People with long-term physical and mental health conditions who are applying for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are being urged to make a recording of their assessment with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). PIP provides extra cash to those who need help with everyday tasks or getting around.

It has two different elements – a daily living component and a mobility component, and the amount you get paid is dependent on which part you qualify for. Those who need help with things like cooking, washing, dressing, eating, or using the toilet may qualify for the daily living part of PIP, while those who need help physically moving around and getting out of the house may be awarded the mobility part.

Following a 1.7% uplift from April 7, the daily living component is £73.90 per week if you get the lower rate, or £110.40 per week if you get the higher rate. Those who get the mobility component get £30.20 per week on the lower rate, or £77.05 on the higher rate.

Once you’ve applied for PIP you may be invited to an assessment with a health professional who will ask how your condition affects your daily living and mobility tasks, and any treatments you’ve had, or will have. You may also be asked to do some simple movements to show how you carry out certain activities. This assessment may be carried out over the phone, by video call or in person and usually lasts for an hour.

Citizens Advice is urging people who are invited to a PIP assessment to make a recording of it as this can be used to challenge a decision made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) regarding whether you get PIP – and how much you get.

Citizen Advice says: “It might be useful to make a recording of your assessment in case you need to challenge the decision. If your assessment is face-to-face or over the phone, you and the assessor can both make an audio recording. You can’t make a video recording.

“You’ll need to ask if it can be recorded – you should phone the assessor as soon as possible before your assessment. You’ll need to agree you’ll only use the recording for certain things – the assessor will ask you to sign a form or verbally agree to this.

“The assessor will send their recording to you after your assessment. If the assessor refuses to record it or tells you not to record it, you can complain to your assessment provider.”

The advice comes ahead of impending changes to how the DWP assesses PIP. Eligibility rules for the daily living component are set to be tightened in November 2026 and will require claimants to score at least four points in a single activity to qualify. As such, it means that people with less severe disabilities may no longer qualify.

Citizens Advice adds: “On March 18, 2025, the government announced changes to the rules for claiming PIP. These changes mean fewer people will get PIP. Changes to PIP will not happen in 2025. If you’re thinking of applying for PIP, you should. You’re more likely to get PIP if you apply before the rules change.

“Unless you have a terminal illness you’ll usually have to have an assessment to complete your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application. It’s an opportunity for you to talk about how your condition affects you – it’s not a diagnosis of your condition or a medical examination.”