New data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) shows that 4,000 face-to-face assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) were conducted in August as more claimants have in-person meetings.

That figure is expected to rise as DWP has previously indicated the number of in-person health constellations for PIP will increase as part of its planned welfare reforms. However, assessments will still be conducted over the phone and by video call, depending on the claimant’s circumstances.

More than 3.8 million people across England and Wales are now receiving PIP payments of between £29.20 and £187.45 each week, some £116.80 or £749.80 every four-week pay period.

Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms has previously said the DWP “will increase the number of health professionals in assessment centres” in order to “increase the number of face-to-face, rather than remote, PIP assessments”.

However, he also emphasised that remote assessments will still be available to claimants, telling MPs during the last DWP oral questions session that “it is important to keep telephone or video alternatives for those who need them”.

Sir Stephen also highlighted the need to be able to provide different types of assessments to meet the needs of all claimants.

PIP assessments in a nutshell

The PIP assessment is an opportunity for you to talk about how your condition affects you – it’s not a diagnosis of your condition or a medical examination. The DWP will take into consideration evidence from the assessment to decide if you should be awarded PIP.

A health professional will carry out your assessment, write a report and send it to the DWP decision maker. If you are waiting on a review, it’s a good idea to have a copy of your PIP evidence form with you for telephone, video and face-to-face assessments. That way you can refer back to it, especially if it was completed a few years ago.

Talking about how your condition affects you

A helpful guide on the Citizens Advice website says you should be prepared to talk about how your condition affects you even if you’ve already detailed it on your PIP evidence form (the PIP2 document).

This can be hard to do, but it will really help if you can talk about:

• the kind of things you have difficulty with, or can’t do at all – for example, walking up steps without help or remembering to go to appointments
• how your condition affects you from day to day
• what a bad day is like for you – for example, ‘On a bad day, I can’t walk at all because my injured leg hurts so much’ or ‘On a bad day, I’m so depressed I can’t concentrate on anything’

Observations on what you say and do during the assessment

The assessor will use the information you gave on your PIP claim form but also draw opinions from what you say and do on the day. For example, they might ask you how you got to the centre for a face-to-face assessment – if you say you came on the bus, without further clarification, they could make a note stating you can travel alone on public transport – unless you highlight otherwise.

You might also be asked to carry out some physical tasks during the face-to-face assessment. Don’t feel you have to do things you wouldn’t normally be able to do. If you do them on assessment day, the assessor may think you can always do them, so if you’re not comfortable with something – say so.

During the telephone assessment you may be asked to describe how you complete simple tasks such as preparing and cooking food, getting washed and dressed and how you move around outside the home. Don’t rush to respond: remember they are looking at your claim form and asking the same questions you have already answered.

Pause, reflect and reply

Break your answer down and take them through how you complete tasks step-by-step to paint an accurate picture of how your disability or health condition affects you.

What may seem like a drawn-out process for you will demonstrate exactly how you accomplish tasks to the assessor – so don’t try to speed up or simplify how you get things done.

The assessor will also make a note of your mental state during the assessment – for example, they will record whether you look or sound depressed or happy, tense or relaxed and how you cope with social interaction.

Things to remember during the assessment

• Don’t let the assessor rush you and try not to just answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to their questions
• Always try to explain how doing something would make you feel afterwards and the impact it can have on you if you had to do it repeatedly in a short period of time

You can have someone with you while you do the assessment over the phone, on the video call or in person, just remember to put the call on loudspeaker and advise the assessor who is with you.

Taking someone with you to a face-to-face assessment for support

The DWP has guidance on attending an assessment, which you can find on the GOV.UK website here. You can take someone with you into the actual assessment if they are 16 or over. This could be anyone who makes you feel more comfortable, like a friend, relative or carer. If you want, they can take part in discussions and make notes for you.

Before going to a face-to-face assessment

Check with your assessment provider that your assessment centre has everything you need – if it doesn’t, you can ask for it. This can help make you feel more comfortable on the day.

Here are a few examples:

• ask if you will have to go upstairs, and if there’s a lift that can accommodate a wheelchair if you need one
• ask how roomy the centre is if you get anxious in enclosed spaces – if the rooms or corridors are small, tell them this could make you anxious and see what they can offer you
• ask for an interpreter or signer if you need one – do this at least two working days before your assessment so they have time to organise it
• ask for the person carrying out the assessment to be the same gender as you, if that’s important to you
• ask if you can make an audio recording of the assessment – you must do this three days before your assessment and ask your provider about the rules for using recording equipment

Changing the venue

If the location of your face-to-face assessment is more than 90 minutes away by public transport and you have difficulty travelling long distances, you might be offered an alternative location or home visit. Again, refer to the published guidance on GOV.UK as it includes travel restriction advice for Scotland, England and Wales.