PIP - toilet needs

this is potentially a stupid question, but I've been googling and can't figure out an answer so thought worth asking


I had my PIP form filled out by the CAB over the phone a few months back, and I have sent supporting evidence since. However, when the CAB woman asked about toilet needs I assumed it was a physical conditions only thing (my issues are all mental health related) so we skipped over the section

Then the other night it was pointed out to me that I have alarms on my phone to tell me to go to the toilet (as well as to eat, bathe, etc). Basically due to sensory stuff linked to autism I am not always fully aware of the sensations my body is sending to my brain, and on top of that I get hyperfocus issues where I will get so engrossed in an activity that HOURS can go past before I realise it's now midnight and I have not eaten, drunk or anything else all day. Usually I can semi control this and I will go to the toilet when it gets to totally desperate emergency type level, but there have also been multiple times when I have left it too late and (this is embarrassing to admit as an adult in my 30s) I've ended up wetting myself.
It's even worse when in a job as the anxiety also adds in meaning that I am totally unable to go to the toilet other than on breaks and if I hyper-focus through a break then... ye... can be a long day (and yes this also means that I essentially don't eat or drink when at work)

I can physically use a toilet, no adaptations needed, nothing physically wrong...


would it be worth my writing a letter to the PIP people explaining this? I have no real idea what I could get as evidence... other than my autism diagnosis or like a picture of the alarms... Or am I grasping at straws/something I should leave and just mention during the medical assessment? I am thinking I might be eligable for 5c (prompting) but not really sure


thanks for any help figuring this out

thanks for the quick reply. I think that was my confusion, wasnt sure if an alarm could count as an aid so thought "well I dont have a person prompting me, but if I did it would be helpful". A lot of this is very confusing it's great to have this forum and the guides to help when I'm not fully sure on stuff

Hi Catherine and Hazel,

I just read your post. I was also wondering if someone used an app on their phone or tablet, that reminds them to take their daily meds!

Then surely that should also equate to getting a point.

I mean at the end of the day a point is a point right!

And if you fail or miss your meds ( your conditions depending) it could be dangerous. So it would not seem unreasonably to award a claimant a point/s on this.

regards.

Hi
My daughters report acknowledged that she used a dosage box and set alarms on her phone to remind her to take meds, but this just demonstrates she has the insight to do this so she doesnt need any help or prompting.
She also uses Alexa to remind her to put washing on, brush teeth etc, but again this shows she has insight to do this so doesnt need prompting or aids.
You can’t win.