What happens after you return your PIP form
Once you have sent back your PIP claim form, the DWP will take several steps before making a decision. This page explains the process.
We explain the system. We do not advise on individual cases.
The DWP reviews your form
After receiving your ‘How your disability affects you’ form (PIP2), the DWP sends it to an assessment provider — either Capita or Atos. A health professional reviews the information you have provided.
You may be contacted for an assessment
In most cases, the assessment provider will contact you to arrange an assessment appointment. This could be a face-to-face appointment, a telephone assessment, or a video assessment.
In some cases, a decision may be made on paper without an assessment. This is called a paper-based review.
After the assessment
The health professional writes a report which is sent to a DWP decision maker. The decision maker considers the report along with your original claim form and any supporting evidence you provided.
The decision maker then decides which descriptors apply and how many points you score for each activity.
Receiving the decision
You will receive a decision letter by post. This explains the outcome, the points awarded, and your rights to challenge the decision. See our page on PIP decision letters for more detail.
How long does the process take?
Processing times vary and can change over time. The DWP publishes current statistics on average processing times on GOV.UK. If you are waiting a long time, you can contact the PIP helpline to ask for an update.
Official source
For current information on what happens after you claim: GOV.UK — How to claim PIP
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Last reviewed: June 2026. We review this website regularly. Benefit rules and amounts can change — for current forms, deadlines and rates, always check GOV.UK. See how we keep this up to date.