PIP Food preparation=- what do these words mean?

AT

From what I can find there is no clear definition of what "fresh ingredients" consist or do not consist of, where no clear definition is made the usual practice is to consider what a reasonable person would include. On this basis I would expect pizza to be considered a fresh ingredient and whilst baked beans would not normally be described as "fresh", the PIP Assessment guide makes references to tins in relation to this subject so I cannot state with authority that they are excluded.

I think that are you confusing your self as to how the Descriptors operate, I know that it can seem as if the DWP are trying to trick claimants through the way that they are written, but that is not the case, the scenario you painted in your post is incorrect and you should treat it as being synonymous with being unable to prepare a simple meal even with the use of aids and appliances, the use of a cooker or microwave, or with prompting.

With regard to your second question, I am afraid I think you are over complicating things, the test is cooking a simple meal with the restriction that it must be done above waist height, so cooking a roast chicken might still be considered cooking a simple meal, but is excluded because it is not done above waist height, I am deliberately ignoring the issue of an oven installed at eye level.

These matters have not yet been tested at an Upper Tribunal and the tests are sufficiently different from the DLA ones that I do think that the established Case Law for that benefit can be assumed to also apply to PIP. Until they are, I think it reasonable for claimants to limit themselves to discussing the use of a hob and a microwave cooker and leaving the oven out of the question.

As a general comment for PIP, avoid talking about what your son does not do and instead look at what he cannot do and why. You mention consideration of reliably, repeatedly, etc. in your post, but then seem to ignore them in your examples.

Gordon

Ann

I understand what you are saying, but at this time we only have the legislation and DWP issued guidance which appears to be quite clear;

This activity considers a claimant’s ability to prepare a simple meal. This is not a reflection of a claimant’s cooking skills but instead a consideration of the impact of impairment on their ability to perform the tasks required. It assesses ability to open packaging, serve food, peel and chop food and use a microwave oven or cooker hob to cook or heat food.

my emphasis.

Perhaps, when this Descriptor is challenged in the Upper Tribunal there will be clearer guidance as to what the last 1(f) is intended to mean, but at this time there is not.

Frozen food is not considered to be fresh, but prepared food which could include a pizza is, tinned food is also considered as being relevant, the Assessment guide makes reference to opening tins, but I think it would be reasonable to argue that a meal that only consists of items from tin(s) does not meet the definition of fresh and that food that only consists of prepared products does not meet the definition of preparing a simple meal

The purpose of the PIP2 form is for the claimant to set out their arguments as to why they meet a particular level of descriptor with support from the available evidence, it is the DWP Decision Maker who will decide whether they have been successful.

So, if your son cannot reliably, repeatedly, etc. prepare a simple meal then you should explain this in the form.

If he cannot reliably, repeatedly, etc. prepare and cook any food then you should detail this in the form.

Gordon