Recent PIP assesment at Home

Hi there , please bare with me because have never posted on a forum before but felt the need to do so because of recent events involving an home visit PIP assessment. My Husband suffers from Dysphagia , an eating disorder that means he can only swallow liquid sip meals. This as been on going for a number of years. This disorder as dramatically changed our way of living and my Husbands health. Anyway I am sure that others with eating disorders will fully understand . I needed to mention this so that anyone reading this can better understand my season for this post.
During the assessment my Husband was asked if he was able to prepare and cook a simple meal , my Husband replied, I believe that is rather irrelevent because I can only swallow liquid sip meals that are provided on prescription. The assessor then asked my Husband to forget about Sip meals and asked again if he could prepare and cook a simple meal. My Husband replied yes probably but would have to be aware of heavy pans containing boiling water etc .
My husband was almost forced to say that he can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided and that as been playing on my mind since the assessment . I cannot understand why this statement from my husband was so important to the assessor. I do have some wild probably looking into things so much explanations.It would be nice to receive feedback to help my understanding.

Hi Ann,

Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explain where everything is

Welcome to Benefits and Work

PIP will be awarded if the claimant scores the required number of points against very specific criteria ('descriptors'). These are explained in our PIP guide

PIP help for claimants

Preparing a meal and taking nourishment are 2 different descriptors and separate opportunities to score points.I

If you wish you can contact DWP and ask for a copy of the assessor's report, these are usually sent out on request. The DWP are not bound to follow the assessor's recommendation but it is not often that they do otherwise.


May I suggest that you bookmark/favourite this on your web browser now so that you can find it easily in future? This will allow you to return with further questions or comments about your ESA without having to start a new topic each time. We ask members to keep everything relating to the same claim in one topic as it helps us enormously - and I hope you will find it useful too

Hi Ann I've attended a face to face interview which I found distressing because I answered questions yes I can do it instead of no I can't. I was in a wheelchair, an amputee and arm in a sling and the 'health care person ' said if I can butter a slice of bread then I can prepare a simple meal. I really empathise with you. However just heard I've got enhanced award in each category for 4 years. I didn't sleep for days after the medical I shouldn't have worried

Already had results back from assessment and lost everything. The Interview was a joke. What I was trying to get at with my first entry was that I could not understand why my Husband was forced to say that he is able to prepare and cook a simple meal. No body else can hear whats being said !! The only explanation I can come up with is that it was recorded !!

Thanks for the recent replies. My husband can only swallow shaker style liquid meals , he cannot prepare these for a number of reasons so I have to make them for him. Should he have received points for preparing and cooking a simple meal ??