Spicy By Design's PIP Club
Your supportive space for navigating Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
PIP Club is here to make the PIP process feel less confusing, less overwhelming — and a lot less lonely. Whether you’re preparing your first application, challenging a decision, or helping someone else understand their rights, this is your go-to hub for clear guidance, practical tools, and confidence-building support.
We focus on what actually works — from gathering strong evidence to understanding how to describe your daily struggles in a way the DWP recognises. No jargon, no shame — just real talk from people who’ve been through it, with resources designed by and for disabled and neurodivergent people.
You deserve support. Let’s get it.
Step 1- Call to Start Your Claim:
Phone the PIP new claims line:
📞 0800 917 2222 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm)You’ll need to give:
Your full name, address, date of birth
National Insurance number
GP or health professional details
Bank or building society details
You can also request a paper form by post if you prefer.
The call usually takes about 20 minutes.
Deadline: Once you start your claim, you have 1 month to return the main form.
Step 2: Complete the ‘How Your Disability Affects You’ Form (PIP2):
You’ll receive a large form by post titled “How Your Disability Affects You.”
It includes questions on:
Daily living activities (e.g. washing, cooking, medication)
Mobility (e.g. planning journeys, moving around)
Use detailed examples for each section.
Be honest about bad days, not just your best days.
Tip: Keep a copy of your form before sending it.
Step 3 - Send Supporting Evidence:
Send any relevant medical or professional evidence with your PIP2 form. You can send additional evidence after submitting your form. Just ensure it has your NI number and D.O.B clearly marked on each piece of paper. Attach a letter to this detailing what evidence you are submitting.
Good evidence includes:
GP/specialist letters
Care plans
Occupational therapy reports
Medication list
Symptom diaries or logs
Use the freepost envelope provided.
Step 4 - PIP Assessment (If Needed):
Most people are invited to a telephone, video or in-person assessment with a health professional.
This is done by Capita or Independent Assessment Services (IAS/Atos).
The assessor will ask about your condition and how it affects daily tasks and mobility.
Note: You can ask for the assessment to be recorded and bring someone with you (even on phone/video). If you’re invited to a face-to-face PIP assessment but this would cause you distress or create a barrier due to your condition, you can request a telephone or video assessment as a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010.
You have the right to ask for an assessment format that suits your access needs. In your request, explain how attending in person would affect you and what format would be more suitable.
📌 Example wording: “Due to my mental health condition and sensory sensitivities, attending an in-person assessment would cause me significant distress. Under the Equality Act 2010, I am requesting a reasonable adjustment to have my assessment conducted by telephone or video instead.”
Step 5 - Wait for a Decision:
After your assessment, the DWP will review everything and send you a decision letter.
This letter explains:
Whether you’re awarded PIP
Which components (Daily Living / Mobility)
What rate (Standard / Enhanced)
For how long
It takes a few months to hear back after your PIP assessment, but it can sometimes take longer. Try not to worry — any award you’re entitled to will be backdated to the date you first started your claim.
This also applies if your award increases after a PIP review — the higher rate will be backdated too.
Step 6: Challenge the Decision (If Needed):
If you disagree with the outcome, you can:
Request a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) within 1 month.
If still unhappy, you can appeal to a tribunal.
If more than a month has passed since your decision letter, you can still ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration — as long as it's within 13 months of the decision date.
When sending your request, clearly explain why it’s late. For example, you might have been unwell, overwhelmed, or dealing with personal difficulties that made it hard to respond sooner.
Include:
Why the request is late
Why you think the decision was wrong
The PIP Claim Process
The DWP doesn’t have to accept a late request, but if it’s within 13 months, you still have the right to appeal to a tribunal if they refuse to reconsider.
Understanding How PIP Decisions Are Made
The 4 Key Words You Need to Know
The DWP doesn’t just want to know if you can do something — they care how you do it. Every activity is judged by whether you can do it:
Safely 🔺
Without risk of physical or mental harm to yourself or someone else.
👉 Example: You can cook, but often burn yourself due to fatigue or memory lapses.
To an Acceptable Standard 🟢
You can complete the task properly — not halfway or poorly.
👉 Example: You can get dressed but often leave your clothes on inside-out or inappropriate for weather.
Repeatedly 🔁
You can do it as often as needed — not just once.
👉 Example: You can shower, but not more than once a week because it exhausts you.
Within a Reasonable Time ⏱️
You can do it in no more than twice the time it would take someone without your condition.
👉 Example: It takes you 45 minutes to walk 50 metres — that may count as needing support.
“Start Building Your Claim”
📄 Write a list of daily tasks you struggle with
Cooking, dressing, bathing, going out, making decisions, etc.
🧠 Ask yourself for each one:
Can I do it without aids?
Do I need help or supervision?
Can I do it safely, properly, repeatedly, and quickly?
🗓️ Keep a simple diary for 3–7 days
Jot down struggles, symptoms, and what support you needed.
Use your notes later when filling out the PIP form.
You don’t need to do it all at once — small steps build strong claims.
