Turn2us launches the Turn2us PIP Helper

Turn2us, a leading UK charity tackling poverty and financial insecurity, proudly announces the launch of the Turn2us PIP Helper. The innovative tool simplifies the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application process, providing essential support to millions of Disabled people and those with long-term health conditions who face financial hardship. 

Created in partnership with PIP claimants and health charities, the tool tackles application barriers with step-by-step guidance, award estimations, mental well-being resources, and essential information. 

Why the Turn2us PIP Helper is needed 

Nearly 1 in 3 Disabled people in the UK live in poverty, facing substantial additional living costs -on average, £1,010 more per month than non-disabled households.  

PIP offers vital support for Disabled people and those with long-term health conditions to help with these additional costs. However, the complex and often overwhelming application process results in £870 million going unclaimed each year due to uncompleted claims or people being eligible for higher payments but not receiving them. 

The Turn2us PIP Helper was created to help people overcome these barriers by providing clear guidance through each stage of the PIP process. It simplifies eligibility and likely award checks, improves claim accuracy, and lowers dropout rates by helping users understand and complete applications effectively.  

The tool also supports users’ mental well-being with videos and reminders that reduce stigma and isolation, ultimately increasing financial security and closing the income gap for Disabled people in the UK. 

Key features of the Turn2us PIP Helper 

• Eligibility checker: The PIP Helper quickly determines if users are eligible to claim PIP, taking into account factors like residency and immigration status. For non-UK or Irish citizens, the tool provides guidance on exceptions that might apply, helping users understand their potential to qualify.  
• Likely award estimator: This feature guides users through questions on how their condition affects daily activities, based on PIP descriptors. By clarifying how each user’s needs align with PIP’s criteria, it provides an estimated award. Users can save their progress by creating an account, enabling them to revisit and update their responses comfortably at their own pace. 
• Personalised form tips: Recognising that the PIP application form is the primary evidence used to determine entitlement, the PIP Helper provides tailored tips for completing it. This feature addresses common difficulties claimants face and offers personalised guidance for each question based on the user’s responses. This ensures that users submit accurate and clear information, improving their chances of a successful claim. 
• Assessment preparation and decision guide: Provides clear guidance on what to expect during assessments, whether in-person, online, by phone, or at home. It also helps users interpret decision letters and outlines next steps, including options for reconsideration and appeals, with links to additional support. 
• Well-being and rights information: The tool prioritises users’ mental well-being with resources developed in partnership with the UK mental health charity, Mind. It also informs users of their legal rights to support confident decision-making and reduce stress throughout the PIP application process. 
• Enhanced accessibility: The PIP Helper is designed to be fully accessible. It includes compatibility with screen readers, video captions, audio descriptions, and British Sign Language (BSL) support. These features ensure that the tool is usable for a wide range of people, including those with visual, auditory, and learning disabilities. 

A step forward in PIP support 

Jo, who lives with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and its long-term effects, helped build the tool alongside a group of PIP claimants. She shares:   

"The Turn2us PIP Helper is fantastic because it’s created by people who’ve actually been through the system. It gives clear, practical advice that helps you understand how to frame your answers properly. The tool’s checklists and guidance turn an overwhelming process into something much more manageable." 

Alicia, who lives with bipolar disorder, added: 

"The PIP process is daunting – it can feel exhausting to keep explaining yourself when living with an invisible disability like mine. For people with hidden disabilities, the Turn2us PIP Helper is so valuable because it reassures you that you’re not alone. The guidance at each step and the focus on wellbeing are essential for those of us who find the process mentally challenging." 

Key stakeholder quotes 

Michael Clarke, Head of Information Programmes at Turn2us, says:   

"The Turn2us PIP Helper was developed in response to the significant barriers many people face in accessing support. Built over two years with direct input from PIP claimants, this tool addresses those barriers head-on. Health, disability and financial security are deeply connected, and we are committed to helping people access the support they urgently need. Thank you to Royal London for their invaluable support in making the launch of the Turn2us PIP Helper possible.”  

Michael Paul, Head of Engagement, Disability Rights UK (DRUK): 

“DRUK is proud to be project partners in the creation of the Turn2us PIP Helper. PIP is meant to cover the extra costs associated with a disability or health condition. However, the application process is hugely bureaucratic, as are the two stages of the extremely backlogged appeals process.  

“As a result, PIP goes unclaimed by many thousands of Disabled people every year, while thousands more are awarded lower rates than they should be. By sharing the excellent Turn2us PIP Helper as widely as possible, and playing a part in its continuous improvement, we will ensure as many Disabled people as possible can access the appropriate PIP award.” 

Stephen Buckley, Head of Information for Mind, said: 

“The benefits system should be there for all of us when we need it most. Right now, too many people are having their mental health problems compounded by the very system which should be helping them. PIP can make a huge difference to people's lives, but many find the application process difficult. The length of the form and the language used in it can act as a barrier, particularly for people applying for mental health reasons. 

“We’re pleased to have worked with Turn2us to address those issues with this online tool, which we hope will help more people applying for PIP get the support they need. It is also vital that people with lived experience of mental health problems were put at the heart of developing the tool.

"Next year the UK government will introduce broader health and disability policy reforms. We would urge them not to take forward the previous government’s proposals and instead to establish an independent commission led by disabled people to design the future of assessments.”