PIP: Need help but not getting it

Hello Olympia,

It is a fundamental principle of PIP that you should be assessed on the help you need, not the help you get. But the reality of proving that need when it is not being met can be hard.

You wisely addressed your question to our wider community and I look forward to learning from what they say.

Catherine

Hi Olympia

I can give you a couple of examples of people I have helped successfully claim for PIP.

Under the washing and bathing question - we argued that they needed help because of their MS. Although they had some help from a loved one, they were unable to help every day and therefore the claimant was limited by how much they got to wash. They needed more help.

Going out - a claimant with a mental health condition - we argued that they were unable to leave the house because the help was not available. They were on a waiting list. We emphasised that it wasn't because they wouldn't go out - it was because that they couldn't go out without the support and the support wasn't available.

We were able to argue because we had clear medical evidence of the condition and the difficulties both claimants had.

If you don't have any back-up for what you are saying, that shouldn't stop you from saying it. Extra evidence can always come from a family member or friend who has seen your difficulties and can support what you say.

BIS

HI Olympia,

I was thinking about your post this morning - shows what a coule of cups of coffee can do for one.

How I would tackle your form is by using our PIP guide decide, based on your knowledge of you, which descriptors apply to you.

Then take each Activity and explain the effects of not having the help you need. So for example for preparing a meal, you might say something like there are some days when I don't have the energy to prepare anything and just have a couple of bowls of cereal and milk to keep me going. Or, as someone I know does, when he is well he orders a selection of take away meals, and puts them in the fridge. Since he is unable to use a microwave he eats them cold.

Another example would be dressing, you might say that although you can dress yourself, it can take up to an hour and even after that you are tired.

Read about the reliability element in the guide - if you cannot do something,
• Safely – in a fashion that is unlikely to cause harm to themselves or to another person.
• To a necessary and acceptable standard – given the nature of the activity.
• Repeatedly – as often as is reasonably required.
• In a reasonable time period no more than twice as long as a person without a physical or mental health condition would take to carry out the activity.

then you should not be considered able to do the activity.

Hope this helps a little,
Catherine