PIP form question 5: managing treatments

This three-part question is about the treatments you use to manage your condition and stop it from getting worse. It covers different types of treatments, including those prescribed and recommended by healthcare professionals. Find out what to include when answering this question.

What are treatments?

Treatments are the things you use to help you with your condition, such as medication or therapies.

These are all examples of treatments:

compression bandages
creams and lotions
dressings for wounds or ulcers

ear and eye drops
home dialysis
inhalers and nebulisers
injections (such as insulin for diabetes)
physiotherapy or other exercise
tablets or suppositories
TENS machine

How to answer PIP question 5a

Part 5a is a yes or no question – does your condition affect you managing your treatments?

If you need an alarm or reminder to make sure you take your medication at the right time, you should probably tick ‘yes’.

You should also tick ‘yes’ if you use a pill organiser or need someone else to help you with things like taking medication or changing dressings.

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How to answer PIP question 5b

This part of the question asks you to explain how hard you find it to monitor changes in your condition and how you manage your treatments.

You should give as much information as possible as your answer might affect if you’re awarded PIP.

What should I mention?

When answering this question, list everything you use to help you monitor changes in your condition and manage your treatments - like pill organisers (dosette boxes) and alarms - even if it seems unimportant.

Explain how these aids help you, how you’d get on without them and if a health professional has told you to use them.

For example, you might have taken too many tablets in the past, so you use both a pill organiser and alarm to reduce the risk of an overdose.

If you’ve hurt yourself or had an accident in the past due to difficulties managing your treatment, say how often and if there’s anything you can do to reduce the likelihood of it happening again. If there isn’t, explain what could happen if you were to hurt yourself or have an accident.

List any items your condition stops you from using and any aids you don’t currently have that would help you manage your treatment.

Say if your condition fluctuates meaning some days are better than others. Describe the difference between a good day and a bad day. You should also mention how often you have bad days and if you have more bad days than good.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will base its decision on whether to award PIP on how your condition affects you most of the time.

It's important to describe any help you receive from other people in this section, including:

who helps you (e.g. a carer, friend or family member)
why you need their support
the ways they help
how often they lend a hand

Give details of any treatments prescribed or recommended by health professionals when answering the next part of the question.

Example 5b answer

I had an ischemic stroke and need to take daily medication to stop me having a second stroke. I put these in a pill organiser so I don’t forget which ones I’ve taken. I also set an alarm for each tablet I need to take so I don’t miss a dose.

My doctor advised using these methods so I don’t put myself at risk of having another stroke.

How to answer PIP question 5c

In this section, you can tell DWP about any therapies you’ve been prescribed such as physiotherapy or dialysis, or recommended treatments like using a TENS machine to manage pain.

List each therapy recommended by a health professional. Explain how often you get this therapy and how long it takes.

If you need someone else to help you with the therapy, mention this too. Remember to include how much time they spend helping you.

If you need help with therapy that you’re not currently getting, tell DWP in this section.

Example 5c answer

My GP told me I need physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy after having an ischemic stroke. I also rent a private hydrotherapy pool once a week for 45 minutes after my local stroke support group told me it would help.

I see each of my three therapists five days a week for 60 minutes each time, making 15 hours of therapy a week. My husband takes me to these appointments, as I can’t drive, use public transport or take a taxi. As he stays with me at each appointment, he spends around 20 hours each week helping me (including travelling time).

His support is particularly crucial during the hydrotherapy sessions because he helps with the exercises and is there in case of an emergency. My mobility issues and weakness mean I am at risk of slipping in the water. Without help, I wouldn’t be able to get back up and could potentially drown.

If you need help filling in the rest of your PIP form, continue to our guide on question 6.