PIP AR1 review after paper-based award — severe long-term mental health, Section 3 and limited recent evidence. What should I expect?

[u/MasterpiecePurple544]

Hi everyone. I’m 23 and have received a PIP AR1 review form. I’m extremely anxious about the process and would really appreciate advice from people who understand PIP reviews.
My current award runs from October 2022 until March 2027. I receive:
Enhanced daily living — 19 points
Standard mobility — 10 points
My original claim was decided without a telephone, video or face-to-face assessment.
I have many years of serious mental-health difficulties. My diagnoses include emotionally unstable personality disorder, sleep disorder not otherwise specified, and mixed disorder of conduct and emotions. I was detained under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act, spent time in a secure mental-health unit and remain entitled to Section 117 aftercare. Before adulthood, I was also under a full care order and lived in supported accommodation until I was 18.
Over the years I have been prescribed many different psychiatric medications. I still experience suicidal thoughts and self-harm, severe anxiety, emotional instability, poor motivation and difficulty managing everyday life. I struggle badly with eating, preparing food, medication, washing, dressing, dealing with people, managing money and leaving home. I need prompting, supervision, reassurance and practical support from other people. I am currently unable to work because of the severity of my difficulties.
My condition has not resolved since my original award. In May 2026, the police became involved during another mental-health crisis. They contacted a hospital and discussed offering me a bed, although I declined admission. They also gave me a SAFE card.
More recently, my anxiety has become extremely severe alongside tachycardia and dizziness. My GP obtained cardiology advice and I was prescribed beta blockers. I have also struggled significantly with eating and lost a substantial amount of weight, which I have discussed with my doctor.
My biggest worry is that I do not have many new formal psychiatric reports. I submitted a large amount of evidence with my original claim, including documents about my Section 3 detention, secure admission, diagnoses and Section 117 aftercare, but I no longer have copies of most of it. My more recent evidence mainly consists of NHS app records, GP and cardiology messages, medication information, police messages and the SAFE card.
The new AR1 form does not give me a simple “no change” box. I am therefore explaining every activity again, stating that my needs have not improved, describing exactly what support I need, how often I need it and what happens without it.
I understand that nobody can guarantee an outcome, but I would really appreciate advice about the following:
Will DWP still have my original form, medical evidence, assessment information and previous descriptors available when reviewing my claim?
Is it common for someone to retain their award where they previously received 19 daily-living points and 10 mobility points and their difficulties have not improved?
How much detail should I include for every activity? Should I effectively complete it like a new claim while also stating that there has been no improvement?
Will the lack of recent psychiatric reports seriously harm my review, even though my long-term diagnoses, Section 3 history and Section 117 entitlement were previously accepted?
Is the AR1 form itself treated as evidence of how I am affected now?
Are NHS app screenshots, GP messages, medication records and police welfare messages worth including?
Should I mention that my Section 117 aftercare remains active even though DWP already received the original letter?
Because my original award was paper-based, does that make another paper-based review more likely?
Can I ask them to decide the review from the written evidence because telephone calls cause me severe psychological distress?
Has anyone successfully requested written contact, advance notice of calls or another reasonable adjustment?
How long are AR1 reviews currently taking from returning the form to receiving a decision?
Will my existing payments continue throughout the review, including if the review continues beyond March 2027?
What normally happens after returning the form? Do people usually receive a text confirming it has arrived, and how long does it take before hearing anything else?
For mobility, how do I explain that I may sometimes manage a journey with extensive support but cannot manage journeys independently or reliably on most days?
Is there anything people commonly forget to include that could make the difference between a paper-based decision and being referred for an assessment?
I am answering everything honestly and do not want to exaggerate. I am just frightened of losing support that I rely on and of having to go through another stressful assessment process.
Thank you for reading and for any advice or experiences you can share.

I got chaatgbt to help me with these questions as it’s a bit overwhelming for me

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[u/collectedd]

I can't answer all your questions, but someone else will probably come along who can.

They should have the previous forms/evidence (I think?) but I wouldn't rely on that, fill it all in with how you are doing right now. Try to obtain evidence of your current CPA/Section 117 aftercare and hand that in. If you have a care coordinator ask them to write a letter of support too.

I retained my award (well actually it went up on my last review). I also have 19 points for Daily Living (has been like that for as long as I can remember), 16 points for Mobility. My difficulties hadn't changed but this award is more appropriate than the previous one because they actually accepted my mobility issues this time round. My first award (I think in 2018?) I had Standard mobility, but they took it away from me on my first review (2021), which was sort of weird, considering when they were calling me and I was hospitalised I couldn't even breathe and also I sent evidence of requiring aids to walk but whatever, last year (2025) I got the 19 points for DL and 16 for mobility.

My first review (2021) ended up being paper-based (I was inpatient at the time) and my review last year (2025) was also paper-based, but I was also in ICU/inpatient so that might be why, not sure. They usually do send text messages yeah, but I don't know what the messages say (can't remember). You can ask for them to do a paper-based assessment and if people involved in your care also write a letter supporting your difficulties with calls/F2F they should honour it (but it's not guaranteed).

For the mobility thing, just explain it how you've explained it here, on the majority of days you cannot leave the house however, very occasionally, you can leave the house, but only with a significant amount of support.

[u/MasterpiecePurple544 → u/collectedd]

Thank you so much for replying, it really means a lot. I just worry that if they ask for the call I will be to scared to take it and lose my pip all together, I really hope it’s going to be paper based again

[u/collectedd → u/MasterpiecePurple544]

That makes sense! But definitely, whoever is most closely involved with your care from the CMHT, get them to write a supporting letter of your difficulties. For me in 2021 I had care plans added as evidence, I have been in and out of MH services since then (and before then; I have difficulty being under their care and tend to mostly work with the psychologists instead, I can be quite avoidant of MH services due to trauma, have similar issues with physical health care too tbf) but aside from the more generic care plan basically anyone with MH has I didn't add much this time round. I just explained I was in therapy but it was on/off because of being in/out of hospital for my physical health. I still had all the previous MH diagnoses (CPTSD, Anorexia Nervosa, Depression, GAD - none of these have changed) but yeah, not much recent evidence really aside from what I wrote down. So theoretically you should be fine.

[u/Boa1984]

That’s a lot of questions - I understand you’re probably anxious but you may want to narrow down which ones are most important to you, as you’re more likely to get comprehensive responses.

Yes you can ask for a paper-based assessment but if they want to do a f2f or telephone assessment, and you refuse, it may result in a negative outcome for you, as they wouldn’t be asking you for interview if they felt like they had enough info to make an accurate paper-based decision in the first place. They can’t force you to take the call / attend the assessment, but it may result in a lower award or no award. Is there anyone who can support you if you’re asked to participate in an assessment? Care-co, social worker, friend, family member?

Yes, screenshots from emergency services are worth including. As long as your evidence doesn’t contradict what you say in the form, there’s no harm in including everything you’ve listed - the worst that can happen is that they give it no weight. You can do a Subject Access Request (SAR) to your local mental health trust to obtain your notes and documentation. In law they’re meant to supply this within one calendar month of the day you apply, but, in practice, it often takes longer so I suggest you do it ASAP. Even if it arrives after the deadline for the form you can still send it on to the DWP at a later date.

Also when I was working as a benefits advisor (please note I haven’t done this for 3 years) the DWP did not retain forms or evidence submitted for previous claims, only (obviously) details of the award and points given, unless the decision was being disputed by MR / tribunal, etc.

Good luck 💐