Python: Update All Packages with pip-review

what is a review for pip

  • Introduction

Updating Python packages can be a hassle. There are many of them - it's hard to keep track of all the newest versions, and even when you decide what to update, you still have to update each of them manually.

To address this issue, pip-review was created. It lets you smoothly manage all available PyPi updates with simple commands.

Originally a part of the pip-tools package, it now lives on as a standalone convenience wrapper around pip . In this tutorial, we'll be covering how to update all packages with pip-review .

  • Install pip-review

You can install pip-review in a virtual environment, if you'd like to contain it, or system-wide. Naturally, installing pip-review is done via pip :

  • Help Page of pip-review

If you forget any of these commands or you simply want an overview of the command options:

  • Check All Package Versions with pip-review

Sometimes, you'd just want to check if there are any updates, before committing to a potentially long update list. To check all package versions, you simply run:

This gives you a report that lists all available package updates. Essentially, it calls pip list – outdated . This has the advantage of allowing you to decide which packages you'd like to update, if any at all.

  • Update All Packages with pip-review

Once you've identified if you'd like to update your packages, you can update them all , automatically, using:

Running just this command alone - you're set to go. It's that simple.

  • Update All Packages Interactively with pip-review

If you perhaps don't wish to update some specific packages, you don't need to run the --auto updater. If you launch the process as --interactive , you can choose for each individual package whether you'd like to update it or no:

For each package, you have four options available, "Yes", "No", "All" and "Quit".

Selecting "Yes" indicates you want that particular package added to the "to-be-updated-list". At the end every package on this list gets updated.

If you end up selecting "No" it would mean the package won't get updated. Selecting "All" means all packages moving forward will be added to the list. Finally, selecting "Quit" would mean pip-review will skip all remaining packages and update only the ones you selected "Yes" to.

  • Prevent pip-review from Updating Certain Packages

In some situations, you might want to prevent certain packages from automatically updating when running pip-review --auto . This could be perhaps to avoid dependency issues, a common problem.

In these cases, you'd want to pin the specific packages that you don't want to update. You can do this via a constraint file . A constraint file is a requirement file that only controls which version of a requirement is installed, not whether it is installed or not.

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Its syntax and contents are identical to that of requirement files. There is one key difference:

Including a package in a constraints file doesn't trigger installation of the package.

Let's make a constraints.txt file:

And now within it, we'll insert:

Updating packages using pip can be tedious and time-consuming. And as expected in the computer science world, a tool was born to automate this. In this article, we've gone over the pip-review utility - how to install it, as well as how to use it to update packages in Python.

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What To Do If You're Put on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)

Madeleine Burry writes about careers and job searching for The Balance. She covers topics around career changes, job searching, and returning from maternity leave, and has been writing for The Balance since 2014.

what is a review for pip

  • What Is a PIP?
  • When Do Employers Use PIPs?
  • What To Do If It Happens To You
  • How To Take Action

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you've been placed on a performance improvement plan (PIP), you might be feeling a lot of emotions. It's hard to get critical feedback and hear that your work or behavior isn't adequate or meeting expectations.

Plus, with some managers and at some companies, a PIP can signal that you may be parting ways with the company soon. It can be a challenging situation.

Here’s everything you need to know about what to do if you’re placed on a PIP—from when they’re used to how to respond. 

Key Takeaways

  • Employers use performance improvement plans to document how an employee can turn around their performance.
  • It can be hard not to feel defensive when you are placed on a PIP. Take time to come to terms with your feelings before making any big decisions or engaging in meetings with people from your company.
  • If you engage with management regarding the PIP, aim to be professional and collaborative and take any feedback constructively.
  • Ask lots of questions about the PIP, like what the expectations are and what happens if you do not meet them.

What Is a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)? 

Performance improvement plans (PIPs) are designed to give employees who are not performing well an opportunity to meet their performance goals. A PIP is a formal written document that tracks how well an individual is doing relative to the requirements of their position, identifies what needs to be improved, and sets goals for improving performance.

A PIP should provide clear and actionable details on how the employee can improve their performance, which may include recommendations regarding the individual’s skills, behavior, and attitude, as well as their work output and quality. There should also be a timeframe for meeting the plan’s goals.

A PIP can be helpful in turning around a less-than-optimal situation, but it can also be used by employers to document a possible termination. 

When Do Employers Use Performance Improvement Plans?

When do employers use PIPs?

“Supervisors use formal plans after their check-ins and other coaching and informal communications with an employee have failed to help change work practices or bring performance to acceptable levels for a job,” said Kendra Janevski, SPHR, SHRM-SCP in an interview with The Balance.

What To Do If You’re Placed on a PIP 

As a first step when you’re put on a PIP, take a moment. You may feel sad or angry, frustrated or defensive, or any number of emotions. That’s not when you want to be making a big decision, and it may not be the best frame of mind to be in when talking to your manager. 

“Take time to step away from the conversation and take care of your needs first by getting in a clear head space," said Liz DeGroot, head of people and finance at Eden, an HR and workplace experience platform, in an interview with The Balance.

But once you’ve given yourself some time, you’ll need to figure out your next steps. Here’s how. 

Review Your Options

Career expert Joe Mullings, chairman and CEO of The Mullings Group, told The Balance that if you're put on a PIP, think about whether you really want to stay working at the organization. Maybe you have been feeling disenchanted with the job and are ready to move on. Or maybe you feel that your relationship with the manager (or company) can’t be repaired. 

"There is no need to put yourself or your employer through the emotional and psychological strain that comes along with a PIP,” Mullings said. 

If you’re ready to part ways with the job, you’ll want to update your resume and get ready to move on. But if you’d prefer to stay, read on for what to do. 

Schedule a Meeting

Your manager may have already scheduled a follow-up meeting, but if they haven’t, you can ask to schedule a time to discuss the plan and what you need to do to achieve your goals. You’ll also need to know how much time you have to turn the situation around.

During the conversation, you will be able to find out exactly what is (and what is not) included in the PIP. You can ask questions, and, at many employers, you may be able to be a partner in the process of creating a plan for moving ahead. 

If you need help communicating with your manager, you can ask someone from human resources to join the conversation.

Understand the Plan

You should receive a written document at the end of the meeting. If you don’t, you can request documentation of the plan and what you need to do to meet its requirements.

“Take time to read this and ask for examples if you don’t understand something—remember that it’s your plan, and you should leave the meeting knowing what specific action items you need to execute,” DeGroot said. 

Before you leave the meeting, you should know the following:

  • Why you are on the PIP
  • What the goals of the plan are
  • What you need to accomplish to succeed
  • The timeframe for meeting the goals
  • The consequences of not being able to achieve the plan’s objectives

Take It Seriously

“If you’re on a PIP, consider this your life preserver—this is a final chance to improve skills or change your behavior as specified in the plan,” career coach Laura Barker, CPCC, ACC, told The Balance.

It’s common for PIPs to be more about behavior than skills, Barker said. This can include things such as how you dress, your attendance, and how you work with others, she explains. A PIP often covers “how” you do your job, while “what” you do is covered during regular performance reviews . 

Since PIPs are so often about behavior, you may find that they’re relevant in your life outside of work as well.

“PIPs are a wake-up call. You can choose how to receive them,” Barker said. And engaging with the advice may help you grow both professionally and personally. 

Establish Frequent Check-ins

“As you begin working through your PIP, check in with your manager as much as you can, even daily,” DeGroot said. This will help to show your enthusiasm and commitment to the process. Plus, these frequent conversations will ensure that you’re on the same page. 

"It's a chance to strengthen that working relationship and learn from a more experienced member of your organization,” career counselor Ashleigh Droz told The Balance. Droz pointed out that you could come out of the experience with a mentor. 

Pay attention to any feedback you receive during meetings, and adjust based on the notes you receive. You can ask questions to confirm if the manager is observing improvements or if there’s more you can do, career coach and author Amy Feind Reeves told The Balance.

Track how you’re doing. The data you collect can be a list of successes along with a record of how long you’ve spent on the plan. By tracking your time, you will ensure you get credit for the work you’re doing. You can also track anything you do above and beyond the PIP or areas where you do well. 

Consider It an Opportunity

“While being placed on a PIP may feel like a failure to some people, with an intentional mindset shift, it can become an opportunity,” Droz said. After all, you’re being given all the information and tools you need to perform your job successfully. "It's an investment in your potential." 

If you can get to this point of view, you might get a lot out of the PIP. 

How To Take Action on What’s in the PIP 

Your primary focus should be making the requested changes and improvements outlined in the PIP. But to do so, you might need to take advantage of several different kinds of resources:

  • Reach out to peers : Peers can share helpful information that you may want to use to get your own work and tasks done more quickly and accurately, according to Feind Reeves. 
  • Look for training opportunities : These can occur in person or through podcasts, YouTube videos, books, and more. 

While colleagues can be a good source of insights into how to perform your job better, there’s no need to share that you’re on a PIP, Feind Reeves said.

“If people comment about a change in your behavior or attitude, let them know that you are trying to be a better employee because you realized you need the job so you are taking it more seriously—or whatever answer feels authentic to you," Feind Reeves said. "But make sure it is an answer that will end the discussion."

Will being on a PIP hurt your chances of future success at the job?

 If you can overcome the issues that have been identified, you may be able to salvage your job and your future with the organization. That assumes that the employer is entering into the PIP in good faith and isn’t planning to fire you later on with the PIP as cover for potential legal actions. 

Should you apply for other jobs?

It’s a wise idea to consider other roles. If your performance is an issue, it could be because the job isn’t the best fit for you or because you aren't a good fit for the company. Exploring other positions will give you options if the PIP isn’t working out.

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DWP explains PIP review process – as well as those most likely to get 'light touch' review and ongoing payments

PIP awards last for between a few months and ten years before a review is needed

  • 08:39, 13 MAR 2023

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The process of reviewing claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has been outlined by the Government. The benefit is for people with long term health conditions or disabilities and, as of October 2022, 3.1 million Brits were receiving it.

Claimants must be over 16 and under the State Pension age, and their condition must mean they need help complete daily tasks or with moving around. Awards are not indefinite and can last between a few months and 10 years – known as a 'light touch review' – so that individuals can be reassessed to make sure they are getting the right level of support, the Daily Record reports .

There are two components of the benefit – one for daily living and the other for mobility – and each has a standard and enhanced level of support. Claimants may receive one or both components, and those who receive the enhanced award of both parts will get £169.85 a week, once payments increase in April.

READ MORE: DWP: 6 changes in circumstances PIP claimants don't need to report and those you do

Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain has asked the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) what guidance is in place to make sure PIP claimants with “degenerative conditions are identified and recorded for the purposes of scheduling future reassessments”.

In a written response, DWP minister Tom Pursglove said a PIP assessment takes place to determine the “needs arising from a health condition or disability”, rather than the condition itself. He added that regular award reviews are a “key feature” of PIP and ensure “payments accurately match the current needs of claimants”.

But he also added that when recommending an appropriate review period, assessors will consider when a “significant change in functional needs is likely, giving due regard to the expected progression of a condition and whether it is likely to improve, stay the same, or worsen”.

Mr Pursglove continued: “It may be appropriate to set a specific review period for a claimant with a degenerative condition as, if the condition is likely to deteriorate over time, the claimant may become entitled to a higher rate of PIP.

“However, claimants with very high levels of functional impairment who are on the highest PIP awards, and whose needs are only likely to increase, should receive an ongoing award of PIP, with a light touch review at the 10-year point.”

In April, most benefits for working age people, and the State Pension, will be increased by 10.1%, in line with September's figure for inflation. Here are the new payment rates for PIP:

Daily Living Component

Enhanced: £101.75 (from £92.40)

Standard: £68.10 (from £61.85)

Mobility Component

Enhanced: £71.00 (from £64.50)

Standard: £26.90 (from £24.45)

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Most people claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will be asked to attend a PIP assessment with a healthcare professional. Prepare adequately with our free PIP assessment tips guide.

PIP assessment tips before your assessment

Before attending your PIP assessment, there are several things you should consider to help you prepare. We explain the following PIP tips:

  • Requesting adjustments to the PIP assessment
  • Changing the PIP assessment venue
  • Planning your journey to the PIP assessment
  • Requesting a home assessment for PIP
  • What to take to your PIP assessment?
  • Taking someone to your PIP assessment
  • Preparing for your PIP assessment
  • How to claim travel expenses for your PIP assessment

Requesting adjustments to the PIP assessment to suit your needs

When you receive your PIP assessment appointment letter, you can check with your assessment provider that your assessment centre has everything you require to make you feel more comfortable. For example, you can request:

  • The healthcare professional to be a specialist in mental health.
  • for example, you can request an open room if you struggle in confined spaces.
  • Ask for an interpreter or signer if you need one.
  • Ask for the assessor to be the same gender as you.
  • Ask if you can make an audio recording of the assessment.
  • To ask for an adjustment, phone your assessment provider in advance using the number on your appointment letter.

Changing the venue

If the location of your assessment is more than 90 minutes away by public transport and you have difficulty travelling long distances, you might be offered an alternative site.

Your assessment centre might ask you for a letter from your doctor or other evidence that you need an alternative location for your assessment.

Planning your journey

Before your PIP assessment, you should plan your journey to your assessment centre. This will ensure you are familiar with the journey, so you arrive in plenty of time and reduce the possibility of being stressed before your assessment.

Requesting a home PIP assessment

PIP assessments usually take place at a centre; however, if you can’t attend an assessment centre because you are housebound as a result of a mental health condition, you can request a home PIP assessment.

You will need to contact the assessment provider and request a home assessment. You may be asked to provide medical evidence as to why you can’t attend the assessment centre.

If they refuse, you can complain to the assessment centre, DWP, or ask your M.P. to intervene on your behalf. In some cases, you might be able to argue that they are discriminating against you .

What should you take to your PIP medical assessment?

You’ll need to take the following form of identification with you to the assessment:

  • National ID card
  • Driving license
  • Birth certificate, UK and Foreign
  • Marriage certificate, UK and Foreign
  • UK utility bill
  • UK citizenship certificate

In addition to identification, you should also take the following to your PIP assessment:

  • Any medication you’re taking
  • reports from healthcare professionals
  • mental health treatment plans
  • A copy of your PIP claim form with you. That way you can refer to it in the assessment and make sure you tell the assessor everything you want them to know about your condition
  • Notes on what you want to explain during your assessment.

Take someone with you to your PIP assessment

If you can, you should take someone else – if they are over 16 - with you to your PIP assessment.

They can help you feel more comfortable, add information to what you say or take notes.

Prepare for your PIP assessment

To prepare adequately for your PIP assessment, we advise that you do the following before the assessment:

  • Make any notes of changes to your condition
  • Remind yourself of your answers
  • Make notes of anything you feel you want to say, which you haven’t put on your form
  • Read the PIP descriptors for each question
  • Understand what the PIP assessment is
  • Make a list of points you would like to make during your assessment – and take this with you.

How to claim travel expenses for your PIP medical assessment

You can request back the money you spend travelling to and from your PIP assessment. If you take someone with you to the assessment, they can also claim travel expenses if they travel with you.

If you plan to travel by taxi, you must get the assessment centre to agree to this before your assessment. If you plan to travel by car, you can claim back the cost of parking and a price per mile (e.g. 25p per mile) to help towards fuel.

Either before or after your assessment, you should ask the receptionist at the assessment centre for a travel expenses claim form and pre-paid self-addressed envelope. When returning the form, you must include all tickets and receipts.

PIP assessment tips during your assessment

There are several things to remember during your PIP assessment. We explain the following:

  • What does the assessor observe during the PIP assessment?
  • What you should say during the PIP assessment

Recording your PIP assessment

What will the assessor be observing at your pip medical assessment.

Firstly, you shouldn’t expect the PIP assessor to be favourable towards you. They are there to ask you questions and are not there to ensure you get PIP.

The assessor will investigate the information you gave on your PIP form but also make judgements based on what you say and do during your PIP assessment.

For example, they might ask you how you travelled to the assessment centre. If you say you came alone on the train, they’ll make a note that you can travel alone on public transport.

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

What you should say at your PIP assessment

You will be required to talk about how your condition affects you despite detailing it in your PIP form. You should explain the following:

  • What you have difficulty with, or can’t do at all - for example, leaving the house, socialising, cooking.
  • How your condition affects you from day to day – make sure you read the PIP descriptors so you can understand what each question means and if it applies you.
  • What a bad day is like for you - for example, ‘on a bad day, I’m so depressed I can’t concentrate on anything, and getting out of bed is a huge struggle.

These general PIP assessment tips will also help you:

  • Don’t let the assessor rush you.
  • Try not to just answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the questions. Always 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.
  • Don’t minimise how your symptoms affect you – many people try to play down their sy mptoms but it’s important you are clear about your illness.

We recommend that you record the audio for your face-to-face PIP assessment.

If you plan to do so, you should call the assessment centre in advance explaining that you wish to record the assessment – they will explain what guidelines you will need to follow.

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Personal injury protection (PIP): Do you need it?

Leslie Ventura

Jennifer Lobb

Jennifer Lobb

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 1:33 p.m. UTC Nov. 2, 2023

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If you’re at fault for an accident, your liability car insurance won’t cover the cost of injuries to you and other people in your car. Personal injury protection (PIP), or no-fault insurance, can cover medical expenses for you and your passengers, up to your policy limit, no matter who caused the accident. 

PIP coverage is required in states with “no-fault” laws, which restrict the right to sue for auto accident injuries. So depending on where you live, you may need to purchase this type of car insurance coverage. But even if it’s optional for you, if PIP is available in your state it can be a good addition to your car insurance policy.   

What does personal injury protection PIP cover?

PIP typically covers the following types of expenses for you and your injured passengers, even if you’re at fault for an accident: 

  • The cost of medical care and rehabilitation for injuries sustained from a car accident. 
  • Lost wages due to accident-related injuries.
  • The cost of replacement services for everyday essential tasks you can’t complete due to accident-related injuries, such as child care or cleaning.
  • Funeral expenses if the accident resulted in death, depending on the insurance company and policy details.

Because PIP is a no-fault coverage, those with personal injury protection are covered regardless of who caused the accident.

Barlow points out that PIP coverage should not be confused with the bodily injury (BI) portion of your liability insurance, which is required in nearly every state. If you cause an accident, BI liability coverage will only cover medical expenses of the other driver, their passengers and any pedestrians that are injured. 

If you are injured in an auto accident that you did not cause, the responsible party’s liability insurance typically provides coverage to you for your injuries, but that coverage is dependent on the responsible party’s insurance policy — assuming they carry the appropriate type and amount of coverage and did not flee the scene. 

“It can sometimes be difficult to determine which driver is responsible for causing an auto accident,” said Barlow. “It can take some time before the responsible party’s insurance company accepts liability for the accident. [PIP] can ease the burden during this period of time by covering your medical expenses right away.”

What isn’t covered by personal injury protection?

PIP insurance does not cover:

  • Injuries to a third-party, such as another driver, their passengers or pedestrians.
  • Damage to your vehicle.
  • Damage to someone else’s property, including their vehicle. 
  • Injuries sustained while engaged in criminal activity.
  • Injuries sustained while driving your vehicle for work purposes.

If you are in an accident and another driver is at fault, their liability insurance will cover your vehicle damage and injuries sustained by you or your passengers. 

Likewise, your liability insurance will cover damages and injuries to others if you’re at fault for the accident. 

Is personal injury protection required?

PIP coverage may be required in your state, and that’s especially true for drivers in no-fault states. 

The following states are considered no-fault states and require PIP car insurance coverage:

  • Massachusetts
  • North Dakota
  • Pennsylvania (first-party benefits or medical benefits) 

The following states are considered at-fault states, but drivers must still purchase PIP car insurance coverage.

Kentucky, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are considered “choice no-fault states,” where drivers can choose to purchase an at-fault (full torte) policy or no-fault (limited torte) policy.

Even if you don’t live in a state that requires PIP coverage, you may still be able to purchase it if you’d like the additional coverage it provides. PIP is not required but available to drivers in Arkansas, Connecticut, Texas, Washington and the District of Columbia. 

Personal injury protection FAQs

A personal injury protection (PIP) deductible is the amount your insurer will deduct from a claims check before paying out on an approved PIP claim. PIP deductibles vary, with some states preventing insurers from applying deductibles to PIP claims. If your policy includes PIP, you may be able to increase your deductible to lower your premium.

In states that require it, PIP is an essential part of your car insurance policy. Even if your state doesn’t require PIP, it’s worth considering, especially if you don’t have health insurance. PIP can cover your medical expenses, up to your policy limits,  if you’re injured in a car acciden, even if you’re at fault.

PIP only applies to auto accidents, so it isn’t meant to be used in lieu of health insurance . And, if you do need to use your PIP coverage following an accident, costs from an injury may still exceed your PIP limits. However, if you don’t have health insurance, adding PIP to your policy provides a layer of financial protection if you’re injured in an accident.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Leslie Ventura

Leslie is a freelance finance and lifestyle writer from Chicago who’s been writing professionally since 2010. Prior to her freelance career, Leslie was a reporter for the Las Vegas Weekly where she regularly interviewed some of the world's top entertainers and entrepreneurs. Leslie has a passion for making the intimidating world of finance accessible to everyone, especially people of color and the LGBTQ community. Having started her own personal finance journey in her early 30s, she believes it’s never too late to start investing in yourself.

Jennifer Lobb is deputy editor at USA TODAY Blueprint and is an experienced insurance and personal finance writer. Jennifer served as an insurance staff writer and editor at U.S. News and World Report and deputy editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor. She also spent several years covering finance and insurance for various financial media sites, including LendingTree and Investopedia. For nearly a decade, she’s helped consumers make educated decisions about the products that protect their finances, families and homes.

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pip-review 1.3.0

pip install pip-review Copy PIP instructions

Released: Nov 29, 2022

pip-review lets you smoothly manage all available PyPI updates.

Project links

  • Open issues:

View statistics for this project via Libraries.io , or by using our public dataset on Google BigQuery

License: BSD License (BSD)

Author: Julian Gonggrijp, Vincent Driessen

Requires: Python >=2.7, !=3.0, !=3.1, !=3.2

Maintainers

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  • 5 - Production/Stable
  • System Administrators
  • OSI Approved :: BSD License
  • OS Independent
  • Python :: 2
  • Python :: 2.7
  • Python :: 3
  • Python :: 3.3
  • Python :: 3.4
  • Python :: 3.5
  • Python :: 3.6
  • Python :: 3.7
  • Python :: 3.8
  • Python :: 3.9
  • Python :: 3.10
  • System :: Systems Administration

Project description

Build status

Looking for a new maintainer! See https://github.com/jgonggrijp/pip-review/issues/76.

pip-review is a convenience wrapper around pip . It can list available updates by deferring to pip list --outdated . It can also automatically or interactively install available updates for you by deferring to pip install .

Example, report-only:

Example, actually install everything:

Example, run interactively, ask to upgrade for each package:

Run pip-review -h for a complete overview of the options.

Note: If you want to pin specific packages to prevent them from automatically being upgraded, you can use a constraint file (similar to requirements.txt ):

Set this variable in .bashrc or .zshenv to make it persistent. Alternatively, this option can be specified in pip.conf , e.g.:

The conf file are dependent of the user, so If you use multiple users you must define config file for each of them. https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/user_guide/#constraints-files

Since version 0.5, you can also invoke pip-review as python -m pip_review . This can be useful if you are using multiple versions of Python next to each other.

Before version 1.0, pip-review had its own logic for finding package updates instead of relying on pip list --outdated .

Like pip , pip-review updates all packages, including pip and pip-review .

Installation

To install, simply use pip:

Decide for yourself whether you want to install the tool system-wide, or inside a virtual env. Both are supported.

To test with your active Python version:

To test under all (supported) Python versions:

The tests run quite slow, since they actually interact with PyPI, which involves downloading packages, etc. So please be patient.

pip-review was originally part of pip-tools but has been discontinued as such. See Pin Your Packages by Vincent Driessen for the original introduction. Since there are still use cases, the tool now lives on as a separate package.

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Claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - Review or renew a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim

A guide for claiming Personal Independence Payment, the different stages of the claim process and what to expect

  • Review or renew a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim

It is important that you tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if and when anything changes which might affect your entitlement to PIP. If your health is getting worse or better, the DWP may want to reassess you to check you are getting the right amount.

Your award of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) may be reviewed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) at any time, even if you have an award for a fixed amount of time. The DWP will usually start to review your claim one year before your award ends.

When the DWP reviews your claim, they send you a letter with a PIP review form. The DWP gives you 4 weeks to fill in the form and send it back. Ask the DWP for more time if you need it. You will need to phone them and tell them why you need more time.

If you don’t send the form back in time, the DWP will stop your claim unless you have a good reason for sending it in late. You will need to tell them why you sent the form late.

If the DWP stop your claim because you sent the form back too late and they don’t think that you have a good reason, you can start again with a new claim or challenge their decision (or both).

You don’t have to do the form on your own. You can ask someone else to help you. It can be someone you know or you can find a benefits adviser near you using our Find an Adviser tool .

If something has changed, the DWP may need more information to let the claim continue. You may need to complete another claim form and attend another medical assessment.

In a review, the DWP will decide whether to:

  • Make your PIP award longer
  • Change your entitlement
  • End your PIP claim.

It is a good idea to renew your claim early to avoid any gaps in your PIP claim.

From December 2022, the DWP will automatically extend PIP claims that are about to end and haven't been reviewed. If your PIP claim ends before December 2022, and you have not heard from the DWP, you should contact them and ask for your claim to be extended.

You can ask to renew your claim in the last six months before your PIP award ends. You will need to complete another form and go to another medical assessment.

For more about when your PIP payments may stop, see our When does Personal Independence Payment (PIP) stop? page .

Reviewed: February 2023

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All 16 questions on new PIP light-touch review form for people due letter from DWP

Full breakdown of the new, shorter six-page PIP award review document being issued from this month.

  • 09:59, 21 AUG 2023
  • Updated 14:38, 22 AUG 2023

what is a review for pip

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently announced that “in most cases” people coming to the end of their 10-year award for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) this year will not be required to attend an assessment. This follows on from the introduction of a new, shorter PIP review form that is now being sent out to those on a ‘light-touch’ award.

The DWP has now published a sample copy of the ‘PIP AR2’ form - for reference use only - as part of the PIP Toolkit on GOV.UK . However, it’s a great way for people with a light-touch award to understand what questions they will need to answer on the six-page document, before the letter arrives from the DWP, allowing them to gather any specific information needed ahead of time.

Ongoing awards are primarily for those with the highest level of support or whose needs will not change or will only deteriorate - since 2019, this also includes most people who have reached State Pension age .

The DWP recently said: “The first light-touch reviews start in August and will involve a short form to check whether anything has changed, so we can adjust the award if needed and confirm we hold up to date information. In most cases an assessment with a health professional will not be required.”

Sections on the PIP review form

The six-page review form covers:

  • Identity and contact details
  • Immigration status
  • Your main healthcare professional
  • Details of any changes to your health condition or disability
  • Details of any changes to your daily living needs
  • Details of any changes to your mobility needs
  • Your consent to allow the DWP to collect further information

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Questions on the review form

Here are all 16 questions on the PIP AR2 form.

  • Q1 - Your name
  • Q2 - Your date of birth
  • Q3 - Your address
  • Q4 - Is this a hospital, hospice or other residential or nursing care accommodation?
  • Q5 - Your correspondence address
  • Q6 - A phone number DWP can contact you on
  • Q7 - Have there been any changes to your immigration status? - additional space is provided to write an answer
  • Q8 - Tell DWP anything they need to know about how they communicate with you - additional space is provided to write an answer

About the main healthcare professional that supports you

The form explains that this may be your GP, hospital consultant or a specialist nurse and asks you to provide their details.

  • Q9 - What is their name?
  • Q10 - What is their job?
  • Q11 - What is their phone number?
  • Q12 - What is the address where they work?

About your health condition or disability

Questions 13, 14 and 15 are given the most amount of space on the form to write additional information. It also reminds people: “PIP is assessed on how your condition affects you, not the condition itself.”

Q13 - Have there been any changes in your health condition or disability since DWP last awarded you PIP?

Q14 - Have your daily living needs changed since DWP last made a decision on your PIP?

  • The form states: “By daily living we mean preparing food and cooking, eating and drinking, managing treatments and taking medication, washing and bathing, managing toilet needs, dressing and undressing, communicating, reading, mixing with other people and managing money.”

Q15 - Have your mobility needs changed since DWP last made a decision on your PIP?

  • The form states: “By mobility we mean getting around and planning and following a journey.”

Consent for DWP to collect further information

Q16 - Do you give consent for your doctor or other relevant professionals to give DWP more information about your health condition or disability?

The final question also provides guidance on giving DWP consent to obtain further information on how your health condition affects you.

The form explains: “The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or approved healthcare professionals that work for DWP, might need more information about your health condition or disability and how it affects you.

“They might ask, with your consent, for relevant information from your doctor, or any other relevant professional you tell them about.

“DWP can lawfully ask your doctor, hospital consultant or other relevant professionals for information about your health condition and how it affects you. This is because we are asking for the information to help us carry out our official social security functions.”

It adds: “You do not have to give your consent. If you do not, DWP will make a decision based on the information they have already, as well as any you give DWP yourself.”

The final page is a declaration for the claimant to sign and date. You can view the AR2 award review form online here .

Latest PIP and ADP News

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PIP review process (DWP)

DWP guidance states that you will continue to get PIP while your claim is being reviewed. Claimants will receive the form along with a covering letter.

The letter from DWP will:

  • Confirm that you have a long-term health condition/disability or that you are over State Pension age
  • Confirm your current awards for daily living and/or mobility
  • Set out the needs or difficulties that you have been assessed under for daily living and/or mobility for your current award
  • Explain the reason for the review
  • Give clear instructions about what you need to do next
  • Explain what to do if you have problems completing the form
  • Explain what the DWP will do once they receive the form

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As with all review forms, there is a time limit in which to return the form - usually one month, the date will be on the letter and the review form. However, if you need more time to complete it, contact the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 as soon as possible.

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what is a review for pip

PIP benefits: What to do if the government reviews your payments this year

The government can review your PIP benefits at any point, and will then decide to keep them the same, increase them, cut them or extend how much you get awarded in payments

A young couple calculating financial bills at home

  • 13:42, 13 Jan 2022
  • Updated 13:47, 13 Jan 2022

Your PIP benefits can be reviewed at any time by the government - but what should you do if this happens?

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has the power to examine your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim at any time - even if you are already getting the benefit.

While it's rare, it is worth knowing how to handle these reviews if they happen to you.

When you get a PIP award from the DWP , you will be told how long it will last.

PIP awards are normally given for anywhere between three months to 10 years.

Normally you will get a review up to a year before your current award ends.

But the DWP can reopen the claim and review how much you are given at any point, the Liverpool Echo reports .

What happens at a PIP review?

The DWP can decide to:

  • Extend your PIP award
  • Raise or cut your payments
  • End your PIP claim

A PIP review always follows the same stages:

  • You get a letter and have to complete the form called 'Award review – how your disability affects you'.
  • Return the form with any extra evidence you want to attach.
  • The DWP weighs up your answers and may ask you to meet a member of staff.
  • You get a letter from the DWP with their decision.

Returning the review form

You normally one one month to return the form, but the timeline will be clearly stated on the letter that comes with the review form.

This means you need to post it earlier than the deadline on the form, to ensure there is plenty of time for it to arrive before the deadline date.

And because it may have taken a few days to arrive and you have to allow time to return it, this means you may have less than one month to complete the form itself - so don’t delay filling it in.

If you don’t return your form before the deadline, your PIP may be ended even though it might be years before your award was due to finish.

What to be aware of

When you complete the PIP Award Review form, it’s important to remember that you are trying to convince a DWP case manager, not a health professional.

So make sure your evidence is sufficiently accurate and detailed for a decision to be made.

The point of the PIP Award Review form is to speed up the renewal process and potentially cut DWP costs by not involving Independent Assessment Services or Capita.

So, good supporting evidence, especially medical evidence, may make a big difference.

This is likely to apply whether you are stating that your condition remains the same or that it has deteriorated.

Completing the form

As with the standard PIP claim form, it’s worthwhile using additional sheets if you can’t fit everything you want to say in the boxes on the form.

Make sure you include your name and National Insurance number on the top of every additional sheet you use and attach them to the back of the form.

List any changes on the review form

The form now takes you through each of the daily living activities covered in your original PIP claim, from preparing food and eating and drinking through to mixing with other people and making decisions about money.

It also covers the two mobility activities, planning and following a journey and moving around.

For each of these activities you are asked the following questions about any changes since your claim was last looked at by DWP:

  • Tell us if something has changed and approximately when
  • Tell us how you manage this activity now, including the use of any aids you use
  • Tell us about any changes to help you need or the help you get from another person
  • Tell DWP if something has changed and approximately when
  • The activity may have got easier because you have new aids or adaptations, you have more effective medication, you have learnt how to manage things better or simply because your condition has improved over time
  • The activity may have got harder because your condition has deteriorated or because you have developed a new condition

Or things may not have changed at all since you made your last claim for PIP.

If there has been no change in how hard or easy you find an activity then you should still give detailed information about the difficulties you have with each activity.

Supporting information

When you return the form you should also send supporting information to show how your health condition or disability affects your day to day life.

You should include copies of any of the following documents:

  • A list of your prescriptions
  • A copy of your care plan, if you have one
  • Any paperwork you’ve been given by health professionals, including reports and letters (not appointment letters)

It’s also a good idea to attach any documents to the form so they don’t get separated.

You should not send:

  • Original documents
  • Appointment letters
  • Copies of anything you’ve already sent to the DWP

If you need help completing the form, Citizens Advice have a dedicated section on their website and advisers who ma be able to offer additional support - find out more here .

What happens after yo u return the form?

The Award Review form goes to a DWP case manager initially, rather than a health professional.

The case manager can also contact you or your carer for more information, but cannot send for more medical evidence.

If the case manager cannot make a decision, then all the information is forwarded to Independent Assessment Services or Capita for assessment by a health professional.

The health professional will initially attempt to make their assessment solely on the papers you submit.

Only if that isn’t possible will you be required to attend a face-to-face, telephone or video call assessment.

A decision will then be made by a case manager in the normal way.

If you think you can't meet the deadline

If you are not going to be able to meet the deadline, call the DWP on the phone number on the front page of the letter it sent you and ask for an extension as soon as possible.

If you are granted an extension, make sure you make a note of the date and time of the call and the name of the person you spoke with as well as the new deadline, which will usually be an additional two weeks.

Whatever you do, try to scan or photocopy the form before sending it so that you have a copy form your records. You could also take pictures of each page with your mobile phone or tablet.

MORE ON Department for Work and Pensions Benefits

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Birmingham Mail

DWP to pay £5,285 in PIP arrears to claimants - who needs to contact them

People on Personal Independence Payments (PIP) could be due a back pay of £5,285 after a new rule change by the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ). Thousands of people who have been receiving PIP since April 2016 are being urged to contact the DWP if they think they may have been affected.

In July 2019, the Supreme Court made a decision that changed how the DWP defines 'social support' for Daily Living activity number nine. This decision, known as the 'MM' judgment, affects how 'social support' is considered when interacting with others face-to-face and when 'prompting' should be seen as 'social support' in the PIP assessment.

In September 2016, the DWP started checking PIP claims from April 6, 2016, to see if claimants might be eligible for more support. According to a recent update, the DWP has identified around 326,000 cases to be reviewed.

The latest report reveals that by the end of August 2023, the DWP had reviewed about 79,000 cases against the MM judgment. This includes cases where claimants have previously been assessed as needing 'prompting'.

Around 14,000 payments have been made to cover arrears, totalling about £74 million. The amount each person gets might be more or less, but on average, it's around £5,285 per PIP claim.

In a statement to Parliament last December, the then Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP, said that due to the "complexity of the exercise we started at a relatively small scale, prioritising terminally ill and recently deceased claimants, testing our processes and communications with claimants, to ensure they are effective before ramping up".

He added: "We are monitoring the numbers of, and reasons for, revised awards closely and making regular quality checks to ensure our decision-making is accurate and fair. We have listened to feedback and engaged with disability organisations, to develop our processes and communications, being sensitive to claimants who need help to provide any further information we need to decide if they are affected."

"Confident that reviews are achieving the right outcomes for claimants, we have completed upskilling additional staff available for this exercise and expect to complete the review of all cases available to the exercise by the end of 2025."

He went on to say: "We are committed to making backdated payments to all claimants affected by this judgment as quickly as possible. So, as well as continuing to review claims affected by the definition of 'social support', we are also testing a more proportionate approach for claimants who might be affected by the timing element only."

"We will be inviting around 284,000 claimants in this group to contact the department if they think their claim is affected by this judgment and they were not previously identified as needing help to engage with other people face to face because any help they received was in advance."

He added: "I believe that prioritising cases where claimants are more likely to be entitled to more support is the correct approach."

Who may be affected by the assessment rule change?

The MM judgment can only affect a claimant's assessment for the Daily Living part of the PIP assessment. The DWP is reviewing cases where additional points for Activity 9 ('prompting' or 'social support') may make a material difference to the amount of PIP claimants' are entitled to.

People who may have missed out on the Daily Living component element of PIP, or were awarded the standard rate and may be entitled to the enhanced rate include:

  • People who have regular meetings with a mental health professional, without which they would not be able to manage face-to-face encounters.
  • People who need the input of particular friends or relatives with experience of supporting them in social situations - rather than just any well-meaning friend or relative - to help them manage face-to-face encounters.

The DWP is not reviewing claims if:

  • the enhanced rate of the daily living part of PIP has been awarded continuously since April 6, 2016
  • a Tribunal made a decision on a claim since April 6, 2016
  • a decision not to award PIP was made before April 6, 2016

If you're not happy with the review of your PIP claim under the MM judgment, you can ask the DWP to have another look - this is called a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR). You need to do this before you can appeal to His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). You can find all the details about challenging your PIP (and other benefit) decisions on the GOV.UK website.

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Help | Advanced Search

Computer Science > Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition

Title: pip-net: pedestrian intention prediction in the wild.

Abstract: Accurate pedestrian intention prediction (PIP) by Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) is one of the current research challenges in this field. In this article, we introduce PIP-Net, a novel framework designed to predict pedestrian crossing intentions by AVs in real-world urban scenarios. We offer two variants of PIP-Net designed for different camera mounts and setups. Leveraging both kinematic data and spatial features from the driving scene, the proposed model employs a recurrent and temporal attention-based solution, outperforming state-of-the-art performance. To enhance the visual representation of road users and their proximity to the ego vehicle, we introduce a categorical depth feature map, combined with a local motion flow feature, providing rich insights into the scene dynamics. Additionally, we explore the impact of expanding the camera's field of view, from one to three cameras surrounding the ego vehicle, leading to enhancement in the model's contextual perception. Depending on the traffic scenario and road environment, the model excels in predicting pedestrian crossing intentions up to 4 seconds in advance which is a breakthrough in current research studies in pedestrian intention prediction. Finally, for the first time, we present the Urban-PIP dataset, a customised pedestrian intention prediction dataset, with multi-camera annotations in real-world automated driving scenarios.

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Preparing for your PIP assessment

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.

If you’re waiting for a medical assessment

At the moment the DWP will try to do the assessment by looking at your medical evidence and talking to you over the phone or by video call. It’s important to send your medical evidence as soon as possible.

If the DWP can’t assess you over the phone or by video call, they’ll invite you to a face-to-face medical assessment.

If you’re worried about being assessed over the phone, you can have someone aged 16 or over on the call with you. They can take part in discussions and take notes.

If you have evidence about your health condition which wasn’t in your application, mention this during the assessment. This might be evidence from a support worker or a doctor. Offer to send this additional evidence to the decision maker to help with your assessment.

It's important you prepare - the DWP will use evidence from the assessment to decide if you can get PIP. Your assessment provider will be Independent Assessment Services or Capita - you should get a letter telling you which one it will be.

A health professional will carry out your assessment - they'll write a report and send it to the DWP.

Talking about how your condition affects you

You should be prepared to talk about how your condition affects you even if you’ve already detailed it on your 'How your disability affects you' form. It can be hard to do this 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’

It’s a good idea to take a copy of your form with you. That way you can refer to it in the assessment and make sure you tell the assessor everything you want them to know about your condition.

Help sheet for the day of your 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.

Download the PIP assessment help sheet - to take with you to your assessment [ 97 kb] . 

Print it out and take it with you. It includes tips on what to take to your assessment and dos and don’ts during the assessment.

Observations on what you say and do during the assessment

The assessor will use the information you gave on your 'How your disability affects you' 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 assessment centre. If you say you came on the bus, they’ll make a note that you can travel alone on public transport.

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

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

Take someone with you for support

You can take someone with you into the actual assessment if they’re 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 take notes for you.

Ask for an adjustment

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. For example:

  • ask if you’ll 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 2 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 them to make an audio recording of the assessment 

Recording your assessment

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.

Changing the venue

If the location of your 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.

If your GP normally visits you in your home, you might be offered a home visit instead of a having to go to an assessment centre.

Your assessment centre might ask you for a letter from your GP or other evidence that you need a home visit or alternative location for your assessment.

How to ask for an adjustment

To ask for an adjustment, phone your assessment provider using the number on your appointment letter. If you ask for an adjustment and it’s not made, this could be discrimination - contact your local Citizens Advice for more help .

Warning: you must go to your assessment

You must go to your assessment otherwise your PIP claim will be rejected and you’ll have to start the application process all over again.

Contact your assessment provider straight away if you can’t make your appointment or if you’ve already missed it. If you’ve a good reason for not going they may reschedule it. The number to contact is on your appointment letter.

There are no rules on what is a good reason for missing an assessment but the DWP should take into account your health and things that may affect you like a family bereavement.

If your PIP claim is rejected because you missed your assessment, you can ask the DWP to change this decision . You must have been given at least 7 days’ written notice of the assessment date (unless you agreed to a shorter notice period).

Travel expenses

The cost of the journey from your home to the assessment centre (and back again), parking and fuel can be reimbursed. If you take someone with you to the assessment, their travel costs can be reimbursed but only if they travel with you.

You can’t get your travel expenses paid before the assessment and you can’t be reimbursed for things like meals and loss of earnings.

If you travel by taxi, you must get the centre to approve the use of the taxi before your assessment. If you don’t, they may not reimburse the fare.

If you travel by car, the cost of parking can be reimbursed and 25p per mile can be paid towards the cost of fuel.

How to claim travel expenses

Ask the receptionist at the assessment centre for a travel expenses claim form and pre-paid self-addressed envelope. Include all your tickets and receipts with the claim form.

Find out more about your assessment

You can find out more about how Independent Assessment Services or Capita will run your assessment and how they can support you on their websites.

Find out more about assessments run by Capita.

Find out more about assessments run by Independent Assessment Services .

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what is a review for pip

  • Health and social care
  • Disabled people
  • Benefits and financial help
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment guide for assessment providers
  • Department for Work & Pensions

PIP assessment guide part 1: the assessment process

Updated 3 April 2023

what is a review for pip

© Crown copyright 2023

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-1-the-assessment-process

This document has been produced by the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) to provide guidance for assessment providers ( APs ) carrying out assessments for Personal Independence Payment ( PIP ).

It is intended to supplement the contract documents agreed with APs as part of the commercial process, providing guidance for health professionals ( HPs ) carrying out assessment activity and for those responsible for putting in place and delivering processes to ensure the quality of assessments.

All HPs undertaking assessments on behalf of DWP must be registered practitioners who have also met requirements around training, experience and competence. This document must be read with the understanding that, as experienced practitioners and trained disability analysts, HPs will have detailed knowledge of the principles and practice of relevant consultation and examination techniques and therefore such information is not contained in this guidance.

In addition, the guidance is not a stand-alone document, and should form only a part of the training and written documentation that HPs receive from APs .

It must be remembered that some of the information may not be readily understood by those who are not trained and experienced HPs . The guide focuses specifically on the role of HPs in the assessment and the quality of their work. It is not intended to cover all the requirements placed on APs as part of the PIP assessment contracts, their full business processes, or work carried out by DWP to monitor and manage AP performance.

There are 3 parts to the guide for assessment providers ( APs ) carrying out assessments for Personal Independence Payment ( PIP ). Each guide focuses on a different part of the process as detailed below:

Part 1: the assessment process

Part 2: the assessment criteria

Part 3: health professional performance

1.1 About Personal Independence Payment

1.1.1 Personal Independence Payment ( PIP ) is a benefit for people with a long-term health condition or impairment, whether physical, sensory, mental, cognitive, intellectual, or any combination of these. It is paid to make a contribution to the extra costs that disabled people may face, to help them lead full, active and independent lives.

1.1.2 The benefit is not means tested and is non-taxable and non-contributory. This means that entitlement to the benefit is not dependent on a person’s financial status or on whether they have paid National Insurance contributions. PIP can be paid to those who are in full or part-time work as well as those out of work.

1.1.3 PIP was introduced in April 2013 for people aged 16 to 64 years and is replacing Disability Living Allowance ( DLA ) for adults. The roll-out of PIP to existing DLA claimants commenced from October 2013. DLA claimants aged under 16 and those who were aged 65 or over on 8 April 2013 will not be affected.

The structure of PIP

1.1.4 PIP has 2 components:

daily living – intended to act as a contribution to the extra costs disabled people face in their day to day lives that do not relate to mobility; and

mobility – intended to act as a contribution to the extra costs disabled people face in their day to day lives that relate to mobility.

The PIP claimant journey

1.1.5 Claimants currently make an application for PIP by phone and once basic entitlement conditions are established, the claimant is asked to complete the ‘How your disability affects you’ questionnaire, referred to in this guide as the ‘claimant questionnaire’. At this stage claimants are encouraged to provide any supporting evidence they already have that they feel should be considered alongside their claim information – for example evidence from a health or other professional involved in their care or treatment.

1.1.6 Once the claimant questionnaire has been returned to DWP , in cases where an assessment is required by a Health Professional ( HP ), the case is referred to an assessment provider ( AP ) along with any supporting evidence provided. The AP then conducts the assessment, gathering any further evidence necessary before providing an assessment report to DWP .

1.1.7 If the claimant questionnaire is not returned and the claimant has been identified as having a mental or cognitive impairment, the claim will be referred directly to the AP for assessment.

1.1.8 If the individual is claiming under the Special Rules for End of Life ( SREL ) criteria, the case will be processed by the DWP if possible. However, if the case requires medical advice, it will be referred directly to the AP and dealt with as a priority.

1.1.9 Once all evidence gathering has taken place, including an assessment with a HP where appropriate, the DWP case manager ( CM ) will review the claim and all evidence provided and make a decision regarding the award of benefit.

1.1.10 If the claimant is unhappy with the decision on their award, they have the right of reconsideration and, if a claimant disagrees with the reconsideration, they have the right to appeal to HM Courts and Tribunals Service ( HMCTS ).

The PIP assessment

1.1.11 The assessment for PIP looks at an individual’s ability to carry out a series of everyday activities. The assessment considers the overall impact of a claimant’s health condition or impairment on their functional ability, rather than focusing on a particular diagnosis. PIP is not a compensation payment for ill health / disability; it is to help people with the increased costs of daily living in cases of long term ill health or disability. PIP sits alongside support provided by the NHS and local authorities and is not meant to duplicate that support.

1.1.12 The activities explored during the PIP assessment are:

Daily living (10 activities):

preparing and cooking a simple meal

taking nutrition

managing therapy or monitoring a health condition

washing and bathing

managing toilet needs or incontinence

dressing and undressing

communicating verbally

reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

engaging with other people face-to-face

making budgeting decisions

Mobility (2 activities):

planning and following journeys

moving around

1.1.13 Each activity contains a series of descriptors which describe increasing levels of difficulty with carrying out the activity. The HP will choose a descriptor for each activity and a DWP CM will review the suggested descriptors and decide if the evidence supports those choices. Each descriptor has a score. The total scores for all of the activities related to each component determine entitlement for that component. The entitlement threshold for each component is 8 points for the standard rate and 12 points for the enhanced rate.

1.2 The health professional role

1.2.1 The HP ’s role is to assess the overall functional effects of the claimant’s health condition or impairment on their everyday life over a 12 month period, using the assessment criteria.

1.2.2 The key elements of the HP ’s role in PIP are to:

consider information in the claimant questionnaire and any supporting evidence provided along with it

determine whether a claim can be assessed on the basis of a paper review and provide appropriate advice

determine whether any additional evidence needs to be gathered from health or other professionals supporting the claimant

carry out consultations as required

having considered all the information and evidence of the case, produce a report for DWP containing information on the claimant’s circumstances and recommendations on the assessment criteria.

1.2.3 The report to the department should include:

relevant history of the claimant, including information on the disabling health conditions or impairments, their functional effects and information on their current medication and treatment

advice on the appropriate assessment descriptors for the claimant, based on consideration of the evidence on file and, if appropriate, the evidence that the HP has collected during the consultation. The HP should also take into account the variability of a claimant’s condition and their ability to carry out assessment activities in a reliable manner

justification of the advice, explaining the evidence used to inform the advice on descriptor choices

advice on the likely prognosis for the claimant’s condition

advice regarding whether the claimant may need additional support from the DWP to comply with future PIP claims processes

1.2.4 The HP may also be asked to provide advice to the CM on a range of other aspects of a claim. HPs enable CMs to make fair and accurate decisions by providing impartial, objective and evidence-based advice. HPs will not liaise directly with CMs , but will liaise with DWP service assurance managers ( SAMs ) where the CMs have queries, for example:

seeking additional advice either based on current advice or because further evidence has been submitted

where there is uncertainty about descriptor choice because of contradicting or unclear evidence has been received. This may result in, a request to consider the evidence or acquire further evidence.

1.2.5 If the Provider or HP has any concerns about the claimant or those who are within their care, in all cases, they should direct their concerns to the appropriate agencies, healthcare professionals and services who may provide further assistance to the claimant. Examples of these circumstances may be appropriate to:

a claimant with severe depression and anxiety, with children under 18 providing care and support to the claimant

during the assessment, the claimant states that they are experiencing psychological/emotional abuse in their home

a vulnerable claimant states that they are about to be made homeless, adding to, or exasperating existing conditions

1.3 Carrying out PIP assessments

1.3.1 This section describes how to carry out the assessment. This includes the different processes for Special Rules cases, paper-based reviews and consultations, including guidance on when the different types of assessment should be used. This section also covers other areas on which HPs may be asked to provide advice.

Case received into DWP

1.3.2 The claimant questionnaire and any evidence is scanned and saved in the Document Repository System ( DRS ). The documents will then be available to be viewed via the claimant’s record in the PIP Assessment Tool ( PIPAT ) and/or the PIP Computer System ( PIPCS )

1.3.3 Once this has been completed, the case will be referred via the PIPCS to the appropriate AP for them to complete on the PIPAT or clerically as appropriate

Case received from DWP

1.3.4 The PIPAT allows the AP to give advice to DWP in an electronic format

1.3.5 The following referrals will be sent to APs :

claims made under the Special Rules for End of Life ( SREL ) that are unable to be processed directly by the DWP

claims that are being reviewed and where a DWP CM is unable to make a decision without input from a HP . This includes, but is not limited to, reassessment of existing DLA claims and PIP claims where an agreed award review point is reached, or fresh evidence received

rework requests in relation to assessment reports

advice on other issues

Initial review of case file

1.3.6 On receipt of a referral from DWP , the HP should conduct an initial review of the case file to determine whether:

further evidence is needed

the claim can be assessed on the basis of the paper evidence held at this point (a ‘paper-based review’)

a consultation will be required. If the HP decides that this is required, they should also determine any difficulties the claimant may have attending a consultation and any reasonable adjustments which need to be put in place (home visit, British Sign Language interpreter, ground floor consultation room, accessibility toilet)

1.3.7 Should the HP discover a case that appears to fall under the SREL provisions, it should be processed under the fast-tracked SREL arrangements.

1.3.8 APs should seek additional evidence from professionals involved in supporting claimants where HPs feel that would help inform their advice. The HP should contact the most appropriate person involved in the claimant’s care. In some cases this might be a support worker or therapist rather than the GP . The HP should ideally wait for the return of any further evidence requested before deciding whether a consultation is needed.

1.3.9 APs may receive referrals from DWP for claimants who have a condition which means that they need additional support from DWP and the AP during the PIP application process. In these cases, the HP will need to consider the appropriate approach to completing the assessment (paper-based or consultation). More information on claimants who require additional support can be found in section 1.12 of part 1.

1.3.10 The HP should document a fully justified choice of further action taken during the initial review, including the justification for the assessment type required, providing this to DWP as part of the case documentation.

1.3.11 HPs should also consider the needs of vulnerable claimants. A vulnerable claimant is defined as ‘someone who has difficulty in dealing with procedural demands at the time when they need to access a service’ .This includes life events and personal circumstances such as a previous suicide attempt, domestic violence, abuse, or bereavement. If a claimant has been in contact with DWP and has threatened self-harm or suicide, information about the incident will be included in the PIPCS – Medical Evidence screen comments box.

1.3.12 The HP should complete a PA1 – review file note or an equivalent form or relevant IT system notes explaining the action taken on the case, how the decision was made on the type of assessment and the evidence used to support the decision.

1.4 Further evidence needed

1.4.1 Additional evidence from professionals supporting the claimant should be sought where the HP feels it would help to inform their advice to DWP . The circumstances where obtaining further evidence may be appropriate include (but are not limited to):

where HPs feel that further evidence will allow them to offer robust advice without the need for a consultation – for example, because the addition of key evidence will negate the need for a consultation

where they feel that a consultation may be unhelpful because the claimant lacks insight into their condition

where claimants have progressive or fluctuating conditions

where they consider that a consultation is likely to still be needed but further evidence will improve the quality of the advice provided to DWP – for example, because the existing evidence lacks detail or is contradictory or to corroborate other evidence

where, in reassessment cases, further evidence may confirm whether or not there has been a change in the claimant’s health condition or disability.

1.4.2 If a consultation has already been arranged and, following receipt of further evidence, the HP concludes that they can now advise DWP on the basis of paper evidence, the consultation should be cancelled.

1.4.3 If a claimant presents further relevant evidence during a consultation which is not already on PIPCS , the HP should always consider its relevance when completing their assessment report. Under normal circumstances the HP would make copies of the original evidence and hand the originals back to the claimant. In circumstances where it is not possible to copy the further evidence, perhaps during telephone or home consultations or where the claimant does not wish to part with the evidence, then it is permissible for the HP to make notes from the original further evidence documentation. The copy of the evidence or HP notes from the evidence should be sent to the CM with the completed report.

Sources of further evidence

1.4.4 In the claimant questionnaire, claimants are encouraged to list the professionals who support them and are best placed to provide advice on their circumstances. HPs should give consideration to the fact that in cases of complex conditions, knowledge and involvement of the GP may be limited, with specialist practitioners potentially better placed in some cases to provide useful evidence. HPs should consider which professionals identified can provide useful evidence. They should not simply request evidence from all professionals identified as standard.

1.4.5 The HP should consider the most appropriate evidence for the case under consideration. There are various sources of further evidence, including, but not limited to:

a report from other health professionals involved in the claimant’s care such as a community psychiatric nurse ( CPN )

a report from an NHS hospital

a factual report from a GP

a report from a local authority-funded clinic

current repeat prescription lists

care or treatment plans

evidence from any other professional involved in supporting the claimant, such as social workers, key workers or care co-ordinators

telephone conversations with any such professionals

information from a disabled young person’s school or special educational needs co-ordinator ( SENCO )

an occupational therapist’s report

a report from an ophthalmologist

an audiologist’s report

contacting the claimant by telephone for further information.

Seeking further evidence from professionals

1.4.6 DWP has 3 standard pro forma for use in seeking evidence in writing from (a) GPs , (b) hospitals and (c) other professionals. These pro forma are provided separately.

1.4.7 Where necessary, HPs may also seek evidence from professionals by telephone. Such telephone calls should be made by approved HPs , not by clerical staff.

1.4.8 A written record should be taken of any telephone discussions seeking further information and the content included in the assessment report provided to DWP or via the PIPAT . The HP should inform the professional being contacted that this record is being produced and that this may be made available to the claimant and/or their representative.

1.4.9 The HP should also clarify whether any information provided by the professional is harmful or confidential.

Harmful information

1.4.10 In all cases and on all forms the HP completes when giving advice, the HP should check their advice for any information which could be seriously harmful to the claimant’s health if it were disclosed – for example, a poor prognosis that is unknown to the claimant or a diagnosis of a psychotic illness in a claimant who lacks insight into their condition. This is known as ‘harmful information’ In law, this is the only information that can be withheld from a claimant.

From autumn 2016

1.4.11 Where a claimant’s condition has been deemed harmful and captured in the relevant screen in the PIPAT or PIPAT mobile, this harmful information will be included on either the assessment report form (fast-track paper review) ( PA2 ), assessment report form (paper review) ( PA3 ), assessment report form (consultation) ( PA4 ) or supplementary advice note (change of advice) ( PA6 ). The DWP and HPs will be expected to verify that this is the case.

1.4.12 Should harmful information other than the claimant’s condition be present – either contained in supporting evidence or identified at a face-to-face consultation – this should be recorded separately on the harmful information note ( PA7 ) or within the harmful information screens in the PIPAT or PIPAT mobile and clearly marked as ‘harmful’. The HP should indicate where any harmful information is contained in an assessment report, for example: ‘the claimant is not aware of their condition and the PA X contains harmful information in supporting evidence’ or ‘Part X of the GP factual report dated XXXX contains harmful information’.

Confidential information

1.4.13 Any written information that is marked by a claimant or a third party as ‘confidential’ or ‘in confidence’ cannot be used in a claim for PIP as it cannot be further disclosed to a DWP CM .

1.4.14 If the claimant states that they want to tell the HP something ‘in confidence’ that they do not want recorded in the HP ’s advice, the HP should explain to them that they are unable to take such information into account, as the CM making the decision on their claim would have no access to it.

Seeking further information from the claimant

1.4.15 Where necessary, HPs may seek further information from claimants by telephone. Such telephone calls should be made by approved HPs , not by clerical staff.

1.4.16 HPs should identify who they are and the purpose of the call. A written record should be taken of any telephone discussion seeking further information, using the claimant’s own words as precisely as possible. This information should be included in the assessment report provided to DWP or via the PIPAT . The HP should always ask if there is anything else that the claimant wishes to say before concluding the call. The call should conclude by reading back what has been documented and advising the claimant that this information will be added as evidence to the file.

Paying for further evidence

1.4.17 The DWP currently pays for 2 specific forms of evidence: factual reports from GPs and SR1 forms completed by doctors who are registered with the General Medical Council ( GMC ).

1.4.18 APs are responsible for making payments for GP factual reports ( GPFRs ) where they have sought them, with the DWP reimbursing them the fees paid. SR1s will be sought and paid for by the DWP .

Late return of further evidence

1.4.19 Where further evidence is received after the assessment has been completed and returned to the DWP , the evidence must be sent to the CM for consideration. If evidence is returned to the AP in error, it should still be forwarded to the DWP for scanning.

1.5 Paper-based reviews

1.5.1 HPs should carry out assessments using a paper-based review in cases where they believe there is sufficient evidence in the claim file, including supporting evidence, to provide robust advice to the DWP on how the assessment criteria relate to the claimant. It is vital all advice is sufficiently evidenced.

Balance of probabilities

1.5.2 In some cases there may be sufficient information to advise on the majority of activities, but which leaves small gaps that it has not been possible to fill through obtaining further evidence or by contacting the claimant. In such cases, where the available information is consistent, the HP should consider whether they can use their own expert clinical knowledge of the condition(s), its severity and known impact in other areas to determine, on the balance of probabilities, the likely impact in the remaining areas. If they feel confident doing this and it would be in line with the consensus of medical opinion, then a paper-based review may still be possible, referring to such in the summary justification.

1.5.3 Apart from examination and informal observations that can only be obtained at a consultation, the HP must complete the paper-based review in line with the advice given in this guidance. HPs are required to advise on:

which of the descriptors in the activities set out in the assessment criteria are relevant to the claimant, taking due consideration of variability and reliability

whether the functional impact of the claimant’s health condition(s) or impairment(s) has been present for at least 3 months and is likely to remain for at least 9 months

the appropriate time to review the claim, or indeed whether the claim will require a review, and whether the functional restriction identified in the report will be present at the point of any review

whether the claimant is likely to require additional support from the DWP in order to engage with future PIP claims processes

1.5.4 The HP must – where appropriate – provide an overall summary justification or an individual justification for each descriptor choice to support the advice and provide the reasons for the advice. In cases of complex fluctuation, providing an individual justification for each descriptor can help to ensure this is fully explored and advice justified.

Cases that should not require a consultation

1.5.5 Although each case should be determined individually, the following types of case should not normally require a consultation:

the claimant questionnaire indicates a low level of disability, the information is consistent, medically reasonable and there is nothing to suggest under-reporting

the health condition(s) is associated with a low level of functional impairment, the claimant is under GP care only and there is no record of hospital admission. This advice applies even if the claimant maintains that they suffer from a high level of functional impairment – it is medically improbable that this is the case and a consultation is unlikely to add much useful additional information, since the clinical examination is likely to be unremarkable

there is strong evidence on which to advise on the case and a consultation is likely to be stressful for the claimant (for example, claimants with autism, cognitive impairment or learning disability)

the claimant questionnaire indicates a high level of disability, the information is consistent, medically reasonable and there is nothing to suggest over-reporting – (examples may include claimants with severe neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, severely disabling stroke)

there is sufficient detailed, consistent and medically reasonable information on function.

Cases that are likely to require a consultation

1.5.6 For cases where there is marked inconsistency, the claimed level of disability is unexpected based on the available evidence, or it has not been possible to gain sufficient further evidence, a consultation will be required.

1.6 The consultation

1.6.1 In the majority of cases, a consultation will be necessary to accurately assess the claimant’s functional ability. This gives the claimant the opportunity to explain to the HP how their impairment or health condition affects them.

1.6.2 Consultations may be carried out at a range of locations, including an assessment centre, local healthcare centre or in the claimant's own home. This list is not definitive and the location should take into account the need to provide an appropriate venue to enable the claimant to attend the assessment.

1.6.3 This section contains guidance for HPs on how to carry out consultations, including giving a standard structure to consultations. However, HPs should be prepared to adapt their approach to the needs of the particular claimant, not taking a prescriptive approach and ensuring that claimants are able to put across the impact of their health condition or impairment in their own words. It is important that claimants feel they have been listened to and that the consultation feels like a genuinely two-way conversation.

1.6.4 The relevant information required when offering advice on a consultation is set out in the clerical form PA4 or the relevant screens in the PIPAT .

1.6.5 Before starting the consultation, the HP should read the claimant questionnaire and all other evidence on file. It is also recommended that the HPs could also consult with clinical coaches or other experts prior to the assessment for advice and support on how conditions present and how this might affect function.

1.6.6 When speaking with a claimant, the HP should:

introduce themselves to the claimant and, if accompanied, their companion

explain the purpose of the assessment and what it entails – the HP should make clear to the claimant that the assessment is not a medical which involves diagnosis and treatment of their disability or condition. It should be explained that the assessment focuses on the effects of their health condition or impairment on their day-to-day life, looking at what they can and cannot do in relation to the daily living and mobility activities

To note: It is important that the HP ensures that valid verbal consent is obtained and recorded where appropriate.

Interview skills

1.6.7 Throughout consultations, the HP should:

use clear language that the claimant will readily understand

for sighted claimants, during face to face assessments, body language should be positive – for example, sitting to face the claimant, maintaining good eye contact, nodding to indicate understanding of what is being said and leaning forward towards the claimant from time to time

when recording information on any computer systems, the HP should ensure that they look up frequently from the screen and maintain eye contact

for blind and partially sighted claimants, the HP should explain what they are doing at each stage of the assessment

1.6.8 The approach should be relaxed, allowing the claimant time and encouraging them to talk about themselves and put across the impact of their health condition or disability in their own words. The claimant and any companion should feel fully involved in the process and feel that the consultation is a genuine two-way process. Summarising back to the claimant what has been said is useful to show active listening and to ensure that key pieces of information have been correctly heard.

1.6.9 Different types of questions should be used where appropriate:

open questions which need more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer (for example, ‘Tell me about…’, ‘What do you do when…’, ‘How do you…’) encourage the claimant to describe how their health condition or impairment affects them

closed questions which need a specific answer (for example, ‘Can you…’, ‘How often…’) are needed when establishing a fact, such as how often medication is being taken

clarifying questions invite the claimant to explain further some aspect of what they have said – (for example, ‘Let me make sure I’ve understood this correctly…’)

extending questions allow the HP to develop the story the claimant is giving (for example, ‘So what happens after…’)

Inconsistencies in the level of functional limitations

1.6.10 Throughout the consultation, HPs should be evaluating what they are being told and checking whether the evidence is consistent. Inconsistencies could result in claimants either over or under emphasising the impact of their conditions and efforts should be made to avoid both. For example, is the level of functional impairment claimed in one activity compatible with that claimed in another? If a claimant can handle a toothbrush, it is unlikely they cannot handle kitchen cutlery. If a claimant cannot bend to put on their shoes, it is unlikely that they are able to wash below the waist.

1.6.11 When considering inconsistencies, HPs should bear in mind that some claimants may have no insight into their condition, for example claimants with cognitive or developmental impairments. In addition, variability in a condition may suggest findings which initially seem inconsistent. This should be explored through further questions to develop this detail.

History of conditions

1.6.12 The HP should record a succinct and relevant history of all the health conditions or impairments that affect the claimant. The HP should record when the condition began and give brief details of changes since it began. In the case of fluctuation, the frequency and impact of periods of exacerbation and remission should be explored and recorded. If the diagnosis is unclear – the HP should record the condition as described by the claimant describing the symptoms, rather than trying to guess at the underlying pathology.

1.6.13 The HP should record a brief summary of treatments or interventions, and how effective it has been, and whether any further intervention, such as physiotherapy or a surgical procedure, is planned. The HP should also include what relevant investigations have been carried out or planned for the future.

1.6.14 The HP should include details of fluctuating conditions, indicating how frequent the fluctuations are, how long exacerbations last and, on balance, how many ‘good’ days or weeks and how many ‘bad’ ones the claimant experiences over a specific period of time.

1.6.15 The HP must document the symptoms and history of the condition as described by the claimant. Although the HP may consider that the claimant’s view of the impact of their condition is unrealistic or inconsistent with other evidence, the place to address this is later in the report, when justifying their advice.

1.6.16 Where the claimant’s clinical history is accurately detailed in either the claimant questionnaire or in supporting evidence, the HP may reference where it is recorded instead of reproducing this information in the assessment report.

1.6.17 All current medication, including ‘over-the-counter’ medication, should be recorded in the report, unless it is fully documented on other evidence in PIPCS . For each medication record the frequency, dosage and purpose (where known) in full. Any relevant side effects which affect the claimant’s functionality should be recorded here and an indication of the effectiveness of any treatment provided. The HP should also include details of any alterations to medication which have occurred since the questionnaire or supporting evidence was supplied.

1.6.18 The HP should record any other prescribed therapies, such as physiotherapy, making a note of who prescribed them, how often they are carried out, and how effective they are.

1.6.19 Where the claimant’s current medication is accurately recorded in either the claimant questionnaire or in supporting evidence, the HP may reference where it is recorded instead of reproducing this information in the assessment report.

Social and occupational history

1.6.20 The HP should record a concise and relevant social and occupational history. What type of dwelling does the claimant live in and do they live alone or with others? Can they access all areas of their home and have they had to make any modifications? Social and leisure activities undertaken by the claimant, as well as any they have given up or modified due to their health condition or impairment, could also be mentioned here.

1.6.21 The employment status of the claimant might be relevant and this should be explored and recorded as part of the evidence gathered in ‘social and occupational history’.

1.6.22 If the HP identifies inconsistencies between work and information on the claimant questionnaire, the HP should question these inconsistencies and document the response.

1.6.23 The HP should record the occupation and the nature of the job for example, activities on a daily/weekly basis, including any reasonable adjustments made by the employer. They should also include information where the claimant has given up work or changed their job due to the functional limitations of their health condition or impairment.

Functional history including the ‘typical day’

1.6.24 Evidence gathered in the functional history is an important part of the assessment process as it should provide the CM with a clear picture of the claimant’s day-to-day life.

1.6.25 The ‘typical day’ is a tool used to explore the claimant’s perception of how they manage their daily living, and the nature and extent of the functional limitations resulting from their health condition or impairment. The HP should explore any variability or fluctuation in the claimant's condition and functional ability by asking the claimant what they can do on ‘good’ days and ‘bad’ days. How many ‘good’ and ‘bad’ days do they have over a period of time?

1.6.26 For some conditions different time periods will need to be considered, such as the potential impact of different times of the day. If a claimant is unable to complete an activity or needs support to do so at a point in the day when you would reasonably expect them to complete it, the need should be treated as existing for the whole of the day, even if it does not exist at other points in the day.

1.6.27 As well as covering all the PIP activity areas, the typical day should also cover other activities such as housework, shopping and caring responsibilities for adults, children and pets, and hobbies and pastimes – these details give additional supporting information about functional ability. For example, doing housework provides information about mobility, manual dexterity and fatigability. Doing crossword puzzles requires visual acuity, manual dexterity, concentration and cognitive ability. This section of the consultation must also explore the impact completing an activity may have on functional restriction immediately following and for the rest of the day. For example, if carrying out housework or walking outside would mean the claimant was unable to do anything else that day, this should be properly explored and recorded.

1.6.28 The functional history is the claimant's own perspective on how they manage the daily living and mobility activities. It is not the HP ’s opinion of what the claimant should be able to do. It should be recorded in the third person, and should make it clear that this is the claimant's story. For example, ‘He gets up at … and says he can wash and dress without any difficulty’; ‘She states that she finds it difficult to lift heavy saucepans’. Wherever possible, the record should contain specific examples to illustrate difficulty with activities. For example, ‘He finds buttons difficult and tends to wear clothes that can be pulled over his head’; ‘manages to feed herself but needs to have meat cut up for her’.

1.6.29 The HP should explore all the PIP activity areas for daily living and mobility, focusing on the activities most likely to be affected by the claimant's condition. The HP should invite the claimant to talk through all the activities they carry out on most days, from when they get up to when they go to bed. The HP should do this by using open-ended questions and not just by asking a series of closed questions. The HP should encourage the claimant to expand on their answers to explore how easy or difficult they find a task. Do they need help to carry it out or are they completely unable to do it and need someone else to do it for them? The HP should explore how long it takes the claimant to carry out a task and whether they experience any symptoms such as pain, fatigue or anxiety, either during or after the activity. If help is given from another person, the HP should record the type of help, why they need help, who gives it, how often and for how long.

1.6.30 In general, HPs should record function over an average year for conditions that fluctuate over months, per week for conditions that fluctuate by the day, and by the day for conditions that vary over a day. It is important to understand that more than one of these time frames for fluctuation may apply to an individual claimant. Information about variability is crucial in assessing the functional effects of the claimant’s condition that apply on the majority of days and whether someone can carry out activities reliably, bearing in mind that advice will need to consider the impact of conditions over a year-long period. A ‘snapshot’ view of the claimant’s condition on a particular day at a particular time is not an adequate assessment.

Informal observations

1.6.31 Informal observations are part of the suite of evidence used by CMs to help them determine entitlement to benefit. Informal observations are of importance to the consultation, as they can reveal abilities and limitations not mentioned in the claimant questionnaire, supporting evidence or during the history taking for the consultation. They may also show discrepancies between the reported need and the actual needs of the claimant. However it is important to balance informal observations with evidence from professionals who may have observed the claimant more regularly.

1.6.32 The HP should be making informal observations and evaluating any functional limitations described by the claimant from the start of the consultation. The HP cannot document any observations made outwith the consultation. The consultation starts at the point the claimant begins to converse with the HP on the telephone, enters the assessment centre or is met at their home and concludes when the claimant ends the telephone conversation, leaves the premises of the assessment or the HP leaves the claimant’s residence. HPs may be able to observe relevant aspects of the claimant's appearance for example how well kempt they are and whether they look under or over weight, during face to face consultation. . This would be considered together with other factors such as their manner, hearing ability, walking ability during the history taking, through to the conclusion of the consultation. Informal observations should be recorded in the report, for example: ‘I observed them… and they appeared to have no difficulty with…’; ‘I saw him lean heavily on a walking stick when entering the consulting room’.

1.6.33 HPs need be aware that it is possible that the assessment room may, for some claimants, provide an environment that appears to artificially enhance functional ability, for example for some claimants with hearing impairments. A home environment may also provide either an ideal, good or a very poor environment for testing functional ability, for example, depending on the level of background noise. HPs need to ensure that they explore claimants’ functional ability in everyday life and in a variety of environments/situations that may not be ideal.

1.6.34 The HP ’s informal observations will also help check the consistency of evidence on the claimant's functional ability. For example, there is an inconsistency of evidence if a claimant bends down to retrieve a handbag from the floor but then later during formal assessment of the spine, declines to bend at all on the grounds of pain, or if the claimant states that they have no mobility problems but they appear to struggle to walk to the consulting room. In deciding their advice, the HP will need to weigh this inconsistency and decide, with full reasoning, which descriptor is most likely to apply.

1.6.35 HPs must also take into consideration the invisible nature of some symptoms such as fatigue and pain which may be less easy to identify and explore through observation of the claimant. HPs should be mindful that the level of analgesia used does not necessarily correlate with the level of pain. GPs are encouraged to avoid prescribing strong painkillers for long-term pain as the harms usually outweigh the benefits and there could also be specific reasons why painkillers are not prescribed, for example intolerance, or the use of other methods of pain relief. When pain is a significant symptom we would expect the claimant to be able to describe the location, type, severity and variability of the pain they experience and the impact it has on their daily life. The HP can assess the disabling effect of the pain by considering such description (where applicable) along with all other aspects of the case, for example disease activity/severity, effect on daily activities, treatment, pain relief, pain management strategies, examination findings and informal observations.

1.6.36 When considering mental health medication HPs should remember that not all claimants with a mental health condition will be on medication or receiving therapy. Severity of a mental health condition does not necessarily correspond with the type or dosage of medication that the claimant is receiving. There are a number of reasons why a claimant may be unable or choose not to take mental health medication, for example, but not limited to:

poor compliance due to the nature of mental health condition

side effects or difficulty tolerating medication

lack of efficacy

preference for psychological therapy instead of medication

complicating factors, for example excessive alcohol consumption

Therefore absence of medication does not automatically mean that the health condition is not severe. However, HPs should consider the type and context of certain medications, for example use of depot antipsychotic injections in psychotic disorders.

HPs should also take into account that some medications are used to treat different conditions, for example some antidepressants are also licenced to treat anxiety. HPs must also consider the use of other treatments such as psychological therapies.

Functional examination

1.6.37 HPs may wish to examine areas of function relevant to the claimant’s health condition or impairment. Such examinations should be tailored to the individual claimant and will vary depending on the nature of the disabling conditions present. Where there is clear and current evidence of a claimant’s functional examination findings in a particular area, HPs do not need to conduct an examination of that area. Functional examinations may cover one or more of:

mental functioning

cardiorespiratory system

musculoskeletal system

1.6.38 Before starting a physical examination, the HP must explain the procedure to the claimant, and obtain explicit verbal consent to continue. The HP must explain to the claimant that they are going to carry out a functional examination but that it will be different from the clinical examination they might get at their GP 's surgery. This is because the HP is not trying to make a diagnosis of their condition. The HP should note in the report that they have explained the procedure to the claimant and obtained their consent to proceed. Consent may need to be obtained at other points during the examination as the HP should explain throughout what they are about to examine.

1.6.39 Any examination should be carried out in a professional and sensitive manner, aiming to avoid causing the claimant any distress. The HP should demonstrate movements and observe the claimant’s range of movement. They should not move the claimant’s limbs. The HP should always stress to the claimant that they should not carry out a movement or activity to the point where it causes them discomfort.

1.6.40 The HP will never disturb underwear, never ask the claimant to remove their underwear, and never carry out intimate examinations (breast, rectal, abdominal or genital examinations).

1.6.41 Some examinations – for example, of the lower limbs – might be carried out with the claimant reclining on an examination couch. If this is not feasible – for example, if the consultation is carried out in the claimant's own home – the HP should make a note of the circumstances and carry out such assessment as they can while the claimant is sitting or standing.

1.6.42 Clinical findings from a musculoskeletal examination should be recorded in plain English, – for example ‘able to place hands at the back of the head’, ‘able to reach above the head’ – to help the CM understand the details of the examination. However, if findings are expressed as a measurement, the HP should put this into context for the CM by also describing the range with reference to the normal range of movement, for example he can turn his head to the right by 40 degrees, which is about half normal movement.

1.6.43 The assessment of mental function should be tailored to individual claimants and may take into account appearance and behaviour, speech, mood, depersonalisation/derealisation, thought, perception, cognitive function, insight and addictions. Where cognitive difficulties are a common symptom of a relevant condition, these should be assessed.

1.6.44 If an area of function is examined, the HP must record all findings in the assessment report, even if function is found to be normal.

1.6.45 If any element of function is not examined at the consultation, the HP should record why this area was not examined rather than leave the section of the report form blank. For example: ‘She states she has no problems with speech, hearing, or vision’. ‘He reported that bending would cause pain or worsening of his symptoms so movement of the spine was not assessed’.

1.6.46 If the claimant is unaccompanied at a consultation, the HP should consider whether a chaperone would be appropriate during any examination. The presence and name of the chaperone should be recorded in the report.

Concluding the consultation

1.6.47 Prior to concluding consultations, HPs should give claimants an overview of the findings they have taken from the consultation, including an indication of the fluctuation and variability of function they have recorded. Claimants should be invited to clarify any points and ask any questions they have about the assessment procedure, and asked whether there is anything else they would like to include. The HP should always attempt to respond to any issues or concerns they express.

1.6.48 No opinion on entitlement to benefit should be given by the HP . Claimants who ask should be reminded that it is for the DWP to decide entitlement. The report and all other evidence available will be used by the CM who will contact the claimant in due course.

1.6.49 Claimants who request a copy of their report should be advised that HPs are not authorised to give them a copy at the time of the consultation and that the claimant can request a copy of their report from the DWP .

1.6.50 HPs should be ready to terminate consultations at any point should they become too stressful for the claimant.

Uncooperative claimants

1.6.51 If the claimant is uncooperative during a consultation, the HP may terminate the consultation where they have gathered sufficient evidence to complete the assessment report and provide advice for the CM . If the claimant is persistently uncooperative or if they are clearly under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the consultation should be terminated and the case returned to the DWP , along with an explanation of why the consultation had to be terminated.

Companions at consultations

1.6.52 Claimants have a right to be accompanied to a consultation if they so wish. Claimants should be encouraged to involve another person at consultations where they would find this helpful – for example, to reassure them or to help them during the consultation. The person chosen is at the discretion of the claimant and might be, but is not limited to, a parent, family member, friend, carer or advocate.

1.6.53 On most occasions the claimant is likely to have one, or possibly 2, companions. There may be very occasional circumstances where the claimant reasonably requires the support of more companions and this would be acceptable. If the HP has reason to believe that the companion(s) are attending for a reason other than to support the claimant, the HP has the right to decline the presence of the companion(s) at the assessment. These occasions are expected to be rare.

1.6.54 Consultations should predominantly be between the HP and the claimant. However, the companions may play an active role in helping claimants answer questions where the claimant or HP wishes them to do so. HPs should allow a companion to contribute and should record any evidence they provide. This may be particularly important where the claimant has a mental, cognitive or intellectual impairment. In such cases the claimant may not be able to give an accurate account of their health condition or impairment, through a lack of insight or unrealistic expectations of their own ability. In such cases it will be essential to get an accurate account from the companion.

1.6.55 However, the involvement of companions should be handled appropriately by the HP . It is essential that the HP ’s advice considers the details given by the claimant and the companion and whether one or both are understating or overstating the needs. If the presence of a companion becomes disruptive to the consultation, the HP may ask them to leave. However, this should be avoided wherever possible.

1.6.56 HPs should use their judgement about the presence of companions during any examination. A companion should be in the room for an examination only if both the claimant and the HP agree. Companions should take no part in examinations.

1.6.57 The presence and involvement of any companion at a consultation should be recorded in the assessment report.

Audio recording of PIP consultations

1.6.58 Upon prior request, providers have the facility to audio record telephone and face to face consultations. There is an expectation that this will remove or reduce the need for claimants to record consultations.

1.6.59 At a face to face assessment, the claimant must sign a consent form in which they agree to not use the audio recording for unlawful purposes. At a telephone assessment, consent should be captured verbally on the recording.

1.6.60 In some circumstances, claimants may wish to use their own equipment to audio record their consultation. The consent process above should be followed.

1.6.61 APs must publicise these conditions and include them in communications sent to claimants before they attend a consultation.

1.6.62 Video recording of consultations is not permitted. This is to ensure the safety and privacy of staff and other claimants.

Restrictions on claimants’ use of recordings

1.6.63 If it is only the claimant’s personal data that is being recorded then there are no restrictions on the use the claimant can make of the recording. However, the DWP reserves the right to take appropriate action where the recording is used for unlawful purposes – for example, if it is altered and published for malicious reasons.

Covert recording of consultations

1.6.64 A claimant may make a covert recording of the consultation without the HP being aware. If the HP notices that a claimant is covertly recording their consultation, the restrictions above should be explained to the claimant.

Note-taking during the consultation

1.6.65 Claimants and companions taking part in a consultation with the claimant are entitled to take notes for their own purposes. The claimant or companion may keep the notes and do not have to provide a copy to the HP , although the HP may record that notes were taken. The notes are for the claimant or companion’s own purposes and are not an official record of the process.

Young people

1.6.66 HPs may need to adapt their approach when assessing young people. Care should be taken, as always, to avoid creating stress or anxiety for the claimant. HPs should be mindful that young people are encouraged to be positive about their health condition or impairment and to focus on what they can do, rather than what they cannot. In addition, young people may have limited experience undertaking many activities unsupervised in an independent environment. HPs should ensure that this does not create an unfair perception of the young person’s abilities and the impact of their health condition or impairment.

1.6.67 Young people may attend a consultation with a parent or guardian. In these cases, it may be particularly important to distinguish between what a young person can or could do for themselves and what the parent does for them as part of their caring role. There may be some activities that have been done for them all of their lives and that a young person without a health condition or impairment of the same age may do themselves. There may also be activities that could be carried out by the young person, but for which the parent or guardian continues to assume responsibility. The HP should base their assessment on what the young person would be able to do if asked – that is, what they are functionally able to do – not the skills they have or haven’t learned.

Unexpected findings

1.6.68 Very rarely during the consultation, the HP may identify that the claimant appears to have a significant undiagnosed medical condition. If the HP identifies such a condition, they have a responsibility notify a suitable person involved in the claimant’s care. This will usually be their GP .

1.6.69 The HP has a duty to protect the confidentiality of the information obtained during the consultation. Therefore, consent to inform the GP of the unexpected finding should be obtained from the claimant. The HP should explain what information will be shared and why. If the claimant agrees, the HP should complete and send the relevant referral form to the claimant’s GP , and give the claimant a copy.

1.6.70 The HP should ensure the referral form is sent to the claimant’s GP within 24 hours. If the unexpected finding is of a life-threatening nature, they should seek the claimant's consent to telephone the GP or call an ambulance if appropriate. Such a telephone call should be followed up with a written notification to the GP . It is strongly recommended that the HP seek the claimant’s consent to telephone their GP and inform them of the finding as soon as possible.

1.6.71 If the claimant declines to give consent for the HP to contact their GP , the HP should make a judgement as to whether the situation is sufficiently serious that it warrants breaking confidentiality by telling the GP even without the claimant's consent. Both the General Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council provide guidance on medical ethics and when it is acceptable to break medical confidentiality. The HP should act within the guidelines, and be able to justify their actions. Procedures to follow and sources of support and guidance should be covered in HP training.

Home consultations

1.6.72 Consultations may potentially be carried out at a variety of locations and some will need to be carried out at the claimant’s home. Where a claimant indicates that they are unfit to travel to a consultation in a location other than their home, or where travel would require high levels of support or cause significant distress to the claimant, – for example where the claimant is autistic, has severe physical disability or severe agoraphobia – the HP should, at a minimum, consider whether a home consultation is necessary.

1.6.73 When considering a request for a home consultation, HPs should consider:

  • whether another assessment type is more appropriate

whether the claimant has a medical condition that either precludes them from travelling, or makes it extremely difficult for them to travel

the nature and severity of the condition

the safety implications for a home consultation for the HP – for example, where the claimant has previously displayed unacceptable behaviour towards the DWP and this has been noted in their case file.

  • any accessibility issues related to the planned location of consultations

1.6.74 The request for a home consultation may come from a GP or other health professional involved in the claimant’s care. When considering such requests, the HP should consider the points outlined above before making a decision on whether a home consultation would be appropriate.

1.6.75 HPs may also consider whether other options may be acceptable – for example, if travelling on public transport is the issue, could a taxi be considered?

1.6.76 Claimants are not required to provide evidence that would incur a fee to request a home consultation (unless they already have that evidence available). Where deemed necessary, they may be asked to provide other free of charge relevant evidence to support their request, for example evidence from a social worker, community nurse or carer that shows why a home consultation would be appropriate.

1.7 Special Rules for End of Life ( SREL )

1.7.1 These provisions were previously called Special Rules for Terminal Illness ( SRTI ), but this has now changed to ‘Special Rules for End of Life’ ( SREL ). The remainder of this section will refer to SREL rather than SRTI .

1.7.2 Claimants who identify themselves as nearing the end of life on the initial claim form can seek to claim PIP via the fast-track process known as SREL . If possible, the DWP will process the claim but where medical evidence is required, the case will be referred to the AP for input. HPs will be required to advise on whether the claimant satisfies the SREL provisions (see below) and provide advice with appropriate justification to the DWP .

1.7.3 The criteria for SREL claims set out in legislation are that the claimant: ‘is suffering from a progressive disease and death in consequence of that disease can reasonably be expected within 12 months’.

1.7.4 If the claimant meets the SREL provisions, they will automatically receive the enhanced rate of the daily living component. The claimant will not automatically receive the mobility component and entitlement for this component will need to be assessed.

Referral procedure

1.7.5 If the claimant states that they are nearing the end of life when applying for PIP , they will be advised by the DWP to obtain an SR1 form from their GP , consultant, specialty doctor, hospice doctor or senior specialist nurse. The DWP will wait 7 working days for the SR1 to be returned before making a referral to the AP .

1.7.6 The SR1 form is the preferred medical evidence for a DWP SREL claim and has replaced the DS1500. However, SREL referrals may continue to include DS1500 forms and these should be considered in the same way as SR1 forms. We anticipate that in time the DS1500 will be phased out once the national transition to SR1 forms is complete.

1.7.7 BASRiS (Benefits Assessment under Special Rules in Scotland) is the Scottish Government’s replacement for the SR1 and DS1500. Where a BASRiS form has been provided, DWP should treat it as ‘other medical evidence’ and refer the claim to the AP for review in all cases.

1.7.8 The referral sent to the AP via the PIPCS will include the initial claim details together with the SR1 or other medical evidence if any has been submitted by the claimant.

1.7.9 The SR1 gives factual information about the claimant’s condition; whether they are aware of their diagnosis/prognosis; details of any treatment received, ongoing or planned; and the date from which the claimant is thought to have met the SREL criteria.

1.7.10 SREL referrals will not contain the claimant questionnaire due to the need to process claims quickly. However, some relevant information about the claimant’s circumstances will be gathered during the initial claim stage and supplied to the AP . This will include details of the claimant’s key supporting health professional and basic information about their mobility.

1.7.11 All SREL claims will be clearly flagged. SREL referrals must be completed and returned to the DWP within 2 working days.

1.7.12 Consultations are not required where a claim has been referred under the SREL provisions.

HP advice in SREL claims

1.7.13 In SREL claims, HPs are required to advise on:

whether they consider, on balance, the claimant is or is not nearing the end of life as per the prescribed definition

if so, which of the descriptors in the mobility activities set out in the assessment criteria are likely to be relevant to the claimant.

1.7.14 The HP must provide a summary justification to support the advice to the DWP . Failure to provide this may result in the advice being returned for clarification or rework.

1.7.15 If the claimant is already in receipt of PIP and the case has been referred under SREL as a change of circumstances, the HP must include an indication of when the claimant was first thought to meet the SREL criteria. Failure to provide this information may result in the advice being returned for rework.

1.7.16 Advice must be evidence based on the balance of probability. HPs should remember that prognosis can be uncertain and if in their opinion life expectancy is, on balance, likely to be less than 12 months, they should advise accordingly.

1.7.17 The relevant information required when offering advice on SREL claims is set out in the PIP Assessment Tool or clerical form PA2 .

Further evidence in SREL claims

1.7.18 If there is insufficient information in the claim file to confirm that the claimant is nearing teh end of life and consent is clearly indicated on the file, the HP should telephone the clinician identified by the claimant in PIPCS . When making telephone contact with a GP or other clinician, the HP should also endeavour to determine whether the claimant is aware of their illness or prognosis and consider whether the information they have obtained may be potentially harmful.

1.7.19 If no SR1 has been provided and there is no additional medical evidence, a telephone call to the relevant clinician will always be required.

1.7.20 If the HP is unable to contact the clinician identified in PIPCS , then they should try to contact another relevant clinician involved in the patient’s care. On rare occasions, it may not be possible to contact the GP or other relevant clinician to obtain advice. In such cases the HP may need to seek advice from another person, for example (this list is not exhaustive):

a third party (where noted on the claimant’s case) in order to obtain the necessary evidence

the practice nurse

the practice administrative staff for support with contacting relevant clinical staff (note: information should only be requested from administrative staff if all other sources of evidence have been unsuccessful)

1.7.21 The HP must ensure that the claimant has given consent for the person they phone to share information. It is important to remember that GPs and specialists are responsible for any information divulged by the administrative staff and HPs must ensure that the person they speak to has the authority to provide the information. The HP must record the telephone conversation in their notes, indicating who has given that person the authority to speak on their behalf.

1.7.22 All telephone conversations should be recorded and include all relevant clinical information gathered by the HP . The information gathered forms part of the suite of evidence and should be included in the assessment report provided to the DWP and referenced in their advice.

Contacting claimants in SREL claims

1.7.23 Every effort should be made to provide advice in SREL cases. If the HP cannot obtain further evidence from the GP or other clinician, the HP should by exception consider contacting the claimant. Where the claim has been made by a third party, the HP should contact the third party, rather than the claimant as the claimant may not be aware of their prognosis.

1.7.24 The claimant or their representative may be able to provide updated information on where they are having their treatment and who is treating them. This may be enough to enable the HP to gather further medical evidence or advise whether the claimant satisfies the criteria for SREL . The claimant or their representative may also be able to provide updated information on treatment received or planned. HPs are expected to use their professional knowledge, skills and judgement to determine what questions are appropriate to ask about treatment.

1.7.25 Should the HP fail to obtain an unequivocal answer about prognosis or whether the claimant is nearing the end of life, their advice to the CM must be founded on the balance of medical probability, which should if possible be evidence-based. In exceptional circumstances a written request for further evidence can be issued.

Referrals of claimants already in receipt of benefits via SREL

1.7.26 In PIP SREL referrals, the DWP will check for an Employment and Support Allowance ( ESA ) or Universal Credit (UC) claim under SREL . If the information is available, the CM will transcribe the decision and any justification, word for word, into the medical evidence screen of the PIPCS .

1.7.27 The HP will be asked to consider the ESA /UC evidence when providing advice to the DWP .

1.7.28 Where it is felt that this is still insufficient, the HP would be asked to contact the clinician that the claimant has identified on the claim form, to obtain information in order to advise the DWP .

SR1 form received without a claim form

1.7.29 Any SR1 forms received directly by APs should not be considered. Unsolicited SR1 forms should be sent urgently to the DWP , with an explanation as to the reason why the AP is sending the form.

Claimant questionnaire or further evidence suggests SREL applies in standard claims

1.7.30 If evidence that a claimant meets the SREL criteria is uncovered following receipt of the claimant questionnaire or additional evidence in a non- SREL claim, then advice should be given to the DWP that the claimant fulfils the criteria for SREL and the case should then be treated as a SREL referral. The assessment report must be completed and returned to the DWP using the work queue for SREL within 2 working days from that point. The advice should fully justify why the claim is being treated under the SREL process.

1.7.31 Should an HP identify that a claimant is likely to meet the SREL conditions during a consultation and the claimant is aware of their condition, the HP should treat the case as a SREL referral.

1.7.32 In a small number of cases, the claimant may not be aware they are nearing the end of life. In these cases, the AP and the DWP must ensure the claimant is not inadvertently advised of their prognosis. Before treating a standard claim under the SREL process, the HP should take steps to discreetly gain an understanding of the level of knowledge the claimant has about their own condition and prognosis. For example, if the evidence comes from the claimant’s GP , the HP should telephone the GP to confirm whether the claimant is aware. In the event that a claimant is not aware of their prognosis, it must continue to be treated as a standard claim. The HP should not change the claim to a SREL claim.

Author has misunderstood the purpose of the SR1 form

1.7.33 Occasionally, the HP will encounter a case where the contents of the SR1 reveal that the author has completely misunderstood its purpose; for example, where there is no implication that the claimant is nearing the end of life. The HP should still make enquiries to clarify whether the person meets the SREL criteria and return the assessment report to the DWP with any supporting evidence, stating whether the claimant is nearing the end of life as per the prescribed definition.

1.8 Completing assessment reports

1.8.1 The assessment report is sent electronically through the PIPAT or clerically, where appropriate, using the following clerical forms:

PA1 – Review file note (where used)

PA2 – Review report form (Special Rules for End of Life)

PA3 – Review report form (paper-based review)

PA4 – Consultation report form

PA5 – Supplementary advice note

PA6 – Supplementary advice note (change of advice)

PA7 – Harmful information note.

1.8.2 Copies of all the forms are provided separately.

1.8.3 The nature of the information required in reports varies depending on the nature of the activity. Reports produced during consultations require the most content, as HPs will need to record the discussion, observed findings and conclusions from the consultation.

Choosing descriptors

1.8.4 For each activity area, the HP should use evidence to choose one descriptor which best reflects the claimant's ability to carry out an activity, taking into account whether they need to use aids or appliances and whether they need help from another person or an assistance dog.

1.8.5 Before selecting a descriptor, the HP must consider whether the claimant can reliably complete the activity in the manner described in the descriptor, taking into account whether they can do so:

to an acceptable standard

in a reasonable time period

1.8.6 The HP must also take into account that most health conditions or impairments can fluctuate over time. The HP should consider ability and fluctuations over a 12 month period to present a coherent picture.

1.8.7 For a scoring descriptor to apply, the claimant’s health condition or impairment must affect their ability to complete the activity on more than 50 per cent of days in the 12 month period. Where one single descriptor in an activity is likely to not be satisfied on more than 50 per cent of days, but a number of different scoring descriptors in that activity together are likely to be satisfied on more than 50 per cent of days, the descriptor likely to be satisfied for the highest proportion of the time should be selected.

Claimants applying for PIP from outside the UK

1.8.8 For claimants living outside the UK (known as exportability cases) –a slight change to the process is required.

1.8.9 Exportability cases are identifiable by the fact that the claimant’s address will be outside the UK and there will be a PIP2 (exp) with the case. In these cases, the HPs do not need to consider entitlement to the mobility questions 11 and 12 on the PA3 . If the PA3 requires a response to the mobility questions at activities 11 and 12, the HP should select ‘A’ (zero points) and type the comment ‘N/A – Exportability Case’. This will reduce the amount of time the HP spends providing advice on these cases as the mobility aspects do not have to be considered.

Evaluation and analysis of evidence

1.8.10 It is essential that the CM is made aware of the evidence the HP has used to complete the assessment report. The HP must acknowledge that they have considered all the available evidence when formulating their advice.

1.8.11 All evidence must be interpreted and evaluated using medical reasoning, considering the circumstances of the case and the expected impact on the claimant’s daily living and/or mobility. When weighing up the evidence, it is important to highlight any contradictions and any evidence that does not sufficiently reflect the claimant’s health condition or impairment or the effect on their daily life.

1.8.12 The HP ’s advice and justification must provide a clear explanation as to why more reliance has been placed on some evidence than others. The age of the evidence should also be considered in deciding whether it is relevant to the claim. However, the HP should bear in mind that for claimants with stable long-term conditions, the evidence available may be older. Evidence can include, but is not limited to:

the PIP claimant questionnaire – where the claimant describes their circumstances and the impact of their health condition or impairment

further evidence – for example factual report from the GP , hospital report, other health and social care professionals involved in the claimants care

consultation – the history, informal observations and clinical findings

statements from family/carers/friends

Summary justification

1.8.13 Report forms should contain where appropriate an overall ‘summary justification’ or an individual justification for each descriptor choice providing a succinct summary for the CM of the evidence obtained and used in the HP ’s consideration and the reasons for descriptor choice. Where there is a complex, fluctuating condition strong consideration should be given for individual justifications being required.

1.8.14 The advice must be able to stand up to challenge and the HP should draw out key evidence in support of their choice of descriptors in the report, drawing fact-based findings and/or well supported opinion from all of the evidence.

1.8.15 If the HP ’s opinion on descriptor choice differs from information provided by the claimant, the HP should draw on evidence to fully justify their advice to the DWP .

1.8.16 When a third party provides evidence – for example, a carer or health professional – the HP should evaluate the strength of the opinion being expressed. The HP ’s evaluation could include the level of expertise of the individual offering the opinion; their direct knowledge of the claimant’s health condition or impairment; and whether it is medically reasonable. The HP should also consider whether the third party is acting impartially, or as the claimant’s advocate. Consideration should also be given to whether, as a result of the claimant’s health condition or impairment, the claimant’s companion or advocate may be better placed to describe their needs. For example, some claimants with mental, intellectual, cognitive or developmental impairments may lack insight into their condition.

Variability

1.8.17 In some health conditions, the level of disability varies over time. These conditions are characterised by periods of remission and relapse or ‘good’ days and ‘bad’, during which the level of functional impairment can change for example multiple sclerosis or chronic fatigue syndrome. When advising on descriptors and justifying advice, the HP should consider the functional effects of the claimant’s health on the majority of days.

1.8.18 Advice about variability should be clarified by looking at the effects of the health condition or impairment on daily living and/or mobility on good, bad and average days and not on how the claimant was on the day of assessment. The HP must quantify the proportion of ‘good’ days to ‘bad’, for example if the claimant has epilepsy it is a question of the type, frequency and after effects of the seizures. It is essential to describe the claimant’s function as described both on ‘bad’ days and on ‘good’ days for the CM to understand the claimant’s circumstances and the consequences of their health condition or impairment

Requirements of a justified report

1.8.19 A properly justified report should contain the following:

a brief summary of the individual’s health conditions or impairment and their severity

a clear explanation of the reasons for the advice contained in the report including; referencing evidence used to support descriptor choices, explanations where the HP ’s opinion differs from those of the claimant, carers or other health professionals, clarification of any contradictions and an explanation of the HP ’s choice of evidence relied upon

the evidence that underpins the HP ’s advice can include:

clinical history

formal examination

informal observations

the HP ’s knowledge of the disabling effects of the medical conditions

treatment that the claimant receives

any other evidence available.

Who will see the report?

1.8.20 The consultation report is primarily for CMs , but the claimant has a right to see it and can request a copy from the DWP . In the case of an appeal, the claimant, his/her representative and members of the tribunal will see a copy of the report.

1.9 Prognosis

1.9.1 Entitlement to PIP is dependent on the functional effects of a health condition or impairment having been determined as likely to have been present at the required level for at least 3 months and being expected to last for at least a further 9 months. These periods are known respectively as the ‘qualifying period’ and ‘prospective test’. CMs will decide whether these conditions are met but need advice from the HP on how long the condition has been present and how long it is likely to last.

1.9.2 The CM also needs advice to help inform decisions on when claims should be reviewed, taking into account issues such as the likely progression of the condition and whether it is likely to improve, stay the same or worsen. For example, if the claimant has corrective surgery planned for the near future which would be expected to significantly impact their level of ability, a review at a point following the surgery might be appropriate. Other conditions are likely to deteriorate over time, so a review may be appropriate to see whether the claimant is now entitled to a higher rate of PIP . Other conditions might be unlikely to see significant changes in impact, which might suggest a longer period between reviews.

1.9.3 Where a condition can fluctuate significantly over a period of time consideration should be given as to when a review would be appropriate.

Advising on prognosis

1.9.4 Advice must be, logical, take into account current advances in medical care, be medically consistent and should reflect the evidence on likely prognosis from the claimant’s professionals where available.

1.9.5 The advice should take into consideration that even though in some conditions there may be no expectation of improvement of the underlying condition, it may be possible for the claimant to adapt given sufficient time or with appropriate treatment and/or support, thereby reducing the effects on functional ability. HPs should consider whether there is evidence that such an adaptation or adjustment has taken place.

1.9.6 If there is more than one relevant functional condition, the prognosis should take account of the effects of all conditions and the added impairment resulting from any interactions that may occur.

1.9.7 Age is not a medical cause of incapacity but it can be an indicator of disease progression. For example, it might be reasonably expected that a 25 year old man who is otherwise healthy but has lost his lower leg in an accident might adapt well to the loss. However, a 60 year old with other multiple pathologies who loses the lower leg because of complications due to diabetes is more likely to struggle.

1.9.8 Advice on prognosis must be fully explained and comprehensively justified. Where the HP ’s opinion differs from other opinions on file –for example in further medical evidence or a previous HP ’s advice – then a full explanation of the reasons for the difference of opinion should be given.

Completing the prognosis advice on the assessment report

1.9.9 After the CM has decided on their chosen descriptors and determined entitlement, they must select the most appropriate award type and duration. The advice given by the HP on prognosis will help the CM decide on the type of award.

1.10 Award review dates

1.10.1 The HP will be asked to provide advice on when it would be appropriate to review the claimant’s claim to PIP . Advice should be based on the HP ’s assessment of when there is likely to be a significant change in the overall functional effect of a claimant’s main disabling condition(s). The HP should use the free text box to clearly describe why they have selected the review point and the potential change to the claimant’s level of functional impairment that may lead to a review being necessary. The HP should use the following guide when considering review points:

No review required

1.10.2 It would be appropriate for the HP to select the “no review required” option in the following circumstances:

where, in the HP ’s assessment, the claimant’s level of functional impairment is such that the case manager is likely to consider that they do not meet the threshold for an award of PIP

where the HP considers the claimant has a level of functional impairment that they will likely improve to the point where there is little or no functional limitation present, for example after treatment, surgery or medication. In such cases a short award period with no review required should be advised. The HP should indicate the duration of such treatment and the date at which there is likely to be little or no functional limitations present for a minimum of 9 months and up to a maximum of 2 years.

1.10.3 In the following instances it would be appropriate to recommend an ongoing award:

where the HP considers there to be no likely change to the functional impairment

where the claimant has functional impairment which is not likely to substantially change in the long-term, allowing for short-term periods of functional change in the case of fluctuating conditions

where the claimant has very high levels of functional impairment in both daily living and mobility components likely to reach the threshold for an enhanced/enhanced award, and in which their needs are only likely to increase, such as with progressive conditions

1.10.4 The following are illustrative examples of when it may be appropriate to advise ‘no review required’:

no review required – ‘His learning disability has been present since birth and his functional limitations are unlikely to change now. He lives in supported accommodation and there has been no change to his functional ability in the last few years. A review is not likely to be considered necessary.’

no review required – ‘The claimant has motor neurone disease with high levels of functional impairment in the daily living and mobility activities. He requires significant support from his carer and his needs are only likely to increase due to the progressive nature of his condition.’

1.10.5 The HP should clearly outline their reasons for selecting the ‘no review required’ option using the free text box – for example, ‘the claimant’s level of functional ability is stable and will not improve or deteriorate in the long term’ or ‘the claimant is due to undergo surgery and it is likely they will no longer experience their current functional limitations in X months.’.

Specification of a review period

1.10.6 The following are illustrative examples of review periods which may be appropriate:

12 month review – ‘The claimant has a combination of physical and mental health conditions causing significant functional limitation. They are due to undergo surgery within the next 9 months, after which an 8-12 week recovery period is anticipated. It is likely that the claimant will not experience their current physical functional limitations post-recovery period. However, their mental health conditions are likely to persist.’

3 year review – ‘She is experiencing limitations to her functional ability due to severe depression and anxiety, which she has had for a few years. She is under the mental health team who are treating her with combination therapy, including several medications and psychological therapy. Although the condition has been present for a few years there may be some change in functioning in the future so a review of 3 years would be appropriate.’

5 year review – ‘His autism spectrum disorder was diagnosed in early childhood and will be lifelong. He is aged 16 and attends a supported education centre where he is learning independent living skills and undergoing travel training, with the hope of attending college in the future. There is unlikely to be any change in functioning in the shorter term, but with time, maturity and learning his functional ability is likely to change so a review in 5 years would be appropriate.’

1.10.7 The HP is asked to confirm whether the functional restriction is likely to be present at the recommended point of review.

1.10.8 Selecting the ‘Yes’ box will indicate that the claimant’s functional restriction is likely to still be present at the recommended point of review, regardless of whether it is likely to improve, remain the same or deteriorate. It indicates to the CM that the case will need to be reviewed to determine the correct level of any ongoing entitlement. In these cases, the CM is likely to arrange for a review before the end of the claim.

1.10.9 The HP should select the ‘No’ box if they consider it likely that the claimant’s health condition is likely to improve – or that they will adapt – to the point that there will be no or a very low level of functional restriction – for example, someone with osteoarthritis of the hip who is expected to have a hip replacement in the next few months where a full recovery is likely in a relatively short period of time. In these cases, the CM is likely to make a fixed term award of benefit.

1.10.10 The ‘Not applicable’ box should be selected where the HP considers that there is no health condition or impairment affecting function present on the majority of days over the 12 month required period.

1.11 Award reviews

1.11.1 From 27 June 2016, claimants who are due to have their award reviewed will be sent a new form ( AR1 ) for completion which will be returned to the DWP . This new document has been designed to focus on the information to be checked at the award review stage and to determine whether there have been any relevant changes in the claimant’s condition(s) or needs across all descriptors since their current PIP award began. The aim of this measure is to reduce the impact of repeat assessments on claimants and on APs where a decision can be made by a DWP CM .

1.11.2 The AR1 will be returned to the DWP by the claimant and, where possible, a proportion of planned award reviews will be completed by DWP CMs , who will compare the new information against the evidence from the previous assessment. DWP CMs undertaking award reviews will complete new learning and have on-site support from health professionals employed by DWP and will also be able to contact the claimant and/or carer for further information where necessary.

1.11.3 Where the DWP CM is unable to make a decision and more evidence is required, the case will be sent to the AP to be dealt with as business as usual. The case will include form AR1 and any additional information obtained by the CM (see the medical evidence screen in PIPCS .) For any award review case referred to the AP , all relevant supporting and further evidence will be visible.

1.11.4 The HP will attempt to complete a paper based review if possible, or arrange a face-to-face assessment where required.

1.11.5 DWP CMs will undertake paper-based award reviews in cases which contain the ‘additional support’ ( AS ) marker and where the AR1 has been completed by the claimant and returned to DWP . Where the AR1 has not been completed and returned, the claim will be sent to the AP who should attempt to contact the claimant and arrange an assessment. Should the AR1 be subsequently received by the DWP , it will be tasked to the document received work queue for the appropriate AP . (More information on the additional support marker is in the following section.)

1.12 Identifying claimants who require additional support with the PIP process

1.12.1 Many claimants with mental, intellectual or cognitive impairments will be able to engage with the PIP application process.

1.12.2 Some claimants may have a Personal Acting Body ( PAB ) such as:

  • an appointee
  • a power of attorney or guardian
  • a corporate other payee or corporate appointee
  • a tutor (under Scottish law)
  • a curator bonis or judicial factor (under Scottish law)
  • a guardian (under Scottish law)

A PAB is a person formally nominated to act on their behalf, who will ensure that the claimant is supported throughout the process. Where a claimant has a PAB they would not be classified as requiring additional support from DWP . These people already have appropriate support.

1.12.3 In some cases however, claimants may not be able to engage effectively with the claims process, due to reduced mental capacity or insight – for example, they may not understand the consequences of not returning a claim form and not have a PAB to help them. In the PIP journey, such claimants are considered to require additional support from DWP and elements of the PIP claims process have been adapted to provide further support for this group.

1.12.4 During the gathering of initial claim information, claimants who are identified as requiring additional support from DWP will have an additional support ( AS ) marker attached to their case on PIPCS . Using the information available to them, HPs will need to consider the most appropriate approach to completing the assessment for these claimants, be that paper based review or consultation.

1.12.5 During all consultations, if the AS marker has not already been added on PIPCS , HPs should idetify if a claimant who does not have a PAB required the AS marker to help them engage with the PIP journey, especially where there is a mental health, intellectual or cognitive impairment. If the HP believes that the AS marker should be applied, this should be indicated in the advice given to DWP .

1.12.6 Examples of health conditions that may affect mental capacity and may potentially mean the claimant could struggle to engage with the PIP journey include (but are not limited to):

1.13 Requests for supplementary advice

1.13.1 CMs may make requests for supplementary advice at any stage in the decision-making process. The supplementary advice option will be used where the report overall is fit for purpose but there is a need for some aspects to be clarified further.

1.13.2 Reasons for supplementary advice might be (but are not limited to):

further evidence having been received from the claimant after the assessment report has been returned to the department

help interpreting and explaining medical terminology the claimant has provided in claim packs or that health professionals have included in medical reports. This could include advising on the nature of a diagnosis, the use and significance of medication, the interpretation of functional examination findings, the significance of special investigations and the nature of surgical or other treatments

requesting non-prescriptive advice of a general nature on the likely functional restrictions arising from a specific health condition or impairment

requesting advice on whether a claim is being made for ‘substantially the same condition’ as a previous claim

to inform a fraud investigation (such requests are likely to be rare)

1.13.3 Supplementary advice may also be requested for a reconsideration where the claimant challenges a decision made about entitlement to PIP , or for the early revision of a decision as part of the appeals process. The CM will re-examine the facts of the case, the law and any other issues which applied when the decision was made. The purpose of the reconsideration is to try and resolve disputes without the need for an appeal. The HP may be asked for advice on further evidence from the claimant and may request further evidence before providing advice to the DWP .

1.13.4 HPs should answer questions posed by the CM but must avoid giving any prescriptive advice that refers to possible benefit entitlement, as final decisions rest with the CM . Advice should be clear, succinct, justified and in accordance with the consensus of medical opinion.

1.13.5 Where consideration of supplementary advice results in the HP changing their previous advice to the DWP , this should be clearly flagged.

1.13.6 Requests for supplementary advice may be made to APs by telephone and/or through the PIPCS and/or the PIPAT , depending on the nature of the request. Requests for advice through the PIPCS should be responded to using clerical forms PA5 or PA6 .

1.13.7 HPs should use clerical form PA5 to provide supplementary advice that does not affect the descriptor choices or advice on prognosis in the original report. For example, it may be used to respond to a request for clarification about medication or treatment that affects the claimant’s health condition or impairment. The PA5 should also be used where additional information does not change the original advice.

1.13.8 If there are changes to the descriptor choice, the HP should complete clerical form PA6 to highlight the evidence used to support any changes and provide full justification for their choice. The PA6 may also be used for changes to advice that does not relate to descriptor choice, for example prognosis.

1.13.9 Where the assessment was completed using the PIPAT , it will be necessary to create the appropriate supplementary advice on the PIPAT and once submitted a PA5 / PA6 will be output to the DWP .

1.14 Advice on substantially the same condition

1.14.1 One area that HPs may be asked to advise on is whether a repeat claim for PIP is being made for ‘substantially the same condition’ as an earlier claim.

1.14.2 Where the functional effects of a claimant’s health condition or impairment reduce – for example, as a result of remission – their entitlement to PIP may stop. Repeat claims to PIP by individuals who have developed a new condition will be treated as entirely new claim and have to fulfil the qualifying period of 3 months.

1.14.3 In some cases, however, a fixed term award of PIP may have been given where it was anticipated that there would be an improvement in the claimant’s functional ability (for example due to treatment), but where, following the PIP award ending, the claimant’s needs either continue, or increase. For example, certain types of multiple sclerosis have periods of remission and deterioration, while a person with cancer may respond well to treatment and then relapse. In these cases entitlement to PIP may again be triggered and the claimant may re-apply.

1.14.4 In most cases it should be possible for CMs to identify those cases where a claim has been made for substantially the same physical or mental health condition or range of conditions. However, in cases of doubt HPs may be asked for advice, based on their knowledge of the disabling effects of physical and mental health conditions and considering the evidence of the case.

1.14.5 Considerations that the HP should make include, but are not limited to:

whether the claimant has a condition which is likely to have fluctuations in the functional effects over time

whether the claimant has a condition which is likely to have sequelae which cause deterioration or fluctuation of function

whether the condition is the same condition but with a different diagnostic label - for example mitral valve disease / mitral stenosis

whether the original diagnosis has been amended but the underlying impairment and functional effects remain the same – for example bronchial asthma in the past but now suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) which is substantially the same condition

whether the same condition is present and responsible for the functional effects but deterioration has occurred due to a second condition. For example, asthma control is poor because of failure to take preventative medication regularly due to the development of depression, resulting in mobility problems

Case studies of such considerations are as follows

Mr X has diabetes and depression with agoraphobia. His diabetes was not well controlled and he had become depressed. He was awarded the daily living component and mobility component at the standard rates. Once good diabetic control was maintained his mental health condition improved so he was not entitled to either component. Nine months later both lower limbs were amputated following gangrene secondary to peripheral neuropathy and he applied for PIP again. As it is probable that the peripheral neuropathy was due to diabetes he did not have to fulfil the 3 month qualifying period for either component as it would be considered he was suffering from substantially the same condition.

Mr Z has diabetes and depression with agoraphobia. His diabetes was not well controlled and he had become depressed. He was awarded the daily living and mobility components, both at the standard rate. Once diabetic control was maintained his mental health condition improved so he was not entitled to either component. Nine months later both lower limbs were amputated following a road traffic accident and he applied for PIP again. As the disabling condition was not substantially the same he had to fulfil the 3 month qualifying period for both components.

Miss B was diagnosed with schizophrenia and fulfilled the PIP criteria for standard rate mobility component. Her condition improved with treatment but 6 months later she re-claimed benefit because of depression and paranoia. Low mood and paranoid feelings were a significant feature of her schizophrenic episode. As the disabling condition was substantially the same she did not have to fulfil the 3 month qualifying period.

1.15 Consent and confidentiality

1.15.1 The department collects consent on behalf of GPs to allow them to share medical records. It cannot be assumed that in an individual case consent has been given or that consent previously given remains valid. Thus, in every case and before each instance that information is obtained or released, checks should be made to ensure valid consent is held. If the data is sensitive/ special personal data, UK GDPR sets a higher standard for ‘consent’ which is explained further below (paragraph 1.15.5).

1.15.2 Consent may be written, verbal and in certain circumstances given by a third party.

1.15.3 For consent to be lawful under Data Protection Legislation, (Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR) it must be informed, freely given, specific and unambiguous and as straightforward to withdraw as it was to give in the first place.

1.15.4 For consent to be fully informed and freely given the claimant must know exactly why the information is needed, what is going to be done with it, and with whom it might be shared. The claimant must not be coerced into giving consent when he/she is unwilling to give it and it must be a positive opt-in –for example it is inappropriate to say things such as “unless you agree to a report from your GP being obtained we cannot advise on your claim’. HPs may, however, flag that a DWP CM will make a decision on benefit entitlement based on the evidence available in the case and it is important that they have access to the best evidence.

1.15.5 UK GDPR defines special category data, and if consent is being used as a condition for processing the data, the consent must be ‘explicit consent’. Special category data includes the following (Article 9 (1) UK GDPR):

personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin

personal data revealing political opinions

personal data revealing religious or philosophical beliefs

personal data revealing trade union membership

genetic data

biometric data (where used for identification purposes)

data concerning health

data concerning sex life

data concerning a person’s sexual orientation

1.15.6 For consent to be explicit it must be affirmed in a clear statement. If Providers are required to gain consent, claimants do not have to write the consent statement in their own words; Providers can use their own words. However, claimants must clearly indicate that they agree to the statement- for example by signing their name or ticking a box next to it. In the case of sensitive/special information, the claimant must be fully aware of the nature and content of the information being processed.

1.15.7 Consent to contact third parties to allow them to share information will be sought by the DWP during the initial information gather – regardless of whether the claimant applied for PIP over the telephone or on a written claim form. The fact that consent has been given (or not) will be made clear in the referral from the DWP and APs should always check that this has been provided.

1.15.8 Should claimant consent not have been provided at the initial claim stage, it can be sought verbally by APs over the telephone.

Timescales for consent applying

1.15.9 Depending on how it is worded, consent may only cover a particular stage in the processing of a claim, and thus fresh consent may need to be sought. If there is any doubt as to whether the consent is still valid, fresh consent should be sought.

1.15.10 Consent can be withdrawn by claimants at any time in the claim.

1.15.11 In any case where consent is over 2 years old, action should be taken to confirm that it still reflects the claimant’s wishes.

1.15.12 It is good practice to check that there is valid consent every time further evidence is sought.

Consent to a physical examination

1.15.13 Attending a consultation does not mean that the claimant has given consent to a physical examination. At every stage of the proceedings the claimant should be advised as to what is going to happen and agree to it happening.

1.15.14 In cases where claimants have a named third party as an appointee, this could be due to the claimant being unable to manage their own affairs as a result of a serious mental health condition or cognitive / learning disability. Exceptionally, an appointee may also feature where a claimant is physically, but not mentally impaired, for example, if they have had a stroke which has resulted in a significant impact on their functional ability.

1.15.15 An officer acting on behalf of the Secretary of State will authorise an appointee to become fully responsible for acting on the claimant’s behalf in any dealings with DWP or its contracted APs . This includes:

claiming benefits including completing and signing any claim, providing consent to obtain further evidence and providing information to the HP on the functional impact of the claimant’s health conditions

collecting/receiving benefit payments

reporting changes in the claimant’s circumstances, or changes in their own circumstances that the DWP may need to know – for example a change of name or address

1.15.16 An appointee can be either a named individual, or an organisation (usually with an advocacy role), known as a corporate appointee.

1.15.17 Where a claimant has an appointee, this will be flagged in the initial referral to the AP . Where an appointee has been nominated to represent the claimant, the claimant must not be instructed to attend a consultation by the AP . This is because they have been deemed incapable of engaging directly with the DWP or its contracted APs . Instead, and only if a consultation is deemed necessary, the AP must send the invite to the appointee only. However, it should be noted that the named appointee, be this a corporate or individual appointee, can nominate another person to represent them at any consultation. That said, the HP should make every effort to obtain evidence in order to conduct a paper-based review in these circumstances.

1.15.18 A consultation cannot go ahead if the appointee or their representative does not accompany the claimant. If they do not turn up then normal failed to attend ( FTA ) action is taken – the DWP will investigate the conduct of the appointee

1.15.19 The appointee should be considered in line with guidance about companions being present at consultations. Consultations should predominantly be between the HP and the claimant. However, the companions may play an active role in helping claimants answer questions where the claimant or HP wishes them to do so. This may be particularly important where the claimant has a mental, cognitive or intellectual impairment. In such cases the claimant may not be able to give an accurate account of their health condition or impairment, through a lack of insight or unrealistic expectations of their own ability. In such cases it will be essential to get an accurate account from the companion.

Power of attorney ( PoA ) / Deputy

1.15.20 Where the claimant has told DWP that they want an attorney to act for them, the attorney’s details will be on the DWP system ( CIS ) if it is a PIP claim. Those details will go through to the provider and the invite letter should be sent to that person only. It must be the claimant who attends any consultation. If the claimant attends on their own then the assessment can go ahead if the claimant has capacity. The issue here is that the DWP may not know whether the power of attorney is a lasting PoA , which must be registered whilst the donor has capacity, then once registered it remains valid even if capacity is lost – but DWP is not always told. If capacity has been lost then the expectation is that the claimant would be accompanied. The attorney should be aware of this and if acting responsibly should not let the claimant attend on his own. They themselves do not have to attend. They can nominate someone else to accompany the claimant.

1.15.21 If the claimant has a deputy then that means they have lost capacity. The invite letter must go to the deputy who will arrange for the claimant to attend. As with appointees, the deputy can nominate another person to accompany the claimant. The claimant must not be assessed if they are on their own.

Proof of consent

1.15.22 Proof of consent given by claimants need not be routinely sent by APs when requesting further evidence. Proof of consent is not necessary needed before information is released by hospitals, trusts and clinics funded by the NHS or local authorities.

1.15.23 The position that proof of consent is not required is supported by the GMC , which advises that: ‘…you may accept an assurance from an officer of a government department or agency, or a registered health professional acting on their behalf, that the patient or a person properly authorised to act on their behalf has consented’.

1.15.24 If GPs , consultants and doctors request proof of consent they should be reminded of the GMC ’s advice. If they still require something in writing, the HP should email them a letter providing assurance that consent is held and quoting the GMC advice.

1.15.25 Occasionally a HP may be asked to provide evidence that consent is held in the form of the claimant’s signature before the information is forthcoming. GMC guidance is clear that if a doctor insists on a copy of the original claimant consent then DWP must provide it. In such cases the AP should contact the department for information.

1.15.26 In standard claims it may be appropriate to obtain further evidence from an alternative source should proof of consent be an issue.

1.15.27 In cases treated under the SREL process, a telephone call to a different clinician should be considered. If there is no suitable alternative the HP should provide proof of consent. Once this has been provided, the HP should call the clinician involved in the claimant’s care again. If the clinician involved in the claimant’s care remains unwilling to provide the information, an appropriate alternative person - for example their consultant - should be telephoned.

Consent in third party claims

1.15.28 The Welfare Reform Act 2012 (Section 82) creates special provision for a third party to make a claim on behalf of a disabled person without their knowledge.

1.15.29 Further information relating to the claim may be required and, due to the tight timescales involved in processing such claims, contact with the claimant’s own health professionals may be required. When making contact with that professional by telephone, the HP must make it clear if they do not hold consent from the disabled person to permit disclosure of information about their condition and explain the provision for third party claims under the SREL .

1.15.30 The HP should also ensure that the claimant’s health professional understands that a written record will be made of any information given during the telephone conversation and that this will be available to the patient at a later date unless there is ‘harmful information’.

1.15.31 It will be for the individual professional to determine whether they wish to release information about the claimant to the HP . The HP should not apply pressure to the professional to supply this information.

Confidentiality

1.15.32 Personal information held by the DWP is regarded as confidential. Confidentiality is breached when one person discloses information to another in circumstances where it is reasonable to expect that the information will be held in confidence. The duty of confidentiality continues after the death of an individual to whom that duty is owed.

1.15.33 The DWP takes confidentiality very seriously and all confidential information should be held securely and in accordance with legislation. With regard to requests for personal information, APs should:

only ask for what they need, and should not collect too much or irrelevant information

protect it, storing both clerical and electronic information securely

ensure that only staff who need to have access to the personal data in order to undertake their work should have access

not keep it longer than the required retention period and periodically review the data you hold and erase and anonymise when no longer required

not make personal information available for commercial use without the claimant’s permission

Telephone conversations

1.15.34 It is important that in all telephone contact with claimants or their representatives, the correct person is being spoken to. For all incoming calls the caller’s identity must be verified. If there is any doubt, the telephone call should be terminated and, if necessary, the claimant or their representative should be contacted using the telephone contact number on file.

1.15.35 Personal information should never be left on answering machines or voice-mail facilities.

Releasing information to a claimant or third party

1.15.36 Other than information about their appointments with the HP or an update on their current position in the assessment process, it is not the role of the AP to release information to the claimant. It is also not appropriate for the provider to release information to a third party such as the claimant’s representative, appointee, attorney or MP . Anyone making a request must be advised that requests for information should be made to the DWP .

1.16 Glossary

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