When you claim or have to reclaim Personal Independence Payment (PIP), as part of the assessment process you will be sent a PIP2 How your disability affects you form. Here are some tips on filling out the form. We also have further information about PIP.

• Understand the criteria. The PIP2 form is part of the assessment to see what rate of PIP you qualify for. This assessment is points based. Start by looking at the criteria and identifying which points you should score. This helps you to understand what information is relevant to include in the PIP2.
• Complete the PIP2 form as if the person reading it has never heard of autism. Unfortunately, you cannot assume that they will have an understanding. 
• Complete the PIP2 form as if the person reading has no previous knowledge of you. They do not generally access the information that you may have provided for previous benefit claims. 
• Get help. Get advice from a welfare rights adviser if possible. You may be able to find a local benefits advice service. Alternatively, ask a friend or family member to help with the form. Without help, it is very difficult for anyone to have enough insight into their own condition to complete the form well.
• Provide as much detail and as many examples as you can. For each question there are tick boxes and then a bigger box for ‘extra information’. If you do have difficulty or need help with an activity, it is important to explain what difficulty you have and help you need in the extra information box.
• Be honest about the difficulties you have. Filling in these forms can be a difficult and negative process, but it is important to explain your difficulties and the help that you need as accurately as possible.
• If you have any reports, assessments, or other paperwork that you think will help the assessor understand your difficulties and support needs, send copies in with the PIP2 form. In most cases PIP do not contact any of the professionals that you name in the form, so if you want them to see any information, you must provide it. New information is stronger, but still send in older information if it is still relevant.  

After you return the PIP2 form, in most cases you'll be asked to attend a face-to-face assessment either at an assessment centre or in your home. If you would not be able to attend an assessment centre, and would need a home visit instead, explain this and explain why you cannot travel to the assessment centre. Usually, to get them to agree to a home visit, you will need evidence to show that you cannot travel, such as a letter from your GP or other health or social care professional.

If you’re an autistic person who has other health conditions or disabilities, it may be useful to look for advice relating to that condition and claiming PIP, for example:

• Epilepsy Action
• Crohn's and Colitis UK
• RNIB for blind and partially sighted people
• RNID for deaf people and those with hearing loss 

Other good guides to filling in the PIP2 form are available from Citizens Advice and Disability Rights UK.