organisation such as Citizens Advice, who may be able to assist you further.
References:
‘PIP assessment guide: Part one - The assessment Process’ (2024) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6749dedd75bb645366b3a269/pip-assessment-guide-part-one-the-assessment-process.pdf
‘Tribunal statistics quarterly’ (2024) https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics