On this page you can find out more detail about the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application process and how it will affect blind and partially sighted people.
Application process
The Government's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will split the process of claiming PIP into several parts:
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the first part takes place over the phone and this is where DWP will take initial details of your claim
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in the second part, DWP will automatically generate your claim form and send it to you. Your claim form will include a barcode (to uniquely identify your form) and some parts of it will already be completed for you (your name, address and date of birth, for example). You then complete the rest of the form and send it back to DWP.
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It is very likely that you will also be asked to attend a medical assessment.
Medical assessment
When you claim PIP, it is very likely that DWP will ask you to attend a face-to-face consultation which will consider your individual circumstances across twelve activities.
For each activity, there are different descriptors which describe a person's ability to do something. Each of these descriptors has a score associated with it and you will score points based on the descriptors that apply to you.
For each descriptor to apply you must show that you are unable to carry out the activity "reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner".
Of the twelve activities, ten relate to the daily living component:
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preparing food and drink
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taking nutrition
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managing therapy or monitoring
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bathing and grooming
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managing toilet needs or incontinence
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dressing and undressing
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communicating verbally
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reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
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engaging socially
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making financial decisions.
The other two activities relate to the mobility component:
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planning and following a journey
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moving around.
You can score points in more than one activity. For DWP to award you the standard rate, you have to score at least 8 points in total for the relevant activities. To receive the enhanced rate you have to score at least 12 points in total.
The activities include a greater acknowledgement of aids and appliances than there was for DLA, and the need for them may lead to increased points for blind and partially sighted people. Aids are devices that help you in the performance of a function, such as spectacles or something to help you carry out a task such as a liquid level indicator or braille on shower controls. We will not know exactly how DWP views using these aids until the PIP assessment process starts.
If an assessor asks you to attend an assessment it is very important that you attend a face-to-face consultation. If you do not do this and do not have a good reason (good cause) then this could mean that DWP reject your claim for PIP.
Appeals
If you are not awarded PIP or are unhappy with the rates you have been awarded you can appeal the decision.
Further information
Read our information about PIP details, appealing a PIP decision and if you already receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) find out how PIP affects DLA. For more information about how PIP will affect blind and partially sighted people take a look at our factsheet:
If you have any concerns about the introduction of PIP please call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk. You can also sign up for our PIP email updates.
Please note that we can only give advice about benefits for blind and partially sighted people and their carers or dependants.