FAQ PIP Assessment Recordings

September 2026

This Frequently Asked Questions Guide provides an overview of the recent changes to the recording of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments in Northern Ireland.

For free, tailored advice on any of the issues discussed in this guide, or other aspects of social security law, please call 028 9024 4401 and ask to speak to a welfare adviser.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people who have long-term health conditions or disabilities which affect their ability to carry out certain daily living or mobility activities.

A claimant may be referred for an assessment as part of:

a new claim for PIP;

a review of an existing PIP award; or

consideration of a change of circumstances reported by the claimant.

As part of the PIP process, the claimant will usually provide information about how their condition affects them, including through the ‘How your disability affects you’ form and any supporting evidence.

In some cases, a decision can be made on the basis of the information and supporting evidence provided by the claimant, without the need for a further assessment. However, most claimants will be required to take part in a functional assessment with a disability assessor, who will consider how the claimant’s health condition or disability affects their daily living and mobility.

During the assessment, a health professional will ask the claimant questions about their health conditions or disabilities and how these affect them in their everyday life.

The assessment looks at the claimant’s ability to carry out activities relevant to the Daily Living and Mobility components of PIP.

The claimant can have another person with them for support. That person may also be able to contribute to the discussion where appropriate.

Under the current assessment recording policy, a PIP assessment consultation will be audio recorded as standard.

A claimant who does not want their assessment to be recorded can opt out. Choosing not to have an assessment recorded should not affect the outcome of the PIP claim.

The recording provides a record of what was said during the assessment and may be particularly useful if there is later a disagreement about the contents of the assessment report.

No. The audio recording is not automatically sent to the claimant. The claimant must request access to it.

A claimant can request the recording during the assessment or at any point up to two years after the assessment has been completed.

The claimant only needs to contact the Assessment Provider to make the request.

You can contact Capita here:

Website: Health Assessment Advisory Service – Northern Ireland

Phone Number: 0800 072 0397

If you have speech or hearing difficulties, you can also use the text relay service on 18001 0800 072 0397.

Requests should be processed on the same day they are made.

The recording is provided as an online digital audio recording. The claimant will be sent a link that allows them to download the recording.

The link will remain active for seven days.

If the claimant does not download the recording straight away, they will receive periodic reminders while the link remains available.

The recording will be retained for two years from the date of the assessment. After that point, it will be deleted.

Transcripts

Not at present.

Transcripts are not currently included in the process. DWP is testing transcription software with a view to introducing transcripts at a future date, but no implementation date has been confirmed for Northern Ireland.

There is not yet a confirmed process for dealing with this.

DWP is still testing transcription software. Until transcripts are introduced, it is not known how transcripts will be used in the process or how any discrepancy between a transcript and the original audio recording will be addressed.