WALKING AIDS

Hi Kenny,
I'm not sure whether you are referring to PIP or ESA/UC.
PiP looks at actual walking whereas ESA refers to mobilising which could be walking, or wheelchair, or possibly something in between.
Is a tri-walker like a walking stick with three wheels on the base, or am I confusing this with something else? Although I have a lot if knowledge about disability, if I'm not sure what this is, then even more likely DWP won't know either!
If your query relates to ESA then ut us expected that you will perform the activity using aids where reasonable. I suspect this would include your tri-walker. For PIP, most descriptors give points if you need to use an aid or appliance, so the ethos us slightly different. That said under PIP there are varying levels of points for actual walking, and these can vary depending on whether an aid is used.
For both types of benefit the tests still expects you to perform the activity safely, in a reasonable time, repeatedly etc. If you still have difficulty manhandling the walker or still move very slowly then using the walker may not affect your points level at all. Just because something like a walker can give you more confidence, reduce falls, doesn't necessarily make you able to walk faster, go further or in less pain etc.
On that basis, it is really important to say whether you have difficulties. These might be individual problems or a common problem using this type of walker but it is really vital DWP knows this. More to the point, if like most people your mobility problems cause difficulty eg getting dressed or entering the bath, giving the full mobility picture will dovetail with other physical descriptors and will show the full picture of how your mobility problems affect more than just wandering around.
So yes tell DWP everything, as they probably won't know.
I hope this helps.
LL26