Partially hearing / sighted

The more I delve into PIP, the more I realise that sensory loss, especially visual, is ignored for most of the Daily Living activities, both via the points criteria and the exemplars. I would be surprised if this hasn't been addressed strenuously somewhere but I have found very little evidence on the net, apart from my interactions on this forum.

Some of the points made in this article, however, strike a chord and there are further interesting links at the end of the article:

www.sundaypost.com/fp/blind-injustice-ex...-storyjamilas-story/

Gay wrote: The more I delve into PIP, the more I realise that sensory loss, especially visual, is ignored for most of the Daily Living activities, both via the points criteria and the exemplars. I would be surprised if this hasn't been addressed strenuously somewhere but I have found very little evidence on the net, apart from my interactions on this forum.

Some of the points made in this article, however, strike a chord and there are further interesting links at the end of the article:

www.sundaypost.com/fp/blind-injustice-ex...-storyjamilas-story/

Hi again Gay

As You know I was awarded PIP on appeal and this was exclusively on the grounds of my vision and hearing impairments. I was actually awarded the lower rate of both components but will confine myself to the daily living component as that is what you mentioned here. For the daily living component I was awarded the following points, I've copied this, with some difficulty, from a pdf of my tribunal decision notice so the formatting may be a bit out:

"1. Preparing Food
2 Points
b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal.

4. Washing and Bathing
2 Points
b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe.

7. Communicating Verbally
2 Points
b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear.

8. Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
2 Pointis
b. Needs to use an aid or appliance, other than spectacles or contact lenses, to be able to read or understand either basic or complex written information."

I do hope that this may help you to understand how it is possible for those with a visual and/or hearing impairment to score for the component in question. As your son is intending to appeal the decision in his case, and assuming that he is still being represented by a specialist RNIB welfare rights adviser, then I am sure that they will have a far greater knowledge of all these matters as they specifically relate to those with sensory impairments and will be able to apply that knowledge to the specifics of your son's health condition in a way we can't of course do on this forum. There's a good chance that with their assistance your son will go on to win his appeal.

Kind regards

Mr B

Update - just to touch base: My son is still waiting to hear when the tribunal will take place. However, he now has a CVI for being severely sight impaired. This is in addition to being severely hearing impaired. He is being supported by the RNIB.