PIP Assessment Report: How to Get Your Free Copy and Use It
After your PIP assessment, the assessor writes a report recommending which descriptors apply to you and how many points you should score, and the DWP decision maker almost always follows it. You are entitled to a free copy, and you don't have to wait for the decision to ask. Reading the report is the single most useful thing you can do if your award looks wrong: inaccuracies are common, and pointing them out is the backbone of a successful challenge. This guide explains how to get the report, who writes it, and exactly what to do with it.
- ✓Request a free copy of your assessment report by calling the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433.
- ✓You can ask as soon as about 48 hours after the assessment, before the decision is even made.
- ✓Since September 2024, assessments are run by the Health Assessment Advisory Service (Maximus, Capita, Serco and Ingeus by region).
- ✓The report recommends points for every activity, and decision makers usually follow it.
- ✓Inaccuracies in the report are strong ammunition for a Mandatory Reconsideration or appeal.
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What the assessment report is
When you have a PIP assessment (by phone, video or face to face), the health professional writes a structured report for the DWP, on paper-based claims it's known as the PA4. It contains:
- ✓A summary of your conditions, medication and the evidence you sent
- ✓What the assessor observed during the assessment, including 'informal observations' (how you sat, walked, engaged)
- ✓A recommended descriptor and points score for each of the 12 PIP activities
- ✓A recommended award length and review point
The DWP decision maker is not bound by the report, but in practice they follow it in the great majority of cases, which is exactly why reading it matters: if the report is wrong, the decision will usually be wrong in the same way.
How to get your free copy
Who carries out PIP assessments in 2026
Since 7 September 2024, PIP assessments have been delivered under the Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS) brand, with regional contracts (the Functional Assessment Services contracts, running to 2029) held by:
- ✓Maximus, northern England
- ✓Capita, the Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland
- ✓Serco, south west and south central England
- ✓Ingeus, south east England, London and East Anglia
- ✓A small number of assessments are carried out in-house by the DWP
(Atos no longer assesses PIP, and Scotland uses Social Security Scotland's own consultations for Adult Disability Payment.) Whoever assesses you, the report goes to the DWP, and the request route for a copy is the same: the PIP enquiry line.
Using the report to challenge a decision
Assessment reports are regularly criticised by tribunals for inaccuracy, and a report that misrepresents you is powerful evidence. Look for:
- ✓Things you said that are recorded wrongly or missing, especially about bad days, pain, fatigue or needing prompting
- ✓Informal observations used unfairly, 'walked from the waiting room' or 'maintained eye contact' being treated as proof you have no difficulties
- ✓Activities scored 0 points with no explanation, or reasoning that ignores the reliability test (safely, acceptably, in reasonable time, repeatedly)
- ✓Contradictions inside the report itself, for example your medication list versus 'no evidence of significant condition'
- ✓Assumptions made without asking you, particularly about cooking, washing and journeys
The deadlines are short: ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration within one month of the decision, and if that fails, appeal to the tribunal within one month of the MR notice. Around two thirds of PIP appeals succeed, very often on exactly the kind of report errors described above.
Get instant help right now
A Citizens Advice appointment can take weeks. Our free assistant is available 24/7 with no appointment, giving you clear, step-by-step answers about your exact situation, what to do next, and the deadlines that matter.
Need to take action? It can draft a ready-to-send formal letter for you (optional, from £4.99).
England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a copy of my PIP assessment report?
Call the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) and ask for a copy of your assessment report. It's free, you don't need to give a reason, and it usually arrives by post within one to two weeks. Wait about 48 hours after your assessment before calling so the report has reached your file.
Can I see my PIP assessment report before the decision?
Yes. You can request it as soon as the assessor has submitted it, roughly 48 hours after the assessment, without waiting for the decision letter. Seeing it early lets you flag serious inaccuracies to the DWP while the decision is still being made, and prepares you to act fast if the award comes back wrong.
Who does PIP assessments now?
Since 7 September 2024, assessments run under the Health Assessment Advisory Service brand. The regional providers are Maximus (northern England), Capita (Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland), Serco (south west and south central England) and Ingeus (south east England, London and East Anglia), with a small number done in-house by the DWP. Atos no longer assesses PIP.
Does the DWP always follow the assessment report?
Not always, the decision maker can depart from it, but in practice the report's recommended points are followed in the great majority of cases. That's why checking the report is so valuable: if it contains errors, the decision almost certainly inherits them, and correcting them descriptor by descriptor is the strongest basis for a Mandatory Reconsideration or appeal.
What should I look for in my PIP assessment report?
Compare each activity's recommended points with what you actually said and wrote. Look for missing or misquoted answers, informal observations used as proof you're fine, activities scored zero without reasoning, failures to apply the reliability test, and internal contradictions. List each error against the correct descriptor and use that list in your Mandatory Reconsideration.
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