PIP Review - Why You Should Never Write 'No Change'

"Nothing has changed." "Same as before." "No change." These three phrases have cost thousands of PIP claimants their awards at review. Here is why you should never write them and what to do instead.

Why "No Change" Is Dangerous

When you write "no change," the decision maker has nothing to work with. They may not have your original form. Even if they do, they need CURRENT information to make a CURRENT decision. "No change" tells them nothing about your current difficulties.

The DWP treats every review as a fresh decision. They are not just checking whether things changed. They are re-assessing your eligibility from scratch. If you give them an empty form, they have no evidence to award you anything.

What Has Actually Happened to People

Claimants who wrote "no change" have had their awards:

• Reduced from enhanced to standard rate
• Reduced from both components to one
• Removed entirely - going from full PIP to zero

All because the decision maker had insufficient information to justify continuing the award at the same level.

What to Write Instead

For each activity, describe your CURRENT difficulties as if nobody has ever read about your conditions before. Use this structure:

"I continue to experience [specific symptoms] which prevent me from [specific activity]. On [X] days per week, I require [specific help] from [person]. Without this help, I would be unable to [consequence]. My condition has not improved since my last assessment and I remain unable to complete this activity safely, reliably, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time."

This takes more effort than writing "no change" but it is the difference between keeping your award and losing it.

If Things Genuinely Haven't Changed

Even if your condition is exactly the same, you still need to describe it in full. Write: "My condition remains the same as at my last assessment. I continue to experience..." and then describe everything. The word "continue" acknowledges nothing has changed while still providing the detail the decision maker needs.