PIP customers’ experiences of work, aspirations and support needs

This study aims to better understand the experiences of work, aspirations and support needs of people receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

What is the research about?

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) would like to better understand the work experiences and aspirations of people receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and what support they may need to move towards work or stay in work while managing their conditions.

Who is conducting this research?

The DWP has commissioned the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), an independent research organisation, to carry out this research. Everything you say in the conversation will be treated as anonymous and confidential and the DWP will not know that you have taken part.

Why have I been contacted about taking part?

We are contacting you because you consented to be recontacted about future research when you took part in the Work Aspirations Survey in 2024. We understand your circumstances may have changed and we will check these with you before arranging a conversation.

What will taking part involve?

If you choose to take part, you will have a 60-minute conversation with a researcher from NatCen. The conversation will take place over the next few weeks at a time chosen by you. It will be held online via Microsoft Teams, by telephone, or in person, according to your preference.

If you are an appointee of someone receiving PIP or other health and disability benefits, you can take part in various ways. You can either attend with the person you assist to support them to take part in the conversation, or you can attend on their behalf and share their views. We would confirm this with you when we schedule the conversation.

Why take part?

Your views will help DWP better understand the work experiences and aspirations of PIP customers like you and how they, or other organisations can best support you.

As a thank you for taking part, you will receive a £40 Love2Shop voucher that you can spend in many high street shops. Receiving this voucher won’t affect your PIP award or any dealings with DWP now or any time in the future. If you are an appointee, the voucher is for the person you assist.

What will the conversation be about?

During the conversation we will ask you about:

  • Your health condition or disability and how it affects your life.
  • Your experiences of receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and any other support.
  • Your work history, current activities and, where relevant, your current job and views about work.
  • Your work aspirations.
  • What could help you to achieve them

There are no right or wrong answers, and you do not need to prepare anything in advance. Anything that you share with us during the conversation will not affect any dealings with DWP, now or in the future.

Can I have special arrangements?

Yes. When we contact you to schedule the conversation, we will check whether you require any special arrangements which will help you to take part. Examples might include:

  • Arranging breaks during the conversation.
  • Sharing a list of conversation topics in advance.
  • Arranging for someone to attend the conversation with you.
  • Completing the conversation across more than one sitting.
  • Using live closed captioning (i.e. subtitles) to help you follow the discussion online

Do I have to take part?

Taking part is completely voluntary.

You can let us know if you would not like to take part by getting in touch with the research team using the contact details below.

You can withdraw at any time up to and during the conversation, and you do not have to give a reason. You may also choose to skip any questions you do not wish to answer. You can withdraw from the research up to two weeks after the conversation takes place by contacting the research team on the details below to request this.

What will happen to the information I give?

Everything you say in the conversation will be treated as anonymous and confidential, in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). This means we will not tell anyone outside the research team that you have taken part in the study or share what you specifically have said. The DWP will not know that you have taken part in this research.

The only exception to confidentiality is if something you share with us indicates a significant risk of harm to yourself or another identifiable person. If this were to happen, the researcher may have to tell someone else, which could include an authority such as the health services or the police. We would aim to discuss this with you first.

With your permission, we will audio-record the conversation. The recordings and all other identifiable details we hold about you will be stored securely and destroyed 12 months after the research is complete.

We will use the information from these conversations to produce a report and presentation for DWP. We may include short quotes from what you tell us, but we will not include any information that could identify you, such as your name or where you live.

For more information on how your data will be used, please see the study privacy notice.

Contact us

If you have any questions, please contact the research team on the details below:

Email: workaspirationsconversations@natcen.ac.uk 
Freephone: 0808 281 9526