How do I prepare for a PIP assessment?
When you claim PIP it is likely that you will be asked to attend an assessment, also known as ‘the consultation’ which is part of the overall assessment process. Its a good idea to have the following to hand:
- Some form of identification
- A list of the aids or appliances you use.
and if you have not already provided or submitted these:
- a copy of your Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) or BP1 if you live in Scotland and A655 if you live in Northern Ireland. If you have only an old certificate such as a BD8 bring that with you
- a list of the medication you take
- additional evidence from your healthcare professional about how your condition affects you that you didn’t already include in your PIP claim form, such as a letter from your eye consultant, GP, carer, support worker etc.
Re read what you wrote in your claim form. This is a good way to review the evidence that you have already submitted and to remind you of points that you may wish to talk about in the assessment. It may also help you think about mentioning anything you didn't already include on the form.
You could also consider:
- asking for your assessment to be recorded - ss you have a formal record of what you said, and you can easily raise any inaccuracies if the assessment report does not reflect what you said during the assessment. If you wish to do this, you should make the request at least 3 days in advance
- Taking someone with you for support - you can take a companion with you into a face-to-face assessment. This could be anyone who makes you feel more comfortable, like a friend, relative or carer (they must be age 16 or over). If you want, they can take part in discussions and take notes for you.
RNIB have produced both a PIP toolkit and a PIP assessment top tips guide which can be found on RNIB's PIP webpage.
