Around 40-50% of PIP claims are refused at the initial decision, and the majority of those refusals are not because the claimant doesn't qualify - they are because of preventable mistakes on the PIP2 form. This guide lists the 12 mistakes that come up over and over again in refused claims, and shows you how to avoid each one. Read this before you complete the form, not after.
Describing your best days instead of your typical days
"I can usually manage to cook." "Most days I can wash myself." These phrases score zero points. PIP is scored on the majority of days - if you have 5 bad days and 2 good days, your "majority" is bad-day function.
Writing one-word or tick-box answers
"Yes." "Sometimes." "A bit." The boxes are big for a reason. The DWP scores you on what you write, and one-word answers leave no evidence to score against - so they default to zero or low points.
Ignoring the reliability criteria
Most claimants don't realise that "can do" means something specific in PIP: safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, in a reasonable time. Saying "yes I can cook" without addressing reliability scores zero.
Not mentioning aids you already use
Using a perching stool while cooking, a shower seat, grab rails, prompts on your phone for medication, a stick - these all score points. Many claimants don't list them because they have used them for so long they forgot they're "aids."
Forgetting to mention mental health alongside physical conditions
If you have a physical condition that has caused depression, anxiety or low mood (common with chronic pain, fatigue, disability), list both. Mental health affects activities physical conditions don't reach - Engaging with People, Planning Journeys, managing complex tasks. Many physical-only claims miss out on 4-8 extra points.
Saying you "manage" because you have to
"I have to manage because there's no one else." "I push through and pay the price." The DWP often reads this as "can do the activity" and awards zero. They are looking for whether you can do it reliably, not whether you grit your teeth and survive.
Not sending any evidence with the form
The DWP requests medical records from your GP but the records are often brief summaries that don't show functional impact. If you only send the PIP2 form with no supporting evidence, the assessor has very little to work with.
Leaving boxes blank
If an activity doesn't seem to apply ("I can read fine"), claimants often leave the box blank. The DWP records blank boxes as "no difficulty" - which scores zero, but more importantly, it means you can't go back later and say it affects you.
Forgetting to describe fluctuation
Many conditions vary - fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, mental health, autoimmune conditions, migraines. If you describe only the average, you lose points for the bad days. If you describe only the bad days, the DWP discounts them as "occasional."
Not including a typical day timeline
A short typical-day timeline (07:00 wake, 08:00 take medication, 09:00 attempt breakfast etc.) is one of the most persuasive pieces of evidence you can write. Few claimants include it - those who do, score significantly better.
Rushing because of the deadline
The DWP gives you one month to return the form. Many claimants complete it in the last week and rush, missing key activities and writing brief answers because they're tired. Time pressure costs points.
Not keeping a copy
If you didn't keep a copy of what you sent, you cannot effectively challenge the decision at Mandatory Reconsideration or tribunal. You won't remember exactly what you wrote, and the DWP file may not be made available to you for weeks.
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Try one activity free →What These Mistakes Have in Common
All 12 share the same root cause: claimants describe their condition the way they would describe it to a friend - briefly, modestly, focused on resilience and not difficulty. The DWP descriptor framework rewards the opposite: specific, detailed, focused on what fails and what costs.
The PIP2 form is a translation exercise. Your real life has to be re-described in the DWP's specific descriptor vocabulary. Most claimants miss this entirely - they fill the form as a personal narrative instead of as descriptor evidence. That single shift, more than any individual tip, is what separates successful PIP claims from refused ones.
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PIPexpert generates personalised PIP2 answers for all 12 activities in DWP-friendly descriptor language - reliability framing built in. Try one activity completely free, no card needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest mistake on a PIP form?
The biggest single mistake is describing your best days instead of your typical or worst days. PIP is scored on the majority of days, not on the day you happen to be functioning at your best. Claimants often write "I can usually manage" or "sometimes I struggle" - the DWP reads that as "can manage on the majority of days" and awards zero points. Always describe what your reliable, repeatable function looks like on a typical day.
Can I redo my PIP form if I made a mistake?
Once submitted, you cannot "redo" the form in the same claim - but you can send a supplementary letter to the DWP at any point before the decision is made. After the decision, mistakes can be corrected at Mandatory Reconsideration. The strongest approach is to write detailed answers from the start, but a supplementary letter is the fastest way to add evidence you forgot.
How long should my answers be on the PIP form?
Longer is generally better, within the space provided. Most successful PIP forms have 200-400 words per activity (8-12 activities scored). Short tick-box style answers ("yes", "no", "sometimes") almost always score zero points because they fail to evidence the reliability criteria. Use extra paper if you run out of space - mark each continuation page with your name and National Insurance number.
Should I describe a typical day or my worst day?
Describe a typical day - which for fluctuating conditions usually includes the difficulties. The DWP scores function on the majority of days. If you have 5 bad days and 2 good days per week, your reliable function is the bad-day function because that is what happens more than half the time. Do not describe only your best day, but also do not exaggerate your worst day - aim for an accurate representation of what most days look like.
Will my GP fill in the PIP form for me?
No - the PIP2 form is for you (or someone helping you) to complete. Your GP is asked separately by the DWP to provide medical information, but they cannot fill in the descriptors on your behalf. You can ask your GP for a supporting letter that describes your conditions and how they affect you - this can be sent with your PIP2 form as evidence.
Is it worth getting help with the PIP form?
Yes, for most claimants. The PIP2 form is 32 pages of dense questions and the DWP scores answers against a specific descriptor framework that most claimants are not familiar with. Help can come from a free source (Citizens Advice, welfare rights, disability charity - often with waiting lists) or a paid service. PIPexpert generates personalised answers for all 12 activities based on your specific conditions, formatted in DWP-friendly language.