PIP Assessments Are Under Review – Now Is the Time to Make the Voice of Sight Loss Heard

The UK Government is reviewing how Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments work. For blind and partially sighted people, this review presents an important opportunity to influence real change.

At Galloways, we regularly speak to people who describe the PIP assessment process as one of the most stressful parts of living with sight loss. Explaining how visual impairment affects daily life can feel exhausting. Many people tell us they worry that assessors may not fully understand the impact sight loss has on independence, mobility and confidence.

Importantly, PIP is more than financial support. It helps people maintain independence, manage daily living and stay connected to their communities. When the assessment process reflects the reality of living with sight loss, it works well. However, when it fails to capture that reality, the consequences can affect wellbeing and stability.

Why This Review Matters

Policy reviews do not happen often. That’s why this moment is significant.

The Government now has an opportunity to examine how PIP assessments consider visual impairment. As a result, lived experience must sit at the centre of that conversation. Decision-makers need to understand how sight loss affects everyday tasks, from preparing food to navigating safely outdoors.

Earlier this year, proposed changes to PIP and Universal Credit caused widespread concern across the disability community. Campaigners, charities and individuals spoke out clearly and consistently. Because of that collective effort, most of those proposed changes were reversed.

You can read more about that campaign here:
 https://rnib.in/welfare-vote

That experience proved something powerful: when disabled people share their lived experience, policy can shift.

Share Your Experience of a PIP Assessment

RNIB is gathering feedback from people who have experienced a PIP assessment to ensure blind and partially sighted voices shape this review.

If you have been through the process, your perspective matters.

You might consider:

• Did the assessment reflect how sight loss affects your daily life?

• Did the assessor understand visual impairment?

• What changes would make the process fairer or more accessible?

By sharing your experience, you can help strengthen campaigning efforts and push for a more inclusive system.

You can complete the short webform here:
 https://rnib.in/pip-webform

It only takes a few minutes to contribute.

Support Is Available

If you would like help completing the form, you can contact the RNIB Helpline:

•  0303 123 9999
•  campaigns@rnib.org.uk

A Collective Opportunity

At Galloways, we believe the voices of our community should help shape the systems that affect them. This review offers a genuine opportunity to influence how PIP assessments work for blind and partially sighted people in the future.

If you have ever felt that the process did not fully reflect your reality, now is the time to speak up. Equally, if you felt parts of the system worked well, that insight is valuable too.

Together, we can help ensure the future of PIP assessments better reflects the lived experience of sight loss.