AFA Personal Independence Payment

• It is non means-tested, meaning income/savings/investments do not affect eligibility  

• A person can be in or out of work and claim PIP 

• Age 16- 66 (working age) 

• A person must have a long-term illness or health issue 

• 2026/27 weekly rates: 

• https://www.gov.uk/pip/how-much-youll-get  

Claim Process

1. To make a claim for PIP, call the new claims phone line on 0800 917 2222
2. A form is sent out in the post or an online form is emailed to fill in and return,  asking about how someone manages various activities
3. A telephone or face-to-face health assessment may be arranged once the form is received by PIP (It can take several weeks between sending the PIP form and receiving a health assessment date)
4. A decision will be made on the claim

Things to consider

• There are long waiting times between the stages of the PIP Application process
• The Application process itself is lengthy 
• Medical Evidence is key
• There is a low rate of success with applications and people are stringly advised to challenge and appeal the decision – Citizens Advice can help

• PIP has a high rate of refusal so it is worth challenging a negative decision 

• Challenging a decision made by the Department for Work and Pensions is called a “Mandatory Reconsideration”. Usually this should be done within 1 month of the decision.  

• Clients can request this themselves by calling the PIP helpline and requesting a Mandatory Reconsideration – 0800 121 4433 

• It is more likely to be successful if extra medical information can be submitted.  

• More information can be found below

• If a client wants to challenge a decision made by PIP 

• If a client needs assistance to make a claim for PIP 

• Please note – we prioritise ongoing casework for  emergency and complex cases, when capacity is limited we may provide advice only to either the referrer or directly to the client