PIP does not separate your needs into day and night-time needs. Instead, a descriptor can apply to you if your condition affects your ability to complete a task, at some stage of the day, on over half the days of the period. If you are waiting for medical treatment (such as an operation), the result of which is difficult to predict, your choice of descriptor should be based on your continued condition as if the treatment were not taking place. HOW LONG WILL YOU GET PIP FOR? The duration of your PIP award will be based on your individual circumstances. Shorter term awards of up to two years will be given where changes in your needs could be expected in that period. Longer term awards, of five or ten years, will be given where significant changes are less likely but your award will be reviewed over this time where some change in your needs may be expected. Ongoing awards will be given in the minority of cases where your needs are stable and changes are unlikely. Awards made under the ‘special rules’ for terminally ill people will be for three years (see Step 1 of Section 2). Reviews The DWP will periodically review awards, regardless of their length, to ensure that everyone continues to receive the most appropriate level of support. If you are in a hospital or care home You can make a claim for PIP if you are in hospital, but you cannot actually be paid any PIP while you are in there. You will only start to be paid PIP once you leave hospital. If you are 18 or over and already getting PIP when you go into hospital, you will continue to be paid for the first 28 days of your stay; after this, your payments will stop and will only start again when you leave. If you under 18 and already getting PIP when you go into hospital, there is no 28-day limit and your PIP will continue. If you are in a care home, you can claim PIP but you will only be paid the mobility component. If you are already getting PIP when you go into a care home, you will stop being paid your daily living component after 28 days but will keep any mobility component. The rules are complicated if you alternate between days in hospital or a care home and days at home. Find out more For more information on how stays in hospital or a care home affect your benefits, see our Disability Rights Handbook or visit
Step 5: If you are not happy with the decision ASKING FOR YOUR CLAIM TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN If your claim is turned down, you have one calendar month from the date of the decision in which to ask the DWP to look at their decision again. This is called a ‘mandatory reconsideration’. You can also ask for a mandatory reconsideration if: you are unhappy with the level of the benefit that you have been awarded (for example, if you are awarded the standard rate of the daily living component but believe you are entitled to the enhanced rate); or the period for which it has been granted. Be careful when you ask for a mandatory reconsideration, because the DWP will look at your whole award and they can take away any rate of PIP that you have already been granted. If you are in doubt, seek advice from a local advice centre, such as Citizens Advice or DIAL (see Further help and information). How to ask for a mandatory reconsideration To ask for a mandatory reconsideration, telephone the number on the decision letter. When you get through, you should do the following: 1 Request a mandatory reconsideration of the decision. Explain why you disagree with their decision simply at this stage, for example, ‘I believe that you have underestimated the effect of my disability and consequently underestimated the extent of my mobility problems and/or the difficulties I have in carrying out daily living activities. 2 Ask them to send you copies of all the evidence that was used in making their decision. 3 Ask them not to take any further action until you have had the chance to respond to that evidence. Put your request in writing as well and send it to the address on the decision letter. Keep a copy for yourself. If you have not received the evidence after two weeks, ring the DWP again to remind them to send it. When you do receive the evidence, you should have a better idea of why the decision was made. Building a case When you receive the evidence from the DWP, you will see that sometimes the only information used to make their decision was the information you gave on your How your disability affects you form. In most cases however, there will also be a report produced by the healthcare professional at the face-to-face consultation. Compare their report with what you explained on your form. Look for where a difference of opinion arises.
Diary of a person with multiple sclerosis This shows two days of diaries but it is helpful to keep one for even longer. If you have longer spells when you are bad and then spells when things are not so bad, include diaries that cover both periods. 25 April ACTIVITY Morning 7am-12pm Afternoon 12pm-6pm Evening 6pm-11pm Night 11pm-7am Going to the toilet (always use grab rails and raised toilet seat) Managed by myself Slight accident on one occasion as didn’t get there in time Managed by myself Unsteady – helped to toilet Having a shower (always use seat and grab rails) Managed by myself – 40 minutes Dressing/ Undressing Managed by myself – 20 minutes Co-ordination bad – help to get pants and tights off Cooking (always use perching stool) Cut myself chopping vegetables Eating Help chopping meat up Medication Help getting pills out of dosette box Read paper on tablet using magnification Walking Went to local shops – 400 metres – used electric wheelchair Co-ordination bad – using indoor wheelchair 26 April ACTIVITY Morning 7am-12pm Afternoon 12pm-6pm Evening 6pm-11pm Night 11pm-7am Going to the toilet (always use grab rails and raised toilet seat) Managed by myself – stiff and slow first thing Managed by myself Managed by myself Unsteady – helped to toilet x2