Tips for completing benefits application forms

Applying for welfare benefits is notoriously challenging for many brain injury survivors and their loved ones, although it is unfortunately a necessary one for some. Ongoing issues with employment or difficulties caused by the long-term effects of a brain injury mean that many people must rely on support from welfare benefits.

In this feature, we share some top tips for completing benefits application forms, which is often the first stage of applying for welfare benefits.

  • Be mindful of any dates by which you must return the form. This should be included in the letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that accompanied your application form.

  • Contact the DWP if you feel you may need more time with completing the form.

  • Consider asking for help with completing the form from someone who knows you well. This could be particularly useful if you have problems with your memory or insight, as these issues may cause you to forget to include important details relevant to your application.

  • If you are requesting evidence from healthcare professionals such as medical reports or letters, ask whether these can be written so that they specifically address the difficulties you describe in your application form.

  • If you are submitting medical evidence from many years ago, for instance if your brain injury was years ago, consider that evidence older than 2 years might be dismissed, so ask your GP/consultant to confirm that the evidence is still relevant and applicable.

  • Many people feel that the application forms are quite lengthy. Take breaks if you need to and tackle one section at a time rather than trying to complete the whole form in one go. If you are worried about writing the wrong thing down on your form, draft your answers on a separate piece of paper first.

  • Avoid simply stating whether you ‘can’ or ‘can’t’ do something. Instead, discuss how safely and independently you can do a task, whether you complete it, how long it typically takes you and how you feel during/afterwards.

  • As well as discussing the effects of your brain injury, consider and explain the effects of any medication you are on, or any rehabilitation you are having.

  • Keep a diary of the ways in which your brain injury impacts you for a few days before you complete your form. You can then refer to this information while completing the forms as a general guide to some of the issues you commonly face.

  • Once you have completed the form, keep a dated copy for yourself.

  • Issues like fatigue or memory problems may have an impact on several different aspects of your life, so may need to be repeated in different sections of your application.

The most important thing to remember while completing your application form is to be honest about the impact of your brain injury. Offer as much detail as you can, including any effects that fluctuate. You will probably have a chance to explain things in more detail during an assessment that follows, but claims can sometimes be processed based on the information in an application form alone so it is good to add as much detail as you possibly can at this stage.

If you need further assistance with completing your form, consider contacting your nearest Headway group or branch or your local Citizens Advice for help. You may also be able to get help from a benefits advisor.

For more detailed guidance, see the factsheet Tips for completing benefits application forms (PDF).

Welfare benefits

A brain injury is likely to have an effect on a family's finances, and claiming benefits can help to ease the pressure.

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Supporting you

From local groups or branches, our Emergency Fund, Brain Injury Identity Card, helpline and much more, find out how Headway can support you after brain injury.

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Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a tax-free benefit that can help with the extra costs of living with a health problem or a disability that is expected to be long-term (12 months or longer).

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Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

ESA is a welfare benefit to support people who are unable to work due to a disability or illness.

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