PIP disability benefits: who can claim Personal Independence Payments - what evidence can you submit to DWP?

People experiencing a range of health issues may be eligible for government compensation, with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) offering support to those facing any of these 25 listed health conditions.

Potentially providing up to £691 monthly, these Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are disbursed every four weeks to those who qualify.

But as the assessment process considers the extent to which the health condition affects mobility and daily activities, those in the process of making a new claim or those who have already filed one are being advised to provide at least one piece of supporting evidence from an appropriate professional.

That could sound daunting, but you may not know about the wide range of supporting evidence you can provide, and it’s likely that you already possess the relevant information.

Lee Dougela, a case manager at Social Security Scotland (who provide Scotland’s equivalent of PIP, known as Adult Disability Payment), says: “We need one piece of supporting information from a professional to process an application.

“Supporting information is important, but it’s where we have the biggest issue. It can be something as little as confirming your condition. Details about what it’s like to live with the condition are probably the most helpful information we can get.”

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Many people assume that the supporting evidence must be medical in nature or issued by a doctor. That’s not always the case, and Social Security Scotland says the most beneficial information often originates from places like:

• Counsellors
• Support workers
• Teachers
• Allied health professionals

Dougela added: “Obviously, GP's and people like that are really busy, so something like a picture of the box medication came in, with the name on it, will do because certain medications are for certain conditions.

“Snap it, upload it, things like that mean we can sometimes even avoid having to go to the GP.”

Information that can be submitted includes:

• Care plans
• Medical reports
• Certificates
• Letters outlining housing adaptations or school reports, highlighting adjustments made to help the claimant prescription lists that show the medication you take
• Test results

Such documentation aids case managers in evaluating an individual's condition, disability or daily living and mobility requirements, and can help speed up the decision process.

Official guidance says that other pieces of additional information that could speed up the process include the following:

• information about your condition or your symptoms, if you're still waiting for a diagnosis
• information about any medical tests you have had, and the results if you have them
• contact details for your GP
• contact details for anyone else who could give more information about your condition, such as a family member or someone who looks after you

In Scotland, those applying for disability benefits who may find it difficult to collect supporting evidence for themselves have the option to designate organisations to arrange it on their behalf.

These can include third-sector organisations providing assistance in their daily lives, such as those offering social care or support during illness.

But in England and Wales, the DWP does not provide such a process for requesting and giving equal consideration to supporting information from third-sector organisations for individuals applying for disability benefits.